SWV Geckos Powerlifting

05/06/2026

We are so excited and SO ready for summer games! Don’t blink and you will see some of our athletes in this clip!

04/30/2026

Happy Birthday to one of our very first team members! You light up our life, Alex!

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04/24/2026

Thank you and for partnering with us again this year to produce our team shirts! We love them and will look sharp at competition! Matt Noel

04/09/2026

Thank you APEMAN STRONG! and Matt Noel This is an amazing video production. The shirt design is SO AWESOME! Can’t thank you enough. Our team will look sharp… and a little dangerous… at the games!

Special Olympics Arizona

04/05/2026

Regionals is in our rear view mirror, but it is the catalyst to what’s ahead…state games! Last weekend, these athletes showed up with their talent and showed off with their strength and spirit! What a joy!

More pictures and video from last week is in its way. STAY TUNED!

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03/18/2026

We commit. We encourage. We have fun! We’re a team! 🦎

05/04/2025

05/03/2025

Thank you Special Olympics Arizona for capturing our master level lifter in action during the games!

04/27/2025

This week is AZ and National Volunteer week. So, we are highlighting our amazing coaches and volunteers who give of their time and talents from their hearts.

Please give some praise for three volunteers that help support our coaches and athletes. Benjamin, Raelyn, and Raul!

This is Benjamin’s third year supporting the team. He is also Jonathan’s brother. This is Raelyn and Raul’s first year supporting the team. Raelyn is also a powerlifter earning Best Lifter in her most recent meet. Raul also volunteers his time with PALS, a ministry located in Goodyear for adults with disabilities.

Thank you to all our volunteers for your service and loving so well.

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04/26/2025

First day of lifting was yesterday! Way to go, Geckos!

>Audrey: First state competition and new personal record (PR) in bench (17.5 kg/38.5 lbs) and deadlift (57.5 kg/126.5 lbs)

>Jennifer: New PR in bench (32.5 kg/71.5 lbs), tied PR in deadlift (70 kg/154 lbs)

>Jonathan:PR in deadlift (72.5 kg/159.5 lbs)

>Alex: PR in deadlift (57.5 kg/126.5 lbs)

04/25/2025

This week is AZ and National Volunteer week. So, we are highlighting our amazing coaches and volunteers who give of their time and talents from their hearts.

Please give some praise for Coach Jill Nico. Coach Jill is a co-founder and the head coach of SWV Geckos Powerlifting team. This is her third year coaching Special Olympics athletes in powerlifting.

Jill has always been interested in fitness, especially group fitness classes because of the supportive community it creates. So when SOAZ brought back the sport of powerlifting Jill worked quickly to partner with the local YMCA where she works out and taught group fitness to support a team. Her son with Down syndrome, Jonathan, was also interested in the sport. And, so her dream of a Special Olympics team in the southwest valley came true!

In addition to holding a Primary Group Fitness certification with AFAA, Jill also became a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and Adaptive Fitness Trainer through Strong Education over the last two years.

Jill’s favorite thing about coaching the Geckos is again the authentic community it creates. Jill says, “Going to practices is a highlight of my week! Our athletes bring their whole hearts bravely and without reservation to every practice. It is an absolute pleasure working with them. That doesn’t mean we don’t have hard times and disappointments. It means there is always support. No one is alone. Lifting heavy can be intimidating, especially if you have never tried it before and many of our athletes come to us with little exposure to resistance training because of lack of opportunity. With the support of each other, the coaches and other volunteers, the athletes get stronger and gain more confidence. Whether they get that first successful lift at competition or help each other out at practice, I know it was all important and it’s all because of this community.”

Thank you Coach Jill for your service and loving so well.

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