Local athletes performed well during the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Bowling Championships.
Mark Mengersen dominated in 10-pin bowling, earning gold in singles and gold overall in his division as well as silver in team competition and doubles during the competition, held May 14-20 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Olds and District Special Olympics (ODSO) chair Karen Mengersen says the camaraderie between Mark and a Quebec athlete he competed against was special.
"They cheered each other along all through the games," she says.
Mengersen says at one point, Mark bowled 140, which is 61 points over his average.
"It was just amazing," she says. "I mean, he had support of almost the whole room that was watching."
In five-pin bowling, Sandra McCloskey won a silver medal and Joey Rempel a bronze medal in their respective divisions.
"They were on a roll to start with. The team was actually in first place at the end of Wednesday. And then scores kind of went downhill from there," " Mengersen says.
"But you know, it happens. Everybody's in the same boat and you're all excited. If you can't get your groove, you can't get your groove."
Forty teams from across Canada (seven from Alberta) took part in the five-pin competition. The Olds and District team placed fifth in its division.
Mengersen says only six of 105 ODSO bowlers qualified for the Nationals in P.E.I, "so to have six qualify to go, that's pretty good."
"And so they got there, and in my mind, just that accomplishment in itself is a landmark for them," she adds.
