By Marisa Dawson

The Bennington High School Unified Bowling team is back on the lanes, bringing together students for a season of competition, camaraderie and opportunities to build friendships that extend well beyond the bowling alley.

Now a few weeks into the season, head coach Dr. Dean Wood said the program is anticipating a strong turnout, with approximately 35 to 50 students expected to participate this year.

The team has welcomed several new faces after graduating a number of seniors over the past few seasons, while also seeing some familiar athletes return.

Unified Bowling, sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA), pairs students with disabilities with their peers to compete together as teammates. The program gives students an opportunity to participate in a varsity-level sport while building relationships and developing skills both on and off the lanes.

Wood said one of the biggest benefits of the program is the opportunity it creates for students to meet new people, make friends and develop connections they might not otherwise have.

“I think it’s just an opportunity for the kids to meet new people, make new friends, develop bonds that wouldn’t normally happen in other sports necessarily,” Wood said. “Get that opportunity to practice those social skills while playing sports.”

The program also provides an opportunity for students who may not participate in another fall or winter sport to get involved in athletics and experience the excitement of competition.

While the team has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, Wood said his primary goal for the season is making sure every student enjoys the experience and gives their best effort.

“The big thing is I want the kids to have fun and go out and try their best,” he said.

This season also brings a new competitive challenge, with Bennington competing in Class A. Wood pointed to the strength of the district, which includes programs such as Fremont and Millard West, as an opportunity for the Badgers to test themselves against strong competition.

“But that’s fun because then we get to go play the best,” Wood said. “It makes it more exciting and fun.”

The change in classification isn’t entirely unfamiliar territory for the program. Wood noted that Unified Bowling has previously competed with schools across classifications before the sport was separated into different classes.

Looking back at previous seasons, the Badgers have built an impressive record of accomplishments, including multiple conference championships, state qualifications and top-three district finishes. The program has also earned a district championship and a district runner-up finish.

But for Wood, some of the most rewarding moments have little to do with the final scores. He has watched students develop friendships that last beyond the season, become more comfortable stepping outside their comfort zones and grow in confidence in other areas of their lives.

“I have kids that have developed lifelong friendships and kids that have grown and flourished and come out of their shell and just have really skyrocketed in everything that they do,” Wood said.

He added that some students have become more willing to try new things at school and spend time with more people as a result of the relationships and experiences they’ve developed through the program. Those connections are among the things Wood values most about coaching Unified Bowling.

As the season continues, he is looking forward to working with the athletes, watching their skills develop and seeing the enjoyment they get from being part of a team.

“The opportunity to work with all the kids and get to see them grow and get better, and getting to see all the kids have fun,” he said of what he looks forward to most.

Ultimately, Wood hopes his athletes take away more than improved bowling skills and memories of competition.

“What I want them to get out of it is I want them to grow and develop into people that their parents and the school can be proud of,” he said.

With several competitions still ahead and district competition approaching in early December, the Badgers have plenty of opportunities to continue building on what makes their program special, one frame, one friendship and one experience at a time.

Upcoming schedule

The Bennington Unified Bowling team has several competitions scheduled throughout November as it works toward district competition.

• Nov. 12: Eastern Midlands Conference competition, 4 p.m., Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln
• Nov. 12: Ralston, 3:30 p.m., Mockingbird Lanes
• Nov. 17: Badger Invite, 4 p.m., Maplewood Lanes
• Nov. 19: Quad, 3:30 p.m., Lucky Strike
• Nov. 24: Elmwood-Murdock, 4 p.m., Maplewood Lanes
• District competition: TBD