Rolling Together: East, along with other SMSD and Kansas high schools, officially added a unified sport: bowling for students with disabilities

Junior Meredith Ainslie’s eyes lit up when her mom came down with news: East was creating a unified bowling team. Ainslie already loved bowling, so her answer was easy.

“Absolutely,” Ainsley exclaimed, envisioning herself and friends getting to compete at the bowling alley as a true East sport.

Ainslie is one of 19 students participating in unified bowling, a KSSHA sponsored state sport that was proposed a year ago to all high school athletic directors.

Over this past summer, SHARE coordinator and coach of the unified bowling team Sheryl Kaplan was given the green light to officially start planning the team, with the help of East Athletic Director Debby Katzfey.

“I told [Katzfey] I wanted to do [unified bowling] here at East and she had actually already signed us up,” Kaplan said. “I then told her I’d love to be the coach and started reaching out to allies and the parents of students that might be interested.” 

While students of all abilities are allowed to try out for any school sport, unified bowling is meant for strictly special needs students. It’ll also give them the opportunity to compete at the state level and get to know other students assisting them with each strike and spare known as “partners.”

“The schools wanted to give something to the kids that wanted to get involved and compete as athletes that might have had a disability or something that kept them from doing any of the other sports we have to offer,” Katzfey said. “Our student athletes will be the ones competing for state and their partners will assist them and help complete that task.”

East’s unified bowling team consists of nine bowlers and ten partners to assist the athletes in scoring as many strikes as possible. The team will practice twice a week, Monday and Friday at Ward Parkway Lanes, and only once on weeks they have a meet.

Ainslie has loved bowling with family and friends for fun previous to this year. She has been anticipating the first official practice since she was signed up for the team. Her ultimate goal for the season is to improve  — and hopefully win state.

“I’m just super excited to bowl and get a lot of strikes,” Ainslie said. “My favorite part is picking up the ball and just trying to win.”

Ainslie’s mom, Dawn, has signed Ainslie up for other SHARE projects and sports in the past for kids with disabilities, like bocce ball games and intense basketball matches. 

“I think [the benefits are that] she will get to make new friends, participate in a school sanctioned sport, [experience] that social aspect and become more confident,” Dawn said.

The four teams — white, blue, black, and lancer — each include at least two athletes and one partner. While the teams will be consistent throughout the season, there are no limits to bonding and fun experiences with the school team.

Unified bowling partner and junior Evan Janstch heard about unified bowling from another East parent and, after a summer of volunteering, knew the perfecting bowling form while helping others on the lanes was the perfect opportunity for her to help out.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with the athletes the most and getting to make their day better and then hopefully winning state,” Janstch said.

The team’s first practice took place on Sept. 27 and all bowlers were ecstatic for any success, even if it was just knocking down a single pin. Practice will continue until the season ends on Nov. 18, with the State competition being held at the end of November.

Kaplan is encouraging all students to come cheer on the bowlers at the meets for extra support and excitement for the athletes.

The main goals for Kaplan are to have fun, develop lots of team spirit, and knock down pins.