A total of 25 athletes graced Lakeside Lanes bowling alley Saturday morning for the annual Cortez Special Olympics regional bowling tournament.
The Cortez Orange Flames had 19 bowlers, while Durango brought six.
Many ribbons were given out, but it was Durangos Troy McIntire, 29, who bowled the best. The longtime Special Olympian bowled 209 and 210 for the high average of 209.5.
I feel great, said McIntire, who regularly averages 180 to 190. Ive been bowling since I was 5 or 6.
Durango coach Anne Talbot has her team practice at the bowling alley inside Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio to prepare her squad for Lakeside Lanes.
This is the second time Ive been the bowling coach when weve come here from Durango. Its fabulous, said Talbot, who coaches her son, Lucas Talbot. Special Olympics is an amazing program
Joshua Aldaz, 26, led the Cortez Orange Flames with the high average on the team, bowling 98 and 158 to average 128. Aldaz took first-place in his division.
Im good. Im a legend in bowling, Aldaz said. It was good (at regionals). Now we get to go to Denver (for the state tournament).
Cortez Special Olympics coach Marcelino Aldaz felt the 2011 regional tournament was a success.
I think overall, it was a good tournament, he said. It was a pretty good showing of people and we had really good volunteers. I think all of our volunteers enjoyed it. The bowlers enjoyed their scores. Theyre doing good.
Other first-place division averages for the Orange Flames were Scotti Bagwell, 63; Barbara Antoine, 114.5; David Winters, 103; newcomer Eric Garcia, 104.5; and, Stella Kiefer, 125.
Remaining averages for Cortez include, Jonathan Martin, 38.5; Richard Fedishen, 76.5; Rodney Guggenheim, 82.5; Ray Korns, 93; Koy Polich, 90.5; Erica Peters, 80; Heather Fields, 105.5; Wesley Hamilton, 83.5; Leo Cross, 120.5; Lee Hall, 103.5; George Sturgeon, 123; Beau Ayers, 30; and, Kiri Buchanan, 119.5.
The Orange Flames will now prepare for the Colorado State Special Olympics Bowling Tournament in Denver on Friday, Nov. 11.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.