On Sat., Mar. 7, freshman Daniel Widner competed in the bowling event at the regional Special Olympics at Interstate Bowling in Bristol, Virginia. He won the gold medal and will have the opportunity to move on through the competition with a possibility of reaching an international scale.
“I was very happy,” Widner said in reflection of his winning moment. “[I was] very grateful.”
This competition reflects Daniel’s remarkable sportsmanship in and out of the classroom. Tammy Canter, an Educational Assistant who works with him, admires his integrity in day-to-day work.
“He is always helpful to other students,” Canter said. “He is also very positive, and I’m very proud of him [for winning].”
He is very passionate about the sport and hopes to continue this enthusiasm into his career as a professional bowler. Hope Penley, Special Education teacher, has seen his dedication to the game.
“It is his favorite sport, and he bowls whenever he can,” Penley said.
Through his experience in bowling, he has come to understand the nature of the sport. For those looking to get into bowling, he offers a piece of advice:
“Don’t get in your head,” Widner said. “It’s a mental game more than a physical game.”
