Ames resident Lindsey Coady will set several milestones on the soccer field this summer when she competes in the first-ever Special Olympic USA National Games.

A first in the history of Special Olympics, it will also be a first for Lindsey – her fiance is her teammate.

“This is actually our first time being on the same team,” Lindsey said. “[Our coach] thinks we’ll kiss or something, but we’ll probably just hug or give a high five when we score or something – we’re not gonna kiss.”

She met James Benton, of Collins, at a high school Special Olympics competition nearly eight years ago. They remained friends and have been dating for a year-and-a-half.

Last summer, when both were competing at a softball tournament, Lindsey said Benton surprised her with an engagement proposal.

“I will never forget that day,” she said.

“I had to play the next game really [soon] after my last game, and he said ‘Lindsey, go sit down on the bench on the bleachers.’ And then he bent down on his right knee, and pulled [out] the box with the ring in it, opened it, and at the same time asked, ‘Lindsey, will you marry me?’

“I was shocked. All I could say was, ‘Sure.’ I was going to say, ‘Yes,’ but I couldn’t say yes.”

That’s the reason why Lindsey got involved with the Special Olympics – because she can meet new people, make friends and have fun.

“James [Benton] is very active in Special Olympics sports,” said Lindsey’s mother, Chris Coady. “And I think that’s one thing that has kept Lindsey involved in so many different things – swimming, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, track, you name it.”

The Coadys adopted Lindsey and her biological brother Christopher 19 years ago. When they learned the two had younger twin siblings in foster care, David and Annie, they adopted them too, Chris said.

“I always grew up thinking that [adoption] was a really neat thing,” Chris said. “We were thinking of adopting at one point, and there was a Donahue show on one morning and it was all about adopting people with special needs, and I just fell in love.”

Three of the Coadys’ four children, including Lindsey, were born with disabilities.

Lindsey has mild cerebral palsy, bipolar disorder and is mildly mentally disabled, Chris said.

That doesn’t keep her from exercising, working or taking life “head-on,” as her mom describes it.

Among all the activities that Lindsey and Benton are involved with, they both agree soccer is their favorite.

Lindsey and Benton’s coaches, Marlene and Gary Cummings, said they are grateful for that.

“Benton is a really good athlete, a good asset for soccer,” Marlene said.

The Cummings will coach the unified soccer team that both Lindsey and Benton will be playing on.

The Special Olympics Unified Sports program brings together athletes with and without disabilities to train and compete together, according to the Special Olympics Web site.

The Cummings have coached for nearly 15 years and, as huge soccer fans, got involved with Special Olympics because their daughter Sara, who is also on the unified soccer team, has Down syndrome and enjoys the sport.

Describing the team as one of the most competitive and talented for the sport, Marlene said the athletes know the difference between having fun and being competitive. But as is expected for all Special Olympics games, good sportsmanship is a key component that the athletes are proud of.

As for concern over Benton and Lindsey’s displays of affection, she said she has none.

“In fact, [their relationship] will probably work to our advantage,” Marlene said, noting both Lindsey and Benton would have more incentive to come to practice.

Outside of sports, Lindsey keeps herself busy as a stocker and food service assistant at Ames High School, where she’s worked since graduating from high school in 2004.

As part of her job, she said at times she has to lay down the law when it comes to cafeteria etiquette.

“Some of [the students] I have to get on – about throwing drinks, throwing food, breaking up fights,” she said.

In the event of a food frenzy or make-out session, she said she is sure to get in there and put an end to it.

“Once they see me coming, they break up fast,” she said. “I’m a tough cookie.”