Unified Bowling is a CHSSA sanctioned sport and Rye High School is part of the rolling action. On Thursday September 22nd Rye High School’s Unified Bowling Team took to the alleys for their first competition against the defending State Region 2 team, Central Wildcats.
Unified Bowling was added as a CHSSA sanctioned sport in 2020. There are three players for each game. Coaches can substitute players throughout. CHSSA rules state, “The three students competing are comprised of at least two students (athletes) with an intellectual disability and 1 non-intellectually disabled student (partner).” Unified Sports teams must be comprised of boys and girls making it coed. A student with a physical disability may participate as a partner. CHSSA wants to make sure that “Unified Sports are dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared training and competition experiences, joining people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.”
The team is coached by Paula Hoffman and Stasi Dale with Cody Dodge and Jayden Perkins as managers. Team A consisted of Autumn Boyd, Jesus Bernal-Rogan, and Jayden Lucero. Team B consisted of Ashley Kiefer, Kyle Wilks, Jayden Meyers, and David Kawasaki. This is the first year that Rye High School has competed in the unified bowling for the district, and all the players are super excited to be a part of the team.
Rolling Thunder has practiced at Big Daddy’s Bowl during the last two months to get ready for the competitions. District 60 and District 70 schools have teams that compete in Colorado’s Region 2. Each team bowls five games and the total scores are added up to decide on the winning teams. The teams can compete at regionals for a chance to play at state.
Thursday’s competition was the first of many. The coaches and players are learning the rules and how this league plays. It is a little different than a normal bowling game, as each player only bowls once instead of bowling the whole frame. Both teams did great for the first competition. Team A had 326 total points for the five games. Team B had 353 total points for the five games.
Rolling Thunder will roll down the alleys every Thursday through October at Big Daddy’s Bowl in Pueblo. They start around 4:30. Come support the team and cheer them on.