Special Olympics celebrates 20 years alongside Open Championships
February 19, 2010
RENO, Nev. - For the 20th consecutive year, the Special Olympics National Unified Tournament helped kick things off at the USBC Open Championships.
Nearly 500 bowlers representing 15 states took to the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday and Friday, and for some tournament first-timers, competing in the one-of-a-kind 78-lane Stadium was overwhelming, but exciting at the same time.
Of course, there were some jitters and nerves for those who were new to bowling's biggest stage, but from the start of the trip until the end, all they wanted to do was have fun.
"I thought it was cool to see all the stuff that I didn't know existed," said Katie Horman, a first-time participant who made the trip from Minnesota. "This is the biggest bowling center I have ever been in."
Milton Hedrick, a coach and father of two first-time participants from North Carolina who qualified through their local Unified Tournament, thoroughly enjoyed the festivities and tried to take it all in.
"First of all, this is an amazing, amazing experience," Hedrick said. "I give great thanks to the Special Olympics and the United States Bowling Congress for allowing us to be here."
Competitors were divided into four-player teams Thursday and returned for doubles Friday. In all, there were 24 divisions in team and 47 doubles divisions.
The Special Olympics athletes were joined in competition by various family members, friends and coaches who enjoy the success of all the athletes. Each team included two Special Olympians and their unified partners, which helps carry the message of friendship and camaraderie from year to year.
"Parents, friends and athletes appreciate the quality of a USBC event, and every year, they begin early to fundraise for plane tickets and hotel rooms," said Unified National Tournament director Marty Allen, "The Special Olympics Unified National Tournament gives an opportunity for athletes to learn a sport and to participate and bowl together with their families."
The first National Unified Tournament was held alongside the 1991 Open Championships in Toledo, Ohio, thanks to the hard work of then Open Championships director Hal Kaminski and Bowling Ambassador for the Special Olympics, Jimmy Schroeder, a USBC Hall of Famer.
The two enlisted Allen, the Ohio Special Olympics Program Director, to help lead the new event, and he's been at the helm ever since. This year marks the sixth time the National Unified Tournament has been held at the NBS, which opened in 1995.
"It is always a thrill because of the scoreboard and staff," Allen said. "When you think about Hal Kaminski, Brian Lewis (USBC Championships Director) and Bob Thomas (NBS manager), USBC is like family, and wherever we are, USBC is very hospitable."
This year's field included participants from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
"We were very excited to get here," said Tom Horman, a coach and father of two first-time athletes who also made the trip from Minnesota. "The trip started with an early wake-up because of our flight time, but that wasn't a problem because we like to fly. From the airport, to the venue, the staff was great, and we appreciated their help."
For 136 consecutive days, beginning Saturday, the National Bowling Stadium will play host to the 2010 Open Championships. More than 14,000 five-player teams are scheduled to compete on the tournament lanes between Feb. 20 and July 5.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
Nearly 500 bowlers representing 15 states took to the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday and Friday, and for some tournament first-timers, competing in the one-of-a-kind 78-lane Stadium was overwhelming, but exciting at the same time.
Of course, there were some jitters and nerves for those who were new to bowling's biggest stage, but from the start of the trip until the end, all they wanted to do was have fun.
"I thought it was cool to see all the stuff that I didn't know existed," said Katie Horman, a first-time participant who made the trip from Minnesota. "This is the biggest bowling center I have ever been in."
Milton Hedrick, a coach and father of two first-time participants from North Carolina who qualified through their local Unified Tournament, thoroughly enjoyed the festivities and tried to take it all in.
"First of all, this is an amazing, amazing experience," Hedrick said. "I give great thanks to the Special Olympics and the United States Bowling Congress for allowing us to be here."
Competitors were divided into four-player teams Thursday and returned for doubles Friday. In all, there were 24 divisions in team and 47 doubles divisions.
The Special Olympics athletes were joined in competition by various family members, friends and coaches who enjoy the success of all the athletes. Each team included two Special Olympians and their unified partners, which helps carry the message of friendship and camaraderie from year to year.
"Parents, friends and athletes appreciate the quality of a USBC event, and every year, they begin early to fundraise for plane tickets and hotel rooms," said Unified National Tournament director Marty Allen, "The Special Olympics Unified National Tournament gives an opportunity for athletes to learn a sport and to participate and bowl together with their families."
The first National Unified Tournament was held alongside the 1991 Open Championships in Toledo, Ohio, thanks to the hard work of then Open Championships director Hal Kaminski and Bowling Ambassador for the Special Olympics, Jimmy Schroeder, a USBC Hall of Famer.
The two enlisted Allen, the Ohio Special Olympics Program Director, to help lead the new event, and he's been at the helm ever since. This year marks the sixth time the National Unified Tournament has been held at the NBS, which opened in 1995.
"It is always a thrill because of the scoreboard and staff," Allen said. "When you think about Hal Kaminski, Brian Lewis (USBC Championships Director) and Bob Thomas (NBS manager), USBC is like family, and wherever we are, USBC is very hospitable."
This year's field included participants from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
"We were very excited to get here," said Tom Horman, a coach and father of two first-time athletes who also made the trip from Minnesota. "The trip started with an early wake-up because of our flight time, but that wasn't a problem because we like to fly. From the airport, to the venue, the staff was great, and we appreciated their help."
For 136 consecutive days, beginning Saturday, the National Bowling Stadium will play host to the 2010 Open Championships. More than 14,000 five-player teams are scheduled to compete on the tournament lanes between Feb. 20 and July 5.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.