hree months of training culminated Sunday with the 10th annual Special Olympics of Carbon County bowling competition at Haja Lanes in Palmerton.

It was all about friendly competition for 47 bowlers from around the county who hoped to show what they learned in their two practices sessions per week since Thanksgiving.According to Chris Anthony, training coordinator, bowlers are grouped in one of 13 divisions according to their ability level."They're all really incredible people," Anthony said of the bowlers. "This is a chance for them to take what they've learned and put it into action, but more importantly it's about coming together and having fun."Each Friday and Sunday since late November, bowlers have gathered at either Haja Lanes or Fritz's Lanes in Lehighton to prepare for the big competition.Despite gold, silver and bronze medals on the line, however, Sunday's event was more about friendship than winning and losing."It's competitive, but they all cheer for each other," Anthony said.That's a theme he said is consistent throughout the Special Olympics, whether it's bocce, bowling or track and field."I've been doing this 11 or 12 years and the sportsmanship is outstanding," Anthony said. "It's something that is unique in sports. I don't think you'd see Tom Brady celebrating with the other team if they had a great day."The sentiment rang true on Sunday as many gutter balls drew the same number of smiles as strikes.Attendees cheered loudly no matter the numbers on the score card."We're just out here to support the athletes," said William Anzalone of Palmerton. "It's just so wonderful to see how much fun they're having no matter how well they are doing. They are here with their friends, and that means the world to them."That doesn't mean, however, that the athletes don't take their bowling seriously.Many of them have seen remarkable improvement from the time they first rolled a ball down the lane."We have a wide ranging set of skill levels here today," Anthony said. "You have your first-time bowlers and you have athletes bowling in the 150s or 160s. It's quite amazing to see what happens just over the course of a season."Winners of the 13 divisions on Sunday have the opportunity to go on to Eastern Bowling Sectional competition in Allentown in April.Special Olympics of Carbon County is under the wing of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, a chapter of Special Olympics Inc. The organization provides year-round athletic training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities and provides them with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness skills, express courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics of Carbon County currently offers bocce, bowling, floor hockey, and track and field.Athlete applications are available at

www.specialolympicscarboncounty.com.