Miami County Special Olympics Wraps Up Bowling Season with State Tournament, Spirit Night Event
Information provided
MIAMI COUNTY - Several local bowlers attended the Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games May 29-31 at The Ohio State University. Seven bowlers from Miami County competed. Below are tournament results:
1st Place/Gold Medals: Nate Bellamy, Jenna Newman, Alyssa Yahl
2nd Place/Silver Medals: Blake Imhoff, Casey Metcalf
5th Place: Johnnie Dennis, Jr., Jeri Jo Thomas
Athletes who bowled during the season yet did not travel to State Games included: Noah Allen, Donald Baker, Maggie Bondurant, James Bowden, John Brumbaugh, Jamie Campbell, Haley Cerbus, Jasper Dorsey, Memphis Elder, Blake Freeman, Alexandria Green, Brennen Hinger, Chris Jackson, Leslie Klingenberg, Samuel Lawson, Matty Moon, Dan Nickell, Robert Nickell, Brian Norvell, Chad Parker, Michelle Phipps, Noah Rocke, Nolan Rocke, Derrec Sandifer, Gabe Sargeant, Michael Sorauf, Rhino Szabo, Kaitlynn Thomas, Vance Thoreen, Brie Tope, Michael Wesco, Frank White, Trevor Wood, Nathan Yahl, Tristan Yingst.
Volunteer coach Doug Stone traveled to Columbus alongside Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities staff to support the State athletes. Several other volunteers gave their time each week to support athletes during practices, March through May. In addition to Doug Stone, weekly volunteers for Miami County Special Olympics bowling included: Diane Cerbus, Kim Curtis, Randy Harvey, Billie Jackson, Jason Littleton, Andrea Miller, Barry Reed, Charlene Wolfe and Crystal Younce.
The team recently completed their season with a Spirit Night event, at which several local first responders came out to bowl with athletes. First responders who joined the event include Sheriff Dave Duchak and Deputies Brian Lyons and Trae Honeycutt from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Officers Zac Smith and Tim Bragg from the Piqua Police Department, School Resource Officer Phil Osting from Tipp City Police and Shea Thomas with U.S. Capitol Police.
At the Spirit Night event, Evan French from Frenchy’s Vending in Tipp City dropped by to deliver a $500 donation to the Miami County Special Olympics program.
Miami County Special Olympics is operated by the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities as an affiliate of Special Olympics Ohio and the internationally recognized Special Olympics organization. Miami County Special Olympics offers a wide variety of year-round individual and team sports for anyone with an intellectual disability, ages 8 and older. Sports included in Miami County are basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, golf, softball, swimming and volleyball. Each program promotes athletes' emotional, physical and social health and instills a strong work-ethic and sense of teamwork. Through successful experiences, athletes build confidence and a positive self-image which carries over into the classroom, jobs and community. For more information about Miami County Special Olympics or how to donate or volunteer, visit miamicountydd.org or call (937) 440-3000.
BELOW TOP: Miami County Special Olympics volunteer coach Doug Stone (left) smiles with Miami County Special Olympics bowlers Johnnie Dennis, Jr., Alyssa Yahl and Jenna Newman after the athletes competed at the Special Olympics Ohio Summer Games May 29-31.
BELOW: Miami County Special Olympics volunteer coach Doug Stone (left) smiles with Miami County Special Olympics bowler Nate Bellamy and Nate’s parents Amber and Brian Bellamy after Nate won a gold medal at the Special Olympics Ohio Summer Games May 29-31.
