Unified Bowling originally started through the Special Olympics and it allows athletes to compete with and against school teams. Unified Bowling pairs people with and without disabilities together to compete as a team. The main goal for Unified Bowling is for everyone to be included and work together regardless of their ability.
“I usually talk to the partner athletes and the athletes to see who they would like to partner with and I usually try to mix it up a little so that each partner athlete gets to bowl with each unified athlete,” Rosenhagen said.
Liz Rhea (12) is one of the partner athletes on the Highlands Unified Bowling team that helps the athletes during matches.
“The most important part is just helping others and being on the team, not just for yourself. It is just a lot of fun to help others and not doing something out of self seeking intention,” Rhea said.
Emma Lang (8) is one of the athletes on the Unified Bowling team.
“I love being part of a team and hanging with my friends,” Lang said.
“I think it’s a really fun program and that I think anyone can do it. We just have fun being on the team and it creates good friendships not with the students but with the partners as well,” Rhea said.
A typical bowling match consists of 10 frames and they alternate frames. The athlete does 5 frames and the partner does 5 frames. The total score is combined between the athlete and the partner.
“Each Unified Athlete has a partner that encourages them, makes them feel special and included in the sport,” Emma’s Mom Amy Lang said.
The Unified Bowling team has a lot of strong athletes and partner athletes, and they also have a great person that runs the program that they are a part of.
Highlands High School’s Unified Bowling team is run by Marie Rosenhagen.
Rosenhagen has been running the Unified Bowling program for the past 8 years at HHS.
The athletes have to stay motivated and engaged during matches, which can be difficult. The athletes try their best to stay motivated and engaged during their matches.
“I think we need to see more awareness about Unified Bowling. We want to continue such a great program but will need the volunteers to partner with the unified athletes to continue to have a strong team,” Amy said.
At the regional tournament this year, partners Emma Lang and Riley Tolle finished as Semi-Finalists in Regionals.
“I got third place in Regionals, which was one win away from going to state!” Emma Lang said.
