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Special Olympics athletes head to state

St. Joseph News-Press - 2/24/2018

Feb. 24--Inside the SouthSide Family Fun Center bowling alley, there was a place where some St. Joseph residents called their second home. The Northwest Tornadoes Special Olympics athletes practiced there for their upcoming state games that will be held in March.

The Northwest Tornadoes have over 20 members and are always open to getting more. This is the first year the team is going to state and each member of the team is excited to show off what they've been practicing.

Member of the team and eager bowler, 9-year-old Aiden Ward explained what it's like being on a bowling team headed to state.

"I love being with the team," Ward said. "My favorite part is when I actually bowl. As soon as I roll the ball, I hope I get a strike, maybe even a spare or two. I want everyone to have fun just like I do."

Head coach Sheri Gray has been with the team since its beginning six years ago and she said she has no plans of leaving.

"I love being their coach, they're great. Each child is unique in their own way and I'm just glad I get to be a part of this and be with them," Gray said.

Gray expressed the team's motto is to have fun, regardless of the outcome.

"We're a unified team so we have athletes and partners and so I think they both learn so much from each other and they have so much fun. That's the most important thing to me is fun."

The team plans to practice every Friday until the state match that will be held during St. Patrick's Day weekend.

To stay updated or to learn more about the Northwest Tornadoes Special Olympics state match visit https://somo.org/indoor.

Junna Resuma can be reached at junna.resuma@newspressnow.com.

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(c)2018 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.)

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