SHELDON, Iowa – August 5, 2026 – The Village Panthers, a Special Olympics team comprised of athletes served by Village Northwest Unlimited, has been selected to represent Team Iowa in volleyball at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. They will join fellow athletes and unified partners from across the nation to compete at one of the highest levels of Special Olympics competition.
Nine Panther athletes will attend the Games to showcase their skills in volleyball. They will be guided by coaches Sara Wolthuizen and Deb Middle.
Barry Whitsell, President and CEO of Village Northwest Unlimited 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.” Set for June 20-26, 2026, at the University of Minnesota, the Games are expected to bring over 3,000 athletes together from all 50 states. This will be the second time a Special Olympics team from Village Northwest Unlimited has participated. In 2012, the Panther softball team competed in Oklahoma City, OK, and brought home a silver medal.
In the months leading up to the Games, the Panthers will be preparing both on and off the court, holding regular practices at Village Northwest Unlimited as well as participating in training opportunities at the state level. To help offset their travel and uniform expenses, the team will be organizing a variety of fundraisers.
To learn more about Village Northwest Unlimited and the Village Panthers, visit villagenorthwest.org.
About Village Northwest Unlimited
Village Northwest Unlimited is nationally recognized as one of the premier providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and traumatic brain injuries. Village Northwest Unlimited builds successful lives for 180 individuals by providing opportunities in residential, vocational and social programs while fulfilling its mission of providing purpose, privacy and dignity for all people. To learn more, go to villagenorthwest.org.
