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Local bowlers headed to Special Olympics regional competition

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

John Patterson of Janesville prepares to 'launch' his bowling ball while he practices with some other special olympians who will be going to a regional competition Saturday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Robyn Posorske of Janesville rolls his ball during practice for the Special Olympics regional contest in November.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Victoria Brinkman prepares to roll her ball down a ramp while practicing with fellow special Olympians at Blackbridge Bowl on 10/31/09. She will not be one of the area 27 athletes competing in the regionals in November.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Special Olympians practice bowling at Blakcbridge Bowl.

JANESVILLE — Bowl-A-Vard Lanes should reinforce its backdrops immediately.

In a few short days, John Patterson will arrive.

Patterson and 26 other bowlers will head to the Special Olympics regional bowling competition at Bowl-A-Vard in Madison and Prairie Lanes in Sun Prairie.

The 27 athletes are the first,- second- and third-place winners in an area competition that included 89 bowlers in nine divisions.

On Saturday, they were at Black Bridge Bowl, getting in one more practice session before the big event.

Which brings us back to Patterson.

All bowlers have different styles. Rob Posorske, another area winner, has a smooth delivery that is followed by a grin if the pins fall his way.

Weird splits don't faze him, nor do the "helpful" comments from his teammates.

Peggy Kevari, who is also going to regionals, is focused on her game while she's in the lane, but she's quite happy to talk with onlookers about her other interests.

Patterson, however, is all about the game. He's a big guy, and it can be somewhat intimidating when he swings his arm back almost to shoulder level before throwing the ball.

It's more like a controlled missile launch than a delivery—you can practically see the pins ducking.

Not that there's anything random about it. He's aiming for that sweet spot between the front two pins that will give him a pocket strike.

How ever he throws it, the ball hits the backstop with a satisfying "whump."

If you praise his bowling skills, Patterson laughs and looks a little sheepish.

Is he excited about regionals?

Yes, absolutely.

Is he nervous?

Patterson puts his forefinger and thumb close together and says, "A little bit."

A few lanes down, Posorske said he's been to a few regional competitions but still gets nervous.

"I'll have a lot of butterflies," Posorske said. "I'm worried about keeping my ball warm on the bus."

Apparently, it's not a good idea to throw a "cold" ball.

How many people would know such a thing?

Posorske would because he's been bowling for a long time.

Along with bowling, he participates in Special Olympics track and field and basketball. Once, he did bocce ball, but that's usually scheduled during "Fishing Has No Boundaries," another event he enjoys.

His best game was a 205, but he usually bowls "in the hundreds somewhere."

Kevari said her best games are "over 100."

"I like bowling," Kevari said. "I like hanging out with people."

That seemed true for all of the bowlers, who chatted between turns and handed out high-fives.

Friendship is part of the Special Olympics equation, said Rick Wilson, bowling coach.

As the bowlers begin to make friends on their own, Wilson keeps those groupings together.

"They develop friendships here and in other sports and at work," Wilson said. "We want to foster that interaction."