Coach Spotlight: Lori-Jean Farrell Heads to USA Games with Free Lightning Bocce Team

For Lori-Jean Farrell, the journey to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games has come full circle.

As the coach of the Free Lightning bocce team, Farrell will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota this June alongside four athletes, Roxanna Cruz, Jalen Dickerson, Curtis Walter, and Carolyn Borak, as they represent Team New York on the national stage.

When Farrell learned in March that all four athletes from her team had been selected for the USA Games, she knew she wanted to be part of the experience.

“I thought, ‘I should sign up to be a coach,'” Farrell recalled. “So, I did, and they accepted me to be the coach for my four athletes.”

Now preparing for her first-ever USA Games, Farrell is just as excited for the opportunity as the athletes she coaches.

“I am very excited for them and very excited for myself because this is the first time I’ve gone to the national games,” she said.

Farrell describes her team as more than just talented bocce players. They are a true team in every sense of the word.

“Jalen, Carolyn, Curtis, and Roxanna all play well with each other,” she said. “They help each other, and they’re a great team to work with.”

What stands out most to Farrell is the kindness and support her athletes show one another every day.

“These athletes inspire me every day,” she said. “They’re wonderful people. They’re kind, caring, and helpful. At practice they’ll carry things for me, help each other know where to stand to throw, and encourage each other when they do well. They’re just so inspiring to watch and to know as people.”

Farrell’s connection to bocce began through Special Olympics New York. After learning the sport herself, she introduced it to her family before eventually sharing her knowledge with athletes. Over the years, she has watched her team grow through local and state competitions, leading them to this milestone moment.

“I have come full circle with bocce,” Farrell said. “I learned to play bocce through Special Olympics, then I taught my family, then I learned to teach the athletes. Now they’ve gone to

local and state competitions, and they’re going to the nationals. That’s just the pinnacle of it all. It’s so exciting.”

As the USA Games approach, Farrell is looking forward to watching her athletes compete, create memories, and experience everything that comes with representing Team New York on a national stage.

For a coach who has dedicated years to helping athletes develop both on and off the court, there may be no greater reward than seeing her team reach the pinnacle of Special Olympics competition together.

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