Event to Take Place Sunday, September 27 at Locust Grove Event Center
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP) is pleased to announce that more than 78 individuals and organizations have been nominated for 2026 ASPIRE Awards, representing 23 categories that highlight outstanding contributions in support of student athletes with qualifying disabilities. The Adapted Sports Programs in Recreation and Education (ASPIRE) Awards recognize the exemplary efforts of individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in advancing AAASP’s mission to expand access to adapted sports programming nationwide.
The Eighth Annual ASPIRE Awards Celebration will take place on Sunday, September 27th at the Locust Grove Event Center, 280 Mose Brown Road, Locust Grove, Georgia. The event will be emceed by actor, writer and television personality Patrick Cusick, and will feature keynote remarks from special guest, Tasha Schuh, Speaker, Author, and Resilience Coach. During the ceremony, AAASP will honor these 78 nominees and name the ASPIRE award recipients for 2026.
Adapted Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Jenna Proctor - Calhoun High School, Gordon County Schools
Laila Kindness - Warner Robins High School, Houston County School District
Ben Vondrak - Wesleyan School (Private), Peachtree Corners, GA
Coach of the Year Award – JV
Charles “Drew” Freeman - Muscogee Lions
Harlon Matthews - Georgia Storm
Ryan Johnson - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Coach of the Year Award – Varsity
Rachel Sprayberry - West Georgia Wolverines
Jaqueline Randall - Houston County Sharks
Kristen Harter - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Community-Based Award
Lakeshore Foundation - Lakeshore Lakers / Lakeshore Foundation, Birmingham, AL
Adaptive Sports Northwest (ASNW) - Portland, OR
Tulalip Orcas Special Olympics - Snohomish County, WA
Education-Based Award
Houston County School District - Houston County Sharks
Muscogee County School District - Muscogee Lions
Clarke County School District - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Eli Wolff Advocacy Award
Jacob Couch - Kyle Pease Foundation
Dr. Taka Hines - Atlanta Public Schools
Tanya Anderson - Georgia High School Association
Central Georgia Car Scene - Peach County Schools
Dr. Alan Long - BSN Sports
Robert Hicks - Clarke County School District
Gail Hendrick Champion of Support Award
Jamie Schneller - Houston County School District
Samuel Gonzalez - Clayton County Public Schools
Russell Bentley - Houston County School District
Virginia and Curtis Tabron - Houston County School District
Kerry Whaley - Troup County Parks and Recreation
Greg Sullivan - Atlanta Public Schools
High School Senior Athlete Award
Blakelea Speer - West Georgia Wolverines
Randall Montanez Aguirre - Gwinnett Heat
Caleb Merriken - Muscogee Lions
Caden Nelson - Houston County Sharks
Anthony Cuti - Houston County Sharks
Leslie Sweatman Official of the Year Award
Ted Childs - Official
Aron Young - Official
Sherry Richards - Official
Media Hero Award
Score Atlanta / Georgia High School Daily - Atlanta, GA
Elaine Krivsky - Houston County Sharks Media
GPB Sports - Atlanta, GA
Most Improved JV Athlete
Halyn Duncan - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Hunter Culverson - Muscogee Lions
Mickelson McGraw - Muscogee Lions
Eli Harper - Houston County Sharks
Most Improved Varsity Athlete
Ruby Stachowski - Houston County Sharks
Jeremiah Rhodes - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Jose Aguirre - Clayton Eagles
The Dr. Ralph Swearngin Spirit of AAASP Sportsmanship Award
Jaden Screen - Houston County Sharks
Jace Tolliver - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Reid Peteet - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Caleb Merriken - Muscogee Lions
Vaughn-Storms Founders’ Award
DeKalb County School District - DeKalb County School District
Kyle Pease Foundation - Atlanta, Georgia
Varsity Scholar Athlete
Jenna Proctor - Calhoun High School, Gordon County Schools
Jeremiah Rhodes - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Anthony Cuti - Houston County Sharks
Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year Award – JV
Ja’Corian Carter - Georgia Storm
Marissa Miller - Georgia Storm
Cullen Minter - Muscogee Lions
Paul Hart - Muscogee Lions
Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year Award – Varsity
Michael Martins - Clayton Eagles
Anthony Cuti - Houston County Sharks
Caleb Watters - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Wheelchair Football Athlete of the Year Award – JV
Paul Hart - Muscogee Lions
Caleb Merriken - Muscogee Lions
Lane Rogers - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Cullen Minter - Muscogee Lions
William Hannah - Georgia Storm
Piper Barronton - Houston County Sharks
Wheelchair Football Athlete of the Year Award – Varsity
Gary Woodruff - Clayton Eagles
Caden Nelson - Houston County Sharks
Jordan Parks - West Georgia Wolverines
Wheelchair Handball Athlete of the Year Award - JV
Natalynn Wakeland - Houston County Sharks
Lane Rogers - Clarke Classic City Dawgs
Paul Hart - Muscogee Lions
Ja'Corian Carter - Georgia Storm
Maggie McGraw - Muscogee Lions
Wheelchair Handball Athlete of the Award -Varsity
AJ Burns - Peach County Rolling Trojans
Marisol Madrigal- Gwinnett Heat
Xavier Bullock - Clayton Eagles
Please note: The ASPIRE Awards nomination listing reflects nominees who met all eligibility requirements and fulfilled the nomination criteria outlined on the website. Nominees were placed in the award category appropriate to their qualifications and nomination. Thank you to the following 2026 AAASP ASPIRE Awards Sponsors: the Georgia Department of Education, the State of Georgia, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), Northside Hospital, Stout Creative, Varsity Brands and the AAASP Board of Directors.
Plan to join us for the event at Locust Grove Event Center – at 4:00 pm – to celebrate the nominees and winners with us! Tickets are only $50 and includes a catered dinner at the event! Learn more at: https://adaptedsports.org/2026-aspire-awards/ and RSVP for the event at: 2026 ASPIRE Awards - AdaptED Sports
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a not-for-profit association dedicated to developing interscholastic adapted sports programs in partnership with national, state, and local educational agencies. AAASP represents a standardized approach to extracurricular adapted team sports and has developed one of the nation's most comprehensive school-based athletic programs for students with qualifying disabilities attending elementary, middle, and high school. For more information, please visit our website at http://adaptedsports.org or join our conversations on Twitter at: @AdaptedSports.
Contacts:
Atlanta: Terri Grunduski, Adapted Sports – tgrunduski@adaptedsports.org 404-226-7497
