The thud of a bowling ball hitting the lane.
A clack of toppling pins.
Shouts of "Woo-hoo!"
A round of hand-slapping high-fives.
It's the sound of the annual Special Olympics bowling tournament in Tucson.
Nearly 1,000 Olympians, ranging in age from 6 to 60-plus, will participate in the competition that began Thursday and continues through today at Golden Pin Lanes, 1010 W. Miracle Mile.
More than 300 volunteers were recruited from the Tucson Police Department, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the University of Arizona, Fred G. Acosta Job Corps and local businesses and civic organizations, said Holly Thompson, a Special Olympics area director. Athletes representing 27 local teams will compete in singles, doubles, team and ramp bowling.
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A contingent from Tortolita Middle School was watching the action on the lanes while waiting for their turn to compete.
Fifteen Tortolita Cougars, divided into five teams grouped by skill level, were brought to the competition by teacher Clara Kerr, a Special Olympics coach. She said bowling teaches her students life skills, teamwork, the ability to listen and follow instructions and, most important this week, "lane courtesy."
Ivera Larson, who will turn 14 next month, enjoys helping her teammates hone their skills and practicing her own approach. Her advice: "Keep it in the middle and not in the gutter, and you get all the pins down."
Teammate Alex Foster, 12, agrees.
"I like bowling and getting the ball down the lane. I like knocking the pins down. I knocked them all down once," he said.
For students who went to elementary school together before attending different middle schools, the annual competition is a reunion, too, Kerr said.
The best part of the tournament for Raymond Brennan, 13: "You get to spend time with your best friends and have fun."
Another Cougar, Bobby Portillo, 12, is philosophical about bowling.
"It's a fun sport. I get lots of gutter balls, but it doesn't matter if you win or lose. We're going to have fun," he said.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
