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Ready to roll again
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| H&N photo by Josh Petrie Celebrating: Justin Tice, 19, a regional gold medalist, gives a high-five to a teammate while practicing at Hanscam’s Bowling Center Nov. 11. |
The last trip: Bowlers finish year at Special Olympics Games
By JOSH PETRIE
H&N Sports Writer
“It’s a sport I’ve finally found that I’m good at,” he said. “For me, bowling is building character.”
Tice will join several other Klamath County athletes for the Special Olympics Oregon Fall Games this Saturday in Beaverton and Hillsboro. Tice and his teammates may represent the final Klamath County group to compete in its respective state games, as donations are difficult to acquire in the current economy.
One last run
For one more week, however, the Special Olympians have state on their minds.
“I’m very excited,” said Mac Butler, one of Klamath’s seven ramp-assisted bowlers to medal during last month’s regionals in Medford. “It’s fun. I like it.”
Bowling is the only fall sport Klamath County offers, and it is well attended by athletes of all ages. One of the team’s most experienced bowlers is Leo Mursu, 90, the oldest Special Olympics bowler in the state.
Mursu, who is recognized at the state games on an annual basis, has established quite the practice regimen when he bowls Tuesdays at Hanscam’s Bowling Center.
“He and his buddy come down here, and they have to have their coffee and their sandwich,” local program coordinator Kathy Walton said, “and they have to have their coffee before they leave.”
Though Mursu sticks around, several of the group’s older bowlers chose not to participate. In their place is a steady influx of younger athletes, many of whom are in their late teens and early 20s.
One prime example of Klamath’s youth movement is Tice, 19, who won a gold medal at regionals. Winning was a new feeling for Tice, but it was one he welcomed.
“This was the first time I got first place and a gold medal,” he said. “It was pretty shocking for me, but at the same time, I was thrilled and I was happy.”
He’s excited for a chance to win at state, but he admitted he still has some work to do to enter this weekend at his best.
“I’m psyched about it, but also at the same time, I’m a little nervous. I’m just hoping I can get better so I can be prepared,” Tice said. “If I win or lose, I’ll know I’ve tried my hardest, and I tried hard to make my family proud.”
Limited funds
With Klamath’s budget situation in its current state, this may be Tice’s last chance at a state title.
It’s free for athletes to participate, but everything costs money for the organization. From lodging and meals for state and regional competition, to transportation costs for coaching certification seminars, there are a lot of expenses for an organization that runs solely on local donations.
“It’s really, really tight for us, and this year people just didn’t have the money to give. We’re running at a deficit any way you look at it,” Walton said. “Where we can cut corners, we’ll cut corners, but we don’t have a lot of fat to trim because we’ve been cutting so much already.”
Starting this winter, athletes will travel only to regional competition, which takes several state medal contenders out of the running. Even this fall, the state games experience must be scaled back.
“After competition, they (usually) have a dinner, a dance and ceremonies to look forward to. Our kids are coming home because we can’t afford to stay that extra night,” Walton said. “They’ll get there just in time to eat and basically go to bed, then get up, pack up, go to competition, turn around and come back home.”
Special Olympics Bowling
Here are the Klamath County Special Olympics medalists in their respective divisions from the recently completed regional championships in Medford. The Special Olympics Oregon Fall Games are this weekend in Beaverton and Hillsboro.
MALE SINGLES
30-up — Wesley Anderson, silver; Steven Briggs, bronze; Harry Castro, gold; Jason Coker, silver; Shawn Cotter, gold; Michael Doing, gold; Allen Lawless, bronze; Leo Mursu, gold; Otis Wade Jr., bronze; Michael Wagner, bronze.
22-29 — Michael Arthur, silver; Bert Ichtertz Jr., silver; Matthew Ross, silver.
16-21 — Matthew Blackmore, gold; Levi Clayton, gold; Ethan Reid, gold; Justin Tice, gold; Ernie Truppner, silver; Brandon Yates, gold.
8-11 — Gregory Battis, gold.
FEMALE SINGLES
30-up — Sue Barbar, gold; Shona Gomall, gold; Malynda Grinnals, gold; Jessica Singleton, silver; Marion Truppner, gold; Kellie Vance, bronze.
22-29 — Sybil Archer, gold; Shannon Roe, gold.
16-21 — Crystal Beeman, bronze; Krystal Slover, gold.
MALE RAMP ASSISTED
30-up — Mac Butler, silver.
16-21 — Cody Mattson, gold.
12-15 — Zachary Benz, gold.
8-11 — Joseph Huitt, silver.
FEMALE RAMP ASSISTED
22-29 — Lindsey Snyder, silver.
12-15 — Patrice Zierke, gold.
8-11 — KateLynn Randall, silver.
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| Keeping respect |
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