ROCKINGHAM — More than 100 of Richmond County’s Special Olympics athletes took their turns at the lanes of Strikers Bowling Alley on Thursday.
According to Special Olympics Coordinator Theressa Smith, 130 athletes were registered for the event with ages ranging from elementary school students to adults.
There were so many participants, they were split up into three groups.
Some used the metal rails to help guide their balls toward the pins while others launched their balls down the lanes.
“They’ve been practicing for six weeks,” said Smith. “As soon as this is over they’ll start practicing for our Spring Games.”
Helping them out were firemen from the Rockingham Fire Department and volunteers from Big Rock Sports, von Drehle and the Richmond County Schools central office. The state organization presented von Drehle with an award late last year for its support of the Special Olympics.
The athletes were awarded silver and gold medals during the tournament.
Smith said the state bowling tournament will be the same time as the Spring Games tournament this summer and North Carolina Special Olympics will let her know later how many athletes Richmond County will be able to send.
“We look at how they did over the season and who will be able to travel with us,” she said about determining who will go.
Smith said the organization is looking for lane sponsors and businesses to donate door prizes, as well as bowling teams, for an upcoming fundraising tournament on March 25.
More information about that tournament will be made available soon.