National Unified Tournament helps to start excitement in Baton Rouge
February 28, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Special Olympics National Unified Tournament returned for its 33rd edition alongside the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships this week at the Raising Cane’s River Center to give more than 375 athletes and unified partners representing 22 different states and Curaçao the chance to compete on the national level.
The event took place Feb. 26 and 27 at the River Center, starting with a team event on Day 1 and doubles on Day 2. Each day featured two squads, with each team featuring two Special Olympians and their unified partners.
Teams and doubles pairings competed for medals based on their division.
The National Unified Tournament is an exceptional event, where athletes can come and compete but also have fun with friends from all over on the big stage.
“It’s an opportunity to see old friends, renew friendships and meet new people from all over the country,” said event manager Marty Allen, who has been part of the tournament since its start back in 1991 in Toledo, Ohio.
Allen says that his favorite part of the tournament is when a bowler remembers him from past years.
“I have people come over and say, ‘Hey, remember what happened last year?’ They have a memory from going to that tournament,” Allen said.
The last time the National Unified Tournament took place outside of Nevada was in 2018 when the USBC Open Championships were held in Syracuse, New York. Being able to bring the tournament to a different area after some time is always great for the bowlers.
Allen said, “When bowlers come for the Special Olympics, they love being able to see new places. They like being able to see different parts of the country that they may not have been able to see before.”
The tournament made its third visit to Baton Rouge after previous trips alongside the Open Championships in 2005 and 2012. The event also saw an increase in participation with almost 100 new bowlers as well as five more states and the addition of an international team in the field.
Allen said, “This keeps growing. We are seeing more states and more bowlers, and we hope to be able to see more countries join us in the future now that we have broken that barrier.”
The group from Curaçao traveled about 15 hours to get to Baton Rouge to participate in the event for the first time. The team included athletes Julien Apostel and Juliana Marmolejo, unified partners Mariela Romero and Anwar Franken, and coach Patricia Marques de Sousa.
“We have really enjoyed it, and I think that we made Curaçao proud,” Romero said. Franken added in saying, “This trip was worth it.”
The athletes and unified partners were able to come away with three total medals. They earned gold in the team event for their division. In doubles, Julien and Anwar received bronze for their performance. Juliana and Mariela also collected bronze in their doubles event.
Romero said, “It’s not only unified partners in bowling, but for us, it is that we are friends, we are family and we guide them as well.”
Most of the team members have been to the United States in the past, but this trip served as Julien’s first visit. Romero said, “I hope this continues with other international teams and that more people that have a different ability can come and enjoy this event.”
Marques de Sousa added, “Thank you to everyone for inviting us out to the event.”
The 2025 Open Championships gets underway March 1 and will run for 150 consecutive days at the River Center. The tournament will conclude July 28.
The event took place Feb. 26 and 27 at the River Center, starting with a team event on Day 1 and doubles on Day 2. Each day featured two squads, with each team featuring two Special Olympians and their unified partners.
Teams and doubles pairings competed for medals based on their division.
The National Unified Tournament is an exceptional event, where athletes can come and compete but also have fun with friends from all over on the big stage.
“It’s an opportunity to see old friends, renew friendships and meet new people from all over the country,” said event manager Marty Allen, who has been part of the tournament since its start back in 1991 in Toledo, Ohio.
Allen says that his favorite part of the tournament is when a bowler remembers him from past years.
“I have people come over and say, ‘Hey, remember what happened last year?’ They have a memory from going to that tournament,” Allen said.
The last time the National Unified Tournament took place outside of Nevada was in 2018 when the USBC Open Championships were held in Syracuse, New York. Being able to bring the tournament to a different area after some time is always great for the bowlers.
Allen said, “When bowlers come for the Special Olympics, they love being able to see new places. They like being able to see different parts of the country that they may not have been able to see before.”
The tournament made its third visit to Baton Rouge after previous trips alongside the Open Championships in 2005 and 2012. The event also saw an increase in participation with almost 100 new bowlers as well as five more states and the addition of an international team in the field.
Allen said, “This keeps growing. We are seeing more states and more bowlers, and we hope to be able to see more countries join us in the future now that we have broken that barrier.”
The group from Curaçao traveled about 15 hours to get to Baton Rouge to participate in the event for the first time. The team included athletes Julien Apostel and Juliana Marmolejo, unified partners Mariela Romero and Anwar Franken, and coach Patricia Marques de Sousa.
“We have really enjoyed it, and I think that we made Curaçao proud,” Romero said. Franken added in saying, “This trip was worth it.”
The athletes and unified partners were able to come away with three total medals. They earned gold in the team event for their division. In doubles, Julien and Anwar received bronze for their performance. Juliana and Mariela also collected bronze in their doubles event.
Romero said, “It’s not only unified partners in bowling, but for us, it is that we are friends, we are family and we guide them as well.”
Most of the team members have been to the United States in the past, but this trip served as Julien’s first visit. Romero said, “I hope this continues with other international teams and that more people that have a different ability can come and enjoy this event.”
Marques de Sousa added, “Thank you to everyone for inviting us out to the event.”
The 2025 Open Championships gets underway March 1 and will run for 150 consecutive days at the River Center. The tournament will conclude July 28.