Unified Sports gives all kids, even those with disabilities, a chance to do and try sports. Blair High School recently added bowling to the list of Unified sports offered, which also includes track, volleyball, and basketball.
Who could forget the Unified Champion Schools Baksketball Tournement last January where Sophomore Landon Hefling sunk a half-court shot? If you thought that was exciting, then get ready for Unified Bowling! Mrs. Maly, the coach of Unified Sports, and the kids are very excited for this new sport to be added.
“I love it. I love bowling, and I think it teaches them a lifelong leisure sport because some other leisure sports like golf and other things just require different physical things. But bowling, anyone can do bowling, so I love that,” Maly explains.
The athletes’ excitement is also evident. Team members Malachi Kerkman, Caden Finken, Makayla Morris, and Jessica Hineman believe that bowling will be a lot of fun and are most excited about it.
The Unified Team has a lot of goals for this season.
“We’re going to state. And we’re winning,” Maly said.
A senior, Jaden Rogge, agrees with her saying his goal is to go to state and win gold. Kerkman and Morris have another goal that they want to achieve. Kerkman says he hopes to bowl a strike. Morris shares this goal, and is also very excited to get Pepsi from the concession stands. The Unified Team is going to work very hard to achieve these goals.
Seniors Taylor O’Neil and Riley Yanak have athletes they look up to as inspiration. O’Neil says that she looks up to all of her teammates. She also likes to watch her sister Kaitlynn O’Neil play sports. Yanak looks up to Bode Soukup, a Blair alumni.
“[Soukup] is a good football player, and he does a lot of good things,” Yanak explains.
To get ready for their competitions, the Unified Team will travel to Fremont to practice as well as practice at Blair.
“Mrs. Boyes, who does Unified P.E., will do bowling to practice and get ready leading up to a competition,” Maly says.
The Unified Team will be ready to go by the date of their first meet in early November.
The Unified Bowling Team will have five regular season meets and then go to districts and state. The team is very excited for sports to begin, and can’t wait to get started!
