Rockets earn statewide honors at Special Olympics Ohio awards

Special Olympics Ohio recently hosted its third annual Night of Champions Awards Ceremony alongside its annual Leadership Conference and the first official USA Games 2026 training and meet-and-greet. Tuscarawas County Special Olympics had strong representation throughout the weekend, highlighting the depth and dedication of the Rockets program.

At the Night of Champions ceremony, Tuscarawas County nominees included Easton Dillon and Jordan Miller for male athlete of the year; Rachael Russell for female athlete of the year; Dana DiGenova and Chelsea Lefler for unified pair of the year; and Richelle Lefler for local coordinator of the year. Athletes, coaches, unified partners and local coordinators from across Ohio were recognized among an outstanding slate of nominees.

By the end of the evening, the Rockets celebrated two major statewide honors. Russell was named Special Olympics Ohio female athlete of the year, and DiGenova and Lefler were selected as Special Olympics Ohio unified pair of the year.

Russell was recognized for her leadership on the softball field, where she supports younger teammates and meets challenges with grit. A Rocket for more than 15 years, she has participated in basketball, volleyball, bowling, softball, flag football, track and field, and bocce. She also has served as an athlete leader and helped coach the basketball skills team.

In 2022, Russell represented Team Ohio in volleyball at the USA Games in Orlando, Florida. She is the daughter of Larry and Patty Russell of Dover, is employed by Marshalls, and treasures her role as an aunt to her nieces and nephews. In addition to her state honor, Russell recently was named the American Legion Special Olympics female athlete of the year at a Jan. 17 awards dinner in Dublin, Ohio, and will be recognized Feb. 5 by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission for her accomplishments.

The unified pair of the year award honored the bond between DiGenova and Lefler. Their nomination noted they are more than partners — they are family. Through DiGenova’s investment as Lefler’s unified partner, she has helped demonstrate the importance of unconditional support in victory and defeat.

Lefler has been a Rocket for 10 years and has competed in cheerleading, skills basketball, skills softball, golf, volleyball, bowling, bocce, swimming, powerlifting and track and field. She has served as an athlete leader and as a member of the advisory committee and has received several local honors, including the Heart of a Champion Award and Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Award. Lefler is the daughter of Richelle Lefler and is employed by Starlight Enterprises LLC.

DiGenova has supported the Rockets in numerous capacities, assisting athletes in golf, bowling, volleyball, flag football, softball, basketball, cornhole and bocce. She serves on the advisory committee and helps lead fundraising efforts. DiGenova and her husband, Coney, also were recognized as Rockets coaches of the year. She is employed by Starlight School and is the mother of Conner.

Later in the weekend, Tuscarawas County continued to shine as Aaron Scott and Eric Lingo were selected to represent Team Ohio as members of the bocce delegation for the USA Games 2026 in Minnesota this summer. Chosen from more than 20,000 Special Olympics Ohio athletes, Scott and Lingo earned their spots on the 57-member Team Ohio delegation by winning gold at a state event, receiving a local nomination and completing a competitive state-level selection process.

They will join a pair from Lake County to form the Team Ohio bocce team, with competition beginning around June 20. Team Ohio will compete in singles, doubles and team bocce during the Games.

The USA Games are held every four years, with the next Games scheduled for 2030 in Cleveland.

Tuscarawas County Special Olympics congratulates all nominees, award recipients and Team Ohio selections and looks forward to continuing to celebrate courage, inclusion and excellence on and off the field.

For more information, email local coordinator Richelle Lefler at tuscarawascountyspecialolympic@gmail.com. The Rockets also can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/rocketsproud.