For more than 15 years the Rhode Island Special Olympics has held its state duckpin senior tournament at Town Hall Lanes in Johnston; this year was no different – on Nov. 8, 120-plus Special Olympic athletes bowled their best.

“The Special Olympians…have been training for the past 10 weeks at various bowling locations in the state,” said Public Relations Director Gerri Walter.

The competitors are all 16 years old or older and bowled in teams of four. Walter also said every team had a head coach and wore matching colored T-shirts. The 21 Rhode Island College student-volunteers were easy to spot in their yellow shirts.

“They are from an adaptive physical education class and they are gaining experience to go out in the workforce,” said Rhode Island college professor Kerri Tunnicliffe. “We have also been doing this for the past 10 years.”

Opening ceremonies were announced by Rhode Island Special Olympics Director of Programs Chris Hopkins.

Hopkins, who has been serving as the state director for the past 21 years, informed the bowlers the rules of the tournament: all must wear bowling shoes, clear all deadwood in the lanes and have no food around while competing. An awards ceremony followed the games. All the bowlers received either a gold, silver or bronze medal according to his or her abilities.

Mike Lucca, who works in the Warwick Special Olympics office, was on hand sorting and counting all the medals. Also on hand was volunteer medical director Greg Jones, in the event any athlete got injured.

To kick things off, Wampanoag Warrior athlete Michael Kenan recited the Special Olympian athletic creed, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Bowling is not the only fall sport the Special Olympians participate in; they also challenge themselves in cross country running, traditional soccer and unified basketball.

“I would like to thank Town Hall Lanes for all the years the Rhode Island Special Olympic athletes have been bowling here,” said Hopkins.

The Rhode Island Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization that gets its donations from corporate sponsors statewide. To make a donation or for more information, log on to www.specialolympicsri.org.