local
Midland athlete is shooting for gold at Special Olympics USA Games
By Katelyn Carlock at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com)
· June 26, 2026
· 1 min read
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Ashton Crocker is making his mark on the national stage this week at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, and he’s ready to bring home the gold with Team Texas.The USA Games are bringing together nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing across 16 t...
Key takeaway The USA Games are bringing together nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing across 16 team and individual sports.
Why this matters in The Odessa
Ashton Crocker's participation in the Special Olympics USA Games puts a local face on the Permian Basin's thriving special needs community. His achievement is a testament to the area's growing support for inclusive sports programs, which provide opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to develop their skills and compete at a high level. The fact that Crocker is the sole representative from Area 18 and Team Midland underscores the need for continued investment in local special needs initiatives, ensuring that more athletes can follow in his footsteps. With Crocker's success, Midland and the surrounding areas can take pride in their homegrown talent, and his experience at the USA Games will likely inspire others to get involved in special needs sports. The community's enthusiasm, as seen in the sendoff at Midland Air and Space Port, demonstrates a strong foundation for Crocker's future endeavors and those of his fellow athletes.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Ashton Crocker is making his mark on the national stage this week at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, and he’s ready to bring home the gold with Team Texas.The USA Games are bringing together nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing across 16 t...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Katelyn Carlock at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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