BA Special Olympian Bowler Tunes Up Against Rick Wells

Thousands of Special Olympians head to Stillwater Wednesday for the 45th Summer Olympics. Among the athletes is the bowling team from Broken Arrow's Gatesway Foundation.

One of them challenged Rick Wells to a few frames on Tuesday.

Jody Moore, "I've been bowling since I was eight years old, Rick. Since I was a little bitty boy," Jody Moore said.

Moore, practices a lot and he's a regular on the Gatesway Foundation bowling team, the Lucky Strikes. He's also a Special Olympian.

I on the other hand, haven't bowled in maybe ten years, and it showed.

Gatesway CEO, Judi Myers, said, "We are in our 51st year, Helen Gates started it in 1963 for her son, Ronnie, who had Down syndrome."

She said Jody is one of Gatesway's top bowlers.

"I'm a very good bowler, Rick, I really am. My high game is a 256," Moore said.

Jody's worked at Reasor's for about eight years, drives his own truck, and lives pretty much independently. He's a prime example of what Gatesway can do; provide minimal assistance to allow folks like Jody to become vital members of the communities in which they live.

Once our game was over, I asked for a few tips, Jody said, "Just practice, lots of practice."

This is the 31st year the Oklahoma Special Olympics have been held in Stillwater. It runs Wednesday through Friday.