MORGANTOWN — When Scarlet Bazzle rolls a bowling ball down the lane, there’s a true consistency to the physics that ensue.
The pins go cartwheeling like the storm troopers in a “Star Wars” movie.
Never fails.
While you’re making note of the above, you might want to have a raincoat at the ready — just in case Kristian Rowan and Danielle Cottingham decide to hit the pool for some friendly swimming competition.
Both swimmers are powerful freestylers: Kristian excels at the backstroke, and Danielle is known for her butterfly.
They’ve been known to push more water around than a Category 4 hurricane.
And this summer, all three are taking their prowess to the Big Stage.
Showing off in Seattle
The three area athletes are jetting to Washington State, where they’ll take part in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, in Seattle.
About 4,000 athletes from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia will join them for the Games, which run from July 1-6.
That’s six days, and 14 competitions, in top venues at the University of Washington, Kenmore Lanes, Celebration Park, the King County Aquatic Center, and more.
All that coming in from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, plus a trio from Monongalia County.
Scarlet, Kristian and Danielle, meanwhile, linked up last week at SteppingStones, the Mylan Park facility that offers sport and recreation opportunities for athletes of all ages and circumstances.
They showed off the custom T-shirts they’ll wear — “Country Roads take me to Seattle,” reads the message on the back — as they talked to a guy with a notebook who rolls a mean gutter ball and couldn’t stay afloat in a wading pool.
“Four-thousand people,” Danielle said to her fellow swimmer. “You nervous?”
“Not when I hit the water,” Kristian said.
Gentleman athletes will also be present, they said to Scarlet, who broke out a gold medal smile — then deadpanned a reply, in the same second: “I’m just there for the bowling.”
(Extra) Special Games
Over the years, Special Olympics Monongalia County has been there for them. All three participated in other sports over the years, besides the ones taking them to Seattle.
“They’re fun to watch,” Tammie Wolfe said, as she smiled over at the three. “They’re serious competitors, but they’re still having fun.”
Wolfe, who is the director of Mon County’s Special Olympics operations, said it won’t be cheap sending the three to Washington.
That’s why the organization is accepting donations for the Olympic journey.
“Anything is appreciated,” she said.
Donations may be made to Special Olympics Monongalia County, 400 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV 26505. For more information, you may also contact Wolfe at 304-983-7837 or mon.co.so.wv@gmail.com.
The Seattle Games, meanwhile, will be extra-special this year. It’s the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics. The first competitions were held in 1968, in Chicago.
This year’s Games will feature a lot of singing during the opening and closing ceremonies, where a
2,018-voice choir will send the notes heavenward.
No pressure on the seating arrangements
At SteppingStones last week, the collective spirit of Scarlet, Kristian and Danielle could have rivaled the 35,000-foot cruising altitude they’ll make in their airplane on the way to Seattle this summer.
No turbulence there: All three have flown before.
“Just as long as I get a window seat,” Scarlet said.
The athletes laughed, then turned their backs on a photographer who was also there.
Not that they were being rude. They were posing with that aforementioned “Country Roads” legend on the back of their shirts.
When they locked arms, it was just like three of the five Olympic rings.
