Two student athletes from Aberdeen Central High School are going to the 2026 USA Special Olympics Games.
Zachary Bau and Dannica Sheets have been selected to compete in Track and Field at the games.
Bau is a freshman and Sheets is a junior. They are among only 4,000 athletes chosen from across the country. Two other athletes from South Dakota are expected to be selected, but haven't been announced yet.
Peggy Heermann is head coach for the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagle Special Olympics Team. Heermann says Bau and Sheets are excited for the games.
"Both of them work so hard and put in so much effort. Especially when it comes to track and field, and other sports, also. But that was one of the main reasons why they were selected," said Heermann. "So, just very honored to have two of our athletes right here from our school be able to represent part of team South Dakota."
The 2026 USA Special Olympics are June 20-26 at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.