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Twelve Marion County Special Olympic Athletes competed at the West Central Regional Bowling Tournament in October at Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines. 

Four of the athletes carried the flags across the lanes for the opening ceremonies. Joe Morgan-the Special Olympic Flag, Ben Heywood-the Iowa Flag, and Shawn Barker & Taylor Fearno-the American Flag.  

Earning 1st Place Blue was Cameron Cross, Taylor Fearno, Jacob Hindman, Charlie Leavitt, Tanji O’Connor, Tegan Ripperger, and the doubles team of Marissa Schletzbaum and Michelle Turnage. Receiving 2nd Place Red was the doubles team of Ben Heywood and Joe Morgan.  Ashley Morrow received 3rd place and Shawn Barker was 4th.  

The 1st place athletes competed at the state competition in November at Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines.

Awards earned were: Cross a Gold, Fearno a Silver, Hindman a Gold, Charlie Leavitt a Silver, Ripperger a Silver, Doubles Team of Marissa Schletzbaum and Michelle Turnage a Silver.

Maureen Schletzbaum and others with the Marion County Special Olympics thank the Pella Dutch 200 Bowl & Grill for allowing the athletes to practice. The next events for the Special Olympic athletes will be Dance and Basketball in early 2023.