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Athletes converge on Havre for Special Olympics Bowling Championship

Harvest Moon Lanes hosted Friday 78 athletes participating in the annual Special Olympics Montana Havre's Bowling Championships.

Special Olympics Montana Sports Director Scott Held said, overall, the event went exceptionally well.

"I enjoyed the athletes," he said. "Joy from competing and having the opportunity to see the teams and their coaches

  He added that the event had a very full first flight in which every lane in the space was occupied.

"What I really love about the Havre tournament is that there are a lot of our rural smaller teams that don't necessarily come to our bigger state competitions, but they are able to come to a local competition like this," Special Olympics Montana Vice President Mandy Patriarch said.

Patriarch said the best part of the event is to see the smiles that are on the athletes' faces.

"Seeing the confidence in our athletes after they've won that medal and their big smile and the pride in their coaches and families eyes is my favorite part," she said.

Volunteer Carsyn Vogel of Havre said this year was her third or fourth year volunteering for Special Olympics.

She said she really enjoys helping at the event.

"Just all the energy and excitement you get from all the winners and the bowling," she said. "It really just brightens up your month, your week, it just is something that is very exciting to do. It's exciting to see people win and have fun together."

Athlete Jeffery Carlson of Havre, 28, said he has participated in Special Olympics for 19 years.

He said he won a bronze medal for making a strike.

"It was kind of cool," he said.

Athlete A.J. Drew of Havre, 30, said she has participated in Special Olympics bowling for the past 15 years.

"Just having fun mostly, and seeing everybody again," she said. "I think it's so much (fun) to be around my friends, mostly hangout and just for the fun of it. Doesn't matter if you get gold or not, it's pretty much just to hang out and have fun."

She added that she loves to bowl for fun outside of the bowling events through Special Olympics. 

 

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