Eric Marlink
Age: 26
Sports that I play: Soccer, softball, swimming, bowling, cycling, poly hockey, basketball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 18 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Michigan and the Tigers
Favorite food: Hamburgers and Pizza
Favorite hobby: Surfing the net
Biggest inspiration: My mom
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Spending a week with my friends on the team. Playing soccer for team MICHIGAN,meeting new people and seeing New Jersey.
Age: 26
Sports that I play: Soccer, softball, swimming, bowling, cycling, poly hockey, basketball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 18 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Michigan and the Tigers
Favorite food: Hamburgers and Pizza
Favorite hobby: Surfing the net
Biggest inspiration: My mom
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Spending a week with my friends on the team. Playing soccer for team MICHIGAN,meeting new people and seeing New Jersey.
Jonah Bylsma
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, poly hockey, swimming, softball, basketball, cycling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 8 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Hope College
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Computer
Biggest inspiration: My mom
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Representing the State of Michigan and my Family
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, poly hockey, swimming, softball, basketball, cycling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 8 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Hope College
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Computer
Biggest inspiration: My mom
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Representing the State of Michigan and my Family
Traci Karsies
Age: 27
Sports that I play: Soccer, basketball, swimming, bowling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 8 years
Favorite sport: Swimming
Favorites team: Michigan
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Shopping
Biggest inspiration: My dad
What I am most excited about for Nationals: To be involved with my peers in playing sports at a more challenging level. Also, that I get to visit a different state.
Age: 27
Sports that I play: Soccer, basketball, swimming, bowling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 8 years
Favorite sport: Swimming
Favorites team: Michigan
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Shopping
Biggest inspiration: My dad
What I am most excited about for Nationals: To be involved with my peers in playing sports at a more challenging level. Also, that I get to visit a different state.
Ashley Condon
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, poly hockey, basketball, volleyball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 5 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Stars (my team)
Favorite food: Pizza and ice cream
Favorite hobby: Getting to know people
Biggest inspiration: Christ - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Being a part of something really big, being with my team and meeting new people.
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, poly hockey, basketball, volleyball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 5 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Stars (my team)
Favorite food: Pizza and ice cream
Favorite hobby: Getting to know people
Biggest inspiration: Christ - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Being a part of something really big, being with my team and meeting new people.
Katie Cole
Age: 27
Sports that I play: Basketball, volleyball, soccer and bowling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 2 years
Favorite sport: Watching is football and playing is volleyball.
Favorites team: Michigan State and the Red Wings
Favorite food: Pepperoni and cheese pizza
Favorite hobby: Knitting hats on my loom
Biggest inspiration: My family is my inspiration because they support me in Special Olympics.
What I am most excited about for Nationals: This is my first experience going to Nationals. It is a big honor to go! I'm excited to go to a new place and to see new people.
Age: 27
Sports that I play: Basketball, volleyball, soccer and bowling
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 2 years
Favorite sport: Watching is football and playing is volleyball.
Favorites team: Michigan State and the Red Wings
Favorite food: Pepperoni and cheese pizza
Favorite hobby: Knitting hats on my loom
Biggest inspiration: My family is my inspiration because they support me in Special Olympics.
What I am most excited about for Nationals: This is my first experience going to Nationals. It is a big honor to go! I'm excited to go to a new place and to see new people.
Brandon Bucek
Age: 24
Sports that I play: Poly hockey, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, power-lifting, and golf
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 11 years
Favorite sport: Golf
Favorites team: MSU and the White Sox
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Dating and playing Rock Band
Biggest inspiration: Coach Tom Izzo and Students for Special Olympics Advocacy (SSOA)
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Playing soccer against other states and opening ceremonies when they introduce us (Team Michigan).
Age: 24
Sports that I play: Poly hockey, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, power-lifting, and golf
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 11 years
Favorite sport: Golf
Favorites team: MSU and the White Sox
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Dating and playing Rock Band
Biggest inspiration: Coach Tom Izzo and Students for Special Olympics Advocacy (SSOA)
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Playing soccer against other states and opening ceremonies when they introduce us (Team Michigan).
Megan VanderWall
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Basketball and Soccer
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 2 years
Favorite sport: Basketball, soccer, and baseball
Favorites team: Michigan State basketball and football, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Pistons
Favorite food: Anything sweet with chocolate
Favorite hobby: Playing with my dog and cats and helping my Dad coach basketball
Biggest inspiration:
What I am most excited about for Nationals? It will be fun to meet new people from around the nation and play soccer.
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Basketball and Soccer
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 2 years
Favorite sport: Basketball, soccer, and baseball
Favorites team: Michigan State basketball and football, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Pistons
Favorite food: Anything sweet with chocolate
Favorite hobby: Playing with my dog and cats and helping my Dad coach basketball
Biggest inspiration:
What I am most excited about for Nationals? It will be fun to meet new people from around the nation and play soccer.
Jacob Brye
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 12 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Grand Haven Buccaneers
Favorite food: Cheeseburger & french fries
Favorite hobby: Drawing and listening to music
Biggest inspiration: My dad
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Traveling and making new friends
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 12 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team: Grand Haven Buccaneers
Favorite food: Cheeseburger & french fries
Favorite hobby: Drawing and listening to music
Biggest inspiration: My dad
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Traveling and making new friends
Nicholas Perry
Age: 18 (will turn 19 on June 14th)
Sports that I play: Basketball, swimming, cycling, softball, and soccer
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 6 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team:
MSU football, the Detroit Lions, and the Detroit Tigers
Favorite food: Chinese/Thai food
Favorite hobby: Watching movies
Biggest inspiration: Special Olympics Oath
What I am most excited about for Nationals: The opportunity to meet athletes from other states at the games and going to the baseball game!
Age: 18 (will turn 19 on June 14th)
Sports that I play: Basketball, swimming, cycling, softball, and soccer
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 6 years
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorites team:
MSU football, the Detroit Lions, and the Detroit Tigers
Favorite food: Chinese/Thai food
Favorite hobby: Watching movies
Biggest inspiration: Special Olympics Oath
What I am most excited about for Nationals: The opportunity to meet athletes from other states at the games and going to the baseball game!
Ashley Mokma
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, Poly Hockey, Swimming, Snowboarding, Volleyball, Bowling, Softball and Basketball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 7 years
Favorite sport: Soccer and swimming
Favorites team: MSU basketball and football
Favorite food: Taco Bell
Favorite hobby: Long boarding
Biggest inspiration: My mom because she helped get me into Special Olympics and she is always there for me.
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Getting to play soccer with my friends at a place I have never been to.
Age: 19
Sports that I play: Soccer, Poly Hockey, Swimming, Snowboarding, Volleyball, Bowling, Softball and Basketball
How long I have been playing Special Olympic Soccer: 7 years
Favorite sport: Soccer and swimming
Favorites team: MSU basketball and football
Favorite food: Taco Bell
Favorite hobby: Long boarding
Biggest inspiration: My mom because she helped get me into Special Olympics and she is always there for me.
What I am most excited about for Nationals: Getting to play soccer with my friends at a place I have never been to.