Getting the ball rolling - Litchfield Independent Review: Community

STAFF PHOTO BY JENNY BERG

Energy to spare

Litchfield resident Rhonda Schmitz, a member of the Litchfield Special Olympics bowling team, focuses before her turn at practice. Schmitz won a third place ribbon at the Special Olympics Area 6 bowling competition Oct. 13 in Hutchinson.

STAFF PHOTO BY JENNY BERG

Hitting pins

The new SPITFIRE bowling team gets the ball rolling for the Litchfield Area Special Olympics program, which began this fall. Community Education and Recreation Director Bob Lawrence said other programs starting this year will be basketball, aquatics, and track and field.

STAFF PHOTO BY JENNY BERG

SPITFIRE crew

Members and coaches of the Litchfield Area Special Olympics bowling team, SPITFIRE, pose during a practice at Litchfield Bowling Center, from left, front, Tina Pennertz, Amy Felt, Carolyn Okeefe, Matthew Sook and Rhonda Schmitz; back, coaches Bob Lawrence, Barb Felt and Autumn Mickelson.

How to get involved

The Litchfield Area Special Olympics team is looking for coaches and athletes for the basketball and aquatic programs beginning in January, and for track and field this spring.

Community Education and Recreation Director Bob Lawrence said they also plan to offer additional Special Olympics Minnesota programs such as bocce ball and golf if coaches and athletes are interested.

For more information, contact Community Education at (320) 693-2354.?

Posted: Saturday, November 10, 2012 5:00 am | Updated: 3:00 pm, Wed Nov 7, 2012.

Getting the ball rolling By Jenny Berg STAFF WRITER Litchfield Independent Review |

Litchfield resident Tina Pennertz loves to bowl. Why?

?Because it?s my favorite thing to do,? Pennertz announced.

Pennertz has bowled her whole life, but never competitively ? until she joined the newly-formed Litchfield Area Special Olympics SPITFIRE bowling team.

Pennertz is part of the five-member Special Olympics bowling team offered this fall for the first time through Litchfield Community Education and Recreation. Individuals with intellectual disabilities age 8 through adult have the opportunity to train with local volunteer coaches in sports such as bowling, basketball, aquatics, and track and field, and then compete in area and state competitions if they choose.

Litchfield Community Education Director Bob Lawrence is a coach for the SPITFIRE bowling team.

?Just getting to know and building relationships with the athletes, and knowing that it?s impacting their lives in a positive way? is rewarding, Lawrence said.

Read the rest of this story in the Nov. 8 edition of the Independent Review.

Posted in Community on Saturday, November 10, 2012 5:00 am. Updated: 3:00 pm.

Source: http://www.independentreview.net/news/community/getting-the-ball-rolling/article_b6cfa6a5-4f31-54c7-82b8-c3d08c05ebea.html

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