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RANDOLPH – Randolph’s newest team has found a sport right up its alley.
For the first year, Randolph is competing in Unified Bowling, a partnership between the Nebraska State Activities Association and Special Olympics. The sport is designed to create a more inclusive sports experience for students of all ability levels.
“I am so grateful that the school board and administration agreed to give this a chance,” said team coach and sponsor Frances Heiman. The inaugural team is made up of Chase Junck, team captain; senior Justin Guenther; sophomores Brayden Graham, Stewart Umberger and Brayden Worlein; freshmen Maddy Aulner and Serenity Schultz; and eighth-grade manager, Colton Meyer.
Some have never been on a school sports team before, but Guenther has been involved in cross country, basketball and track throughout high school.
“I’ve always liked to bowl and it’s my senior year so I thought I might as well try it,” he said.
Heiman said Junck is the perfect choice for team captain, after all he’s wanted to start Unified Bowling for three years.
“He is the reason that we are able to establish a team. He has grabbled his leadership role and run with it,” she said.
Guenther said Junck keeps the whole team motivated.
“I tell my teammates ‘Good Luck,’” Junck said who describes having a team as “awesome,” and being the captain as “cool.” The team started practicing in mid-October for about three or four hours each week, Heiman said, at Mrs. Bubba’s in downtown Randolph.
“They have been so generous in allowing us to take over their space for practices,” Heiman said. “They are so willing and helpful with keeping the machines working and the balls coming back from the return.”
The first season has already proven to be a success just in the journey, Heiman said.
“They were both nervous and excited at the same time especially for Chase. It had been so long of a wait to get to this point that they were ready to get going,” Heiman said.
The team has already competed in three meets – in Wayne, Osmond and Norfolk, and look forward to districts on Thursday, Nov. 30.
Guenther said the team likes to be competitive, but in general the meets are just fun and supportive, win or lose.
“We’re all new to this and learning quickly. I think we’ve all improved individually and as a team,” he said.
Heiman said her goal for the team and for the season is to improve in both attitude and skill with each competition.
“I am not too worried about the score,” she said. “There are other ways to measure progress. Making sure we are supporting each teammate and growing as humans is really the most important thing,” she said.
