Special Olympics unified bowlers head to Baton Rouge
By Teri Stein
February 6, 2012
904
Two teams from Tuscarawas County will be heading to the National Special Olympics Unified Bowling tournament in Baton Rouge, La. with the goal of bringing home some medals. In unified team bowling a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a teammate without an intellectual disability.
Unified bowling has been offered for the past 15 years as part of the Tuscarawas County Special Olympics and qualifying teams have advanced to the national competition held in various cities each year.
This year, the 22nd annual National Unified Team Bowling tournament will be held Feb. 14-17. Athletes will compete in doubles and (four person) team. The doubles competing are: Kershel Zehnder and his father, Koran; Travis Glasgow and his father, Bob; Zachary Coleman, 14, and his partner, David Williams, 12; and Steven Law, 12, and his father, Brian. Also traveling with the group will be Linda Hobart and Sue Kloc, Area 9 co-directors for Special Olympics Ohio, bowling coach Cathy Roth, Laura Williams and Kay Zehnder.
To qualify for the national tournament a team must earn a medal at the state tournament. The trip is sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, TUSCARC – a support group for the Starlight programs and Special Olympics, the Ruth Carlson/Starlight Foundation, and the local Special Olympics program.
Special Olympics unified bowling is the most popular sport in the program with nearly 60 athletes and partners participating. Many individuals with disabilities also participate in regular league play at Boulevard Lanes. Theres a big barrier in sports that individuals with disabilities can participate in any sport with people without disabilities. It shows what these individuals can do that they can compete with other individuals without disabilities in a league, said Linda Hobart.
The National Special Olympics Unified Bowling competition is part of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and precedes its open mens bowling tournament. All those participating in the National Special Olympics Unified Bowling tournament will receive membership in the USBC and receive the same benefits as the other USBC members. Its by this partnership that barriers are broken down, said Hobart
Cathy Roth is the coach of the national team. She and her husband, David, also coach the bowling teams during the spring season. When they get to the national level they pretty much know what they are doing. Im just here to give a few pointers, Roth said of her teams progress.
David Williams, 12, is part of the youngest team to attend the nationals and is the partner of athlete Zachary Coleman. I wasnt sure what to expect, said Williams of his involvement in unified bowling. Then I became really excited about it and I wanted to come every week because its a lot of fun. His said his previous bowling experience was limited to birthday parties. Ive gotten better throughout the season but I still need to get better.
Kershel Zehnder has already set a goal of winning a gold medal. Id be excited, he said. Kershel has participated in Special Olympics bowling for 12 years. He averages 117 but during last weeks practice earned a 190. Kershel also participates in a regular Saturday bowling league and he loves bowling because its fun, he likes getting high scores, and eating supper at the bowling alley.
Unified bowling offers some valuable father-son time for Brian Law and his son, Steven. (Steven) likes getting out and doing new things. He focuses because this is something he enjoys, said Brian.
Socialization is an important part of being involved in Special Olympics and something the athletes enjoy. Travis Glasgow is looking forward to the last night of the tournament when a dance is held. I want to dance with some Cajun girls, he said, adding that meeting new people is one of his favorite things about participating in sports.
Zachary Coleman is excited about seeing crocodiles and alligators on the trip the group will take on their free day on Tuesday. The team voted to take a pontoon boat ride through a swamp.
To compete it all comes down to one thing and Zachary understands the importance of working together. If it werent for my teammates I wouldnt be here. When it comes to stuff like this, you cant do it on your own, he said.
