While most athletes on teams travel as a group, Robert Beisewanger was by himself, but still with friends.
The bowler represented Quesnel at the Canadian Special Olympic national five-pin championships, but he was the only Cariboo connection rolling balls on the squad officially based out of Dawson Creek. A Prince George bower, Lance Pattinson, was also on the Dawson Creek Headpins, joining Dara Watson, Jacob Hanson and William Waffle.
The coaches were also a geographic mashup, with Carol Lee from Prince George and Ellen Martz from Quesnel, making it two from the Heart of Gold City at the five-pin nationals.
The tournament called on the team to play nine games over the three-day event.
“Robert bowled an average of 160 in the first six games,” said coach Martz, but she reported some technical trouble he had to deal with.
“At the end of the second day, the sole on one of his bowling shoes cracked and he had no choice but to rent shoes to compete in the final three games on Friday. Getting the feel of the unfamiliar shoes - how will they impact my slide? - being mindful not to cross the foul line, Robert had so much to consider, while attempting to throw that perfect strike ball. With all that, the last three games bowled brought Robert’s average down to 151.”
The team total for all nine games was 5,910 total pin-falls. This was not enough to put the team in a Top 3 position to earn a medal in the competition.
There were seven teams from B.C. among the 37 from across Canada at the bowling event.
There was a singles component as well, with individual totals tallied for the players. Watson and Waffle each came within 19 and 20 pins respectively of the podium.
“They all did well and took pride in the accomplishment of having earned a spot on the B.C. national team. Carol and I were honoured to be a part of this journey as coaches,” said Martz. It was her sixth time as a coach at the Special Olympics nationals, all for the five-pin tournaments except one for the 10-pin event.
Beisewanger has been bowling since 1995 and competing at the Special Olympics at the national level dating back to the London, Ontario edition of 2010.
Part three in a four-part series
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