Niwot unified bowling aims to build camaraderie in new season

The Niwot High School unified bowling team was delayed by a slow-moving train on their way to Centennial Lanes in Longmont Sept. 15, but nothing could stop them from their second competition of the year. The lanes were already filled with teams wearing shirts of various colors, spanning all the way to the back wall. As Niwot arrived, the bowlers hurriedly laced up their shoes, searched for the right bowling balls, and started to warm up.

Coach Amy Holle was busy organizing the teams for the day and had to run back to the bus to retrieve the french fry money the students had brought. The sound of crashing pins was drowned out by the announcer over the intercom, who declared it was time for the bowling to begin.

In unified bowling, athletes with disabilities compete alongside fellow students without disabilities in teams of three, aiming for the highest combined score over 10 frames. Since its inception five years ago, Niwot’s unified bowling program has had high participation within the special education program. This year, the team has nine athletes and nine partners. Depending on availability, they field five or six teams each week.

Once students join the team, they typically stay until they graduate. They treasure Monday afternoons at Centennial Lanes as a time to be out with friends, away from school, and not at home.

“I love practicing, and just being out with my friends is really fun,” said bowler Emmett Vertuca. In the cushioned seating area, the team was talking, reading, hanging out, and cheering on their teammates. After the initial setup rush, the competition turned into a relaxing afternoon at the bowling alley.

Coach Holle loves the team because of the relationships it builds between students who might not otherwise get to know each other. “For us, it's all about the camaraderie and building relationships between all the different student groups,” she said, “just promoting friendships and showing that we can be a team together.” She believes a great team is one that helps everyone gain confidence in themselves. “We celebrate each other’s successes, no matter how small or large.”

Last year was particularly special, she said, because Niwot’s unified bowling team qualified for the state competition. Seniors Sofia Keronen, Ashlee Wood, and Fred Zorgdrager improved all season and performed excellently at regionals, earning them a spot at state at Bowlero Lanes in Englewood.

Coach Holle was proud watching them compete and seeing how their relationships carried over into the school. “Last year, when Sofia, Ashlee, and Fred made it to state, it was not a given — they worked really hard for that,” she recalled. “Just seeing them at the bowling alley, being so encouraging [was inspiring]. You could see them in school, giving high fives and making sure each other's friend groups knew who each other were. That was really cool.”

The unified bowling season runs from Sept. 9 to Nov. 4, with competitions on Monday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. at Centennial Lanes in Longmont. The season will be followed by a regional competition between SVVSD schools and the state competition in Englewood. Unified basketball starts in the spring semester.