Sheldon, Iowa — Village Northwest Unlimited is inviting the community to a pep rally and send-off for the Village Panthers volleyball team, which will represent Team Iowa at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
The event begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 19th, in the Wansink Center gym on the Village campus. After the rally, supporters will line the circle driveway around campus and North 18th Avenue to send them off to this national event.
The Panthers, a volleyball team made up of athletes served by Village Northwest Unlimited, were selected to represent Iowa at the Games. They will join fellow athletes and unified partners from across the nation to compete at one of Special Olympics’ highest levels.
Nine Panther athletes will attend the Games to showcase their volleyball skills, coached by Sara Wolthuizen and Deb Middle.
VNU President and CEO Barry Whitsell said, “This is an incredible honor for our Panther volleyball team. We are all excited for them to compete and be part of the Games. The enthusiasm is high for this special opportunity.”
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be held June 20th through June 26th at the University of Minnesota, bringing over 3,000 athletes from all 50 states. This marks the second time a Village Northwest Unlimited team has competed at the national level; the Panther softball team earned a silver medal at the 2012 Games in Oklahoma City.
In the months leading up to the Games, the Panthers have been preparing on and off the court, holding regular practices at Village Northwest Unlimited and participating in training opportunities at the state level. To help offset their travel and uniform expenses, the team has also organized a variety of fundraisers.
