Special Olympics bowlers going to Vegas

Christopher Brackett massages the gold medal around his neck and says, “That’s what we’re going for.”

Fellow Special Olympic athlete Anthony Whitehead shakes his head in agreement, promising to bring the gold back to Dothan.

The two are among six members of the Dothan Special Olympics Unified Bowling League who are traveling to Las Vegas today to compete in the 19th Annual National Unified Sports Bowling Tournament. The event is a preliminary to the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Bowling Tournament that begins Saturday.

The league, which is sponsored by the City’s Department of Leisure Services, began in 1995 with two teams. There are currently 16 teams. Fourteen went to the state tournament last fall in Mobile.

Three gold and silver medal winning teams from state are advancing to the national tournament. The teams, which play locally at Patricia Lanes, include two Special Olympic athletes and two adult partners.

Linda and Tom Crew are partners with the team of Anthony Whitehead and Jay Bighems. They are the parents of a special-needs child.

“It’s been an awesome experience,” Linda Crew said. “I love being with these kids. They are so honest and truthful. When we got the gold in Mobile, Anthony was grinning from ear to ear.”

And they can’t wait to get to Vegas.

“I’m ready to get on that plane this morning!” Whitehead said Monday during a press conference to announce the trip.

The team members said they hoped to see somebody famous while in Las Vegas and some hope to take in a movie. But city staff has already laid down the law on one pastime: “No gambling!” Whitehead said.

Bowling partners Lori and Matt Barefield are looking forward to the trip with their team, one of whom is Lori’s brother, Brad Cobb.

“We got involved with this because of my brother,” she said. “We starting bowling about six years ago because this is something we could do with him. People tend to focus on their disabilities, but this shows you what they can do.”

“They get real competitive,” Matt Barefield said.

When asked who throws the most strikes, the athletes pointed to Brad Cobb.

“He’s the best,” said Cobb’s teammate, Zachary Grice.

Several fundraisers have been held to pay for airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, and registration for the athletes. The city is paying $1,107 for leisure services employee Tina McCord to go as a chaperone.

The team will return Saturday.