Area athletes to participate in state bowling tournament

DES MOINES ? On Nov. 19, nearly 900 Special Olympics Iowa bowlers will compete in the annual state bowling tournament at AMF and Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines.

Area athletes scheduled to participate in singles bowling include Macayla Coffin, Ed Hoyle, Justin Cross and Justin Morehouse, all of Fairfield.

Athletes of all ages and ability will participate in singles, doubles or team bowling. Ramp bowling is available for athletes who are unable to throw their own bowling ball. More than 250 volunteers are on tap to donate their time.

Pam Wagner, vice president of games and competition, said the annual event has been taking place for nearly 30 years.

?Bowling is the sport with our third highest participation numbers,? said Wagner. ?We have around 3,500 bowlers competing in the Special Olympics Area Bowling and of those, 900 win their way to the state tournament.?

The opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. with competition to follow. Competition takes place in three sessions with one at 10 a.m., another at 12:30 p.m. and the final one at 2:30 p.m.

Special Olympics Iowa will provide 1,200 lunches for the athletes and coaches complements of local McDonald?s stores.

?These events offer persons with intellectual disabilities wonderful opportunities to develop their strength, coordination and social skills,? Wagner said.

Special Olympics Iowa is a nonprofit organization serving Iowans with intellectual disabilities since 1968. It provides training and competitions in 23 Olympic-type sports for 11,000 athletes and Unified Sports Partners representing each of Iowa?s 99 counties.

For information, call 515-986-5520 or visit www.soiowa.org.