A Brotherhood Built to Last: Finger Lakes Aces Prepare for USA Games in Minnesota

“We’re going to be lifelong friends even after volleyball is all said and done,” said Finger Lake Aces athlete Christopher Scheible.

As the Finger Lakes Aces prepare to represent Team New York at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, the team is chasing more than a gold medal. For the athletes and coaches who have spent years together on the court, the trip is another opportunity to share an experience with the people they consider family.

“We became a family, a brotherhood,” Scheible said. “We are all brothers around one another. We like to tease and laugh and play jokes on each other. But we do that out of love. We love each other, we love the sport, and we help each other up.”

Teammate Mitchell Chesher echoed that sentiment.

“We do a lot more than just play volleyball together,” Chesher said. “We go out to dinner, compete in other sports, and spend time together off the court. We’re family.”

For many of the athletes, those bonds have been built over decades. Chesher has been a member of the team since 2006, while captain Scott Witherow helped form the Finger Lakes Aces 24 years ago. Together, they have helped create a culture that welcomes new athletes while maintaining the close-knit atmosphere synonymous with the team.

As one of the team’s longest-tenured members, Witherow takes pride in helping new athletes feel welcomed and supported.

“I can keep these guys in line and give them encouragement,” Witherow said. “I often tell the new guys, we all make mistakes, but I believe in every one of them.”

That culture of support and friendship didn’t happen by accident. Head coach Steven Marshall has spent the past 24 years building one of the most successful volleyball programs in Special Olympics New York, but he credits much of the team’s success to the athletes themselves.

“I only have three new players over the last 10 years, but they fit right in,” Marshall said. “I don’t make them fit in. I want the guys to welcome them, support them, and make them feel like part of the team, and they do it on their own.”

That sense of support extends beyond welcoming new teammates. Over the years, Marshall has worked to create an environment where athletes are encouraged to grow, compete, and challenge themselves while knowing they have the backing of their coaches and teammates.

“We don’t want to push them too far,” Marshall said. “But we don’t want to cheat them of what their abilities are, so we make it work.”

That philosophy has translated into success on the court. The Finger Lakes Aces have captured 22 consecutive state championships while maintaining the family atmosphere that players say keeps them coming back year after year

“I used to take a month off between sports, but they kept bugging me to start the new season the next week,” Marshall said with a laugh. “I usually give in because they just want to be together. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys.”

Assistant coach Mark Scheible has witnessed that bond grow over the years.

“I’ve been their biggest fan since my youngest started in 2014,” Scheible said. “As a spectator and now as an assistant coach, they’ve come such a long way. There’s a wide range of age groups, but they just gel, and it’s fun to watch.”

That bond will soon take center stage on one of the biggest stages in Special Olympics. The trip to Minneapolis marks the Finger Lakes Aces’ first appearance at the USA Games since 2014, when the team captured a bronze medal in New Jersey. More than a decade later, the Aces are preparing for another opportunity to represent Team New York and build on that success.

While the team hopes to come home with the gold this time around, Scheible said success will be measured by more than the final standings. As both a coach and the father of Aces athlete Christopher Scheible, he has seen firsthand how much the opportunity means to the team.

“They know what they’re going to be up against with some of these teams,” Scheible said. “The big thing is knowing they gave it their all. They’ll have a blast, but they’ll know they gave it their best.”

Scheible believes the athletes are well prepared for the challenge ahead. Many have years of tournament experience and understand the commitment required to compete at a high level.

“We will have nothing to worry about with these guys,” Scheible said. “They are seasoned tournament-goers.”

At the same time, the Aces are not lacking confidence.

Athlete Andy Marshall, the son of head coach Steven Marshall, believes the team’s chemistry and experience give them a legitimate chance to compete for a national championship.

“It’s about teamwork and constant communication,” Marshall said. “If we play our best, there is no other team that can take the gold away from us.”

Steven Marshall has made sure his athletes understand the challenge that awaits them, but he also knows what has made the Finger Lakes Aces successful for more than two decades.

“I told them they have to come back to New York with gold,” Marshall said with a smile. “They are motivating each other, and that’s what’s important to these guys. They know the ins and outs of all their teammates. They know who they have to support and back up.”

As the Finger Lakes Aces prepare to take the national stage once again, they will do so with the same bond that has fueled the program for more than two decades.

“This team is more than just friends for life. They are all family to me,” Witherow said. “I love all these guys. They are the best guys I can be around.”

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