Pictured at State Fall Classic Bowling Competition representing the Northeast Bowlers are team members, from left, front row, Frannie Sawyer (Lone Star) and Maggie Sawyer (Lone Star); and back row, coach John Durbin, Austin Durbin (Holyoke), Christian Gallagher (Yuma), Caleb Moormeier (Akron), partner Kyla Pachner (Akron) and coach Nikki Hettinger.
Holyoke’s Austin Durbin competes at the state bowling competition in Englewood on Saturday, Nov. 20.
State bowling yields medals and smiles
Special Olympics Colorado hosted the State Fall Classic Bowling Competition on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the AMF Belleview Lanes in Englewood.
The Northeast Bowlers, which is composed of “athletes” and “partners” through Northeast Board of Cooperative Educational Services Unified Champion Schools Special Olympics bowling program, was represented by five athletes and one partner at state.
The team included athletes Austin Durbin (Holyoke), Frannie Sawyer (Lone Star), Christian Gallagher (Yuma), Caleb Moormeier (Akron) and Maggie Sawyer (Lone Star); partner Kyla Pachner (Akron); and coaches John Durbin and Nikki Hettinger.
Athlete Abraham Diaz and partners Thomas Diaz and Levi Dille were unable to attend.
Approximately 900 bowlers from across the state were at the competition, and the Northeast Bowlers were part of the 11:30 a.m. wave.
All Northeast Bowlers competed in unique doubles divisions. Two teams from brought home gold medals, and one team received silver in their respective divisions.
Everyone involved — athletes, partner, coaches, family members and friends — enjoyed the day and the camaraderie of competition and inclusion.
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