Above, two lanes at the NCECBVI were donated by Vern and Velma Miller of V-Lanes. The school renewed its bowling league this year for students unable to attend Special Olympics.

dan Swanson
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Shouts of advice and the rumble of the ball against the wooden lanes set the cadence for bowling league at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and the crash of the pins told the story.

“Rock back and roll,” the students directed their teammates. They know a gutter ball when they hear one and they don’t mind offering their play-by-play commentary regarding the competition.

Andrew Hobart, a 17-year-old from Hooper who also takes classes at the Nebraska City High School, said his Ball Dozers team is happy to have the bowling lanes re-open at the school.

“It’s fun to have the league going on. There’s an award at the end for the best bowler, but there’s more interest in who has the most splits,” he said.

The lanes have been quiet the past four years, but house parent Tom Dammast re-organized the league in response to fewer opportunities to attend the state’s Special Olympics.

He said more students could participate when events were held on school days because staff provided transportation, but the Saturday schedule in Lincoln meant some students would have to stay home.

“Two students will be bowling with the Special Olympics, but we wanted to start the league this year so no one would be left out,” Dammast said.

The lanes, which were donated by Vern and Velma Miller of V-Lanes, have mechanical pin setters, but someone has to set the pins in the machine and lift the ball to the return ramp.

Volunteers from the Youth and Adults in Action, the Mormon Church and the high school supported the league.

Chris Spaulding said he agreed to help to earn community service hours for school.

“I’m glad I did it. It’s really fun for the kids, but it’s fun for me too,” he said.

Spaulding guided ramp bowlers to control the bowling ball and aim the ramp for their rolls. “It makes it more fun when they get something. You can see the smile on their face,” he said.

Individual awards were presented last week to Hobart for the most strikes and Jordan Merriman for the most cherry pickers, a term meaning picking up a spare. Ian Webster was named the best new bowler and Byron Corso picked up the most splits.

The best new ramp bowler was John Sailors, most consistent was Jacob Seolheim and most encouraged were Adina Cox and Casey Morice.