For many of the athletes in the Adapted Program at Central, Special Olympics bowling is their moment to shine.

Every Thursday from 5:30-6:45 p.m., the athletes and their peers meet at Bowlero in Naperville to build relationships and ultimately prepare for their upcoming competitions later in the year.

Coach Anna Mautone explains that the students are very eager to play competitively.

“We do take it seriously,” Mautone said. “For example, they have no ramps or the foul lanes turned on, and it’s definitely a competitive sport.”

However, bowling still maintains a group atmosphere, as a peer is usually in each lane with around four athletes.

“The peers are there to have fun with them, help them stay focused and help with taking turns,” Mautone said.

To become a peer, documentation, online concussion and appropriate behavior training is required, but all are welcome to join the club.

The regional competition involves surrounding counties in the regional tournament in June where the winner will be eligible to compete at the sectional, state and national level.

All athletes will be competing based on their average score.

“So out of a total of 15 games, Coach [Lindsay] Grier and I average each athlete’s scores, and then they will compete with other athletes with similar averages in the same lane,” Mautone said.

Over her seven years as a coach, Mautone has found deep appreciation for the club and the growth she has seen in her students.

“As a special education teacher, I get to see the athletes a lot, but I don’t get to see them in the fun environment and really see them excel at something they are so excited and passionate about, and I just like seeing them happy and having fun,” Mautone said.

Though this is her first year bowling, junior Melanie Gentile had done Special Olympics track and is a teaching assistant for Sensory P.E.

“I have a new student, Troy, and his mom wants him to get really involved in all the Special Olympics sports so I’m going to stick with him for bowling,” Gentile said.

While watching Troy’s progress, Gentile explains her excitement to see his continuing growth in bowling.

Senior Bobbi Novak became a peer in Special Olympics track her sophomore year and decided to branch out into bowling during her junior year.

“I just love talking to them,” Novak said.“Most of the time we’re just waiting and talking to them about their day and building friendships with them.”

Mautone believes these peers have the greatest impact on the students.

“The peers are unfortunately separated from the athletes a lot of times during the school day,” Mautone said. “So something like this club is a really fun opportunity for all of them to socialize and hang out with that type of encouragement.”

Although this allows the athletes to compete and do well in terms of the sport, the coaches’ main goal is for them to socialize and have fun.

“Ultimately, at the end they are there for fun and to get out and push themselves in ways that they wouldn’t otherwise, but in a safe environment with their peers and with us,” Mautone said.