BHS students participate in Special Olympics bowling

By Rachel Caron

On Wednesday January 13, ten excited Brewer High School athletes waited to board a bus that would take them over to the Bangor Brewer Bowling Lanes to compete in the bowling portion of the Special Olympics.

Despite a very late bus, they remained cool and collected. They weren’t going to let anything bring them down, which proved to be completely true, for there where nothing but big smiles and happy faces when they finally exited the bus and reached their destination.

At just this one event, there where over 100 participants coming from more than seven schools in the area. But not just high schools came out for the day, oh no, there where middle and elementary schools there as well. All the way from Hampden to Bucksport, and ages ranging from 5-21.

Chatter and the sound of clanking bowling pins filled the air, as each person patiently waited to go up and take their turn. Everyone there was so friendly, you just couldn’t help wanting to walk around and mingle with as many people as possible, in order to find out where they’re from and how they are doing in the competition.

That was one of the aspects of the occasion that Corey Tardif, Katie Petley and Michael Viens (all representatives of Brewer), agreed they liked best. Going around and meeting new people.

“It’s fun to meet new people and find out where they are from,” stated Michael, grinning from ear to ear as he added, “Plus, you get to miss school!”

Tardif, Petley and Vienns have all been bowling for at least three years. But Tardif is the only one who has been doing it competitively for that long. Not to mention, won three years ago, by a landslide!

When they’re not ruling the bowling alley, these champions like to take some time off and do other things for leisure. Corey likes to read and go bike riding, Michael enjoys video games and Katie likes to hang out with friends. But all have one thing in common, they are all incredibly personable, as well as are outstanding bowlers.

All the Brewer participants got to go over to Burger King for lunch once their bowling time was up. But they weren’t alone when they arrived there. Not only did they share the restaurant with mid-day snackers and other civilians who just came there for lunch, but they were joined by the Brewer Middle School Special Olympians as well.

Jokes and re-caps of the day’s happenings were shared over Whoppers and milkshakes as the exciting morning came to a close. Everybody did awesome and was very supportive of one another. Nobody even asked or cared what the final scores turned out to be. All where just happy to spend the day having fun with their friends, but most importantly, missing school!