Wayne athletes compete in national bowling tournament
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 11, 2015 1:46 PM
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Tyler Edmundson, left, and Alan Jenkins, share a moment after a win at the Special Olympics National Unified Bowling Tournament, held last week in El Paso, Texas. The Special Olympics of Wayne County athletes brought home four medals.
Alan Jenkins had his eye on more than the prize when he headed down to the Special Olympics National Unified Bowling Tournament in El Paso, Texas, last week -- he wanted to make sure his Special Olympics teammate, Tyler Edmundson, enjoyed the experience.
Jenkins had already been chosen once before to compete at the national level, in 2011. He and partner Emily Crawford made up Wayne County's first unified bowling team.
The duo took fifth place that year at the "unified" event, so-called because it pairs a Special Olympics member with a partner who does not have special needs.
This year, two representatives from Wayne County won the bid to attend with their partners -- Jenkins and Miss Crawford, who call themselves "Beauty and the Beast," and Edmundson and Debra Newman, who go by "Pin Pals."
They competed in two events, four-man team and doubles.
Alan and Emily won a gold in the doubles competition, while Tyler and Debra won the silver in the doubles event, and collectively they took gold for four-man team.
"I had a great time," Tyler said. "I did my very best.
"I enjoyed the trip and I had a great time. I stayed in a hotel and I had a great time with Alan."
His teammate, and buddy, Alan, beamed at the shared opportunity.
"It was fun showing Tyler what it was, since Tyler hadn't experienced it," he said. "It was our second time, so I made it more about him than ourselves.
"I just wanted to show him what it was like going to national."
The group enjoyed the stay in El Paso, taking time out to shop, make new friends and take in the sights.
"I saw windmills, oil tanks and state patrolmen," said Tyler, who turns 21 on Thursday. "And I had good food -- I had ribs, pasta salad and fajitas."
The trip also had its nerve-wracking moments, especially the second day of competition.
"I think when you've got a four-man team, they don't feel the stress as much as when you're down to two," Don Jenkins, Alan's dad and coach of the bowling competitors, said.
"The four-man team the first day, it was not as stressful," agreed Alan. "The second day it was just the two of us, so we struggled. That was pressure."
The teams played three games both days.
The expansive bowling alley featured more than 50 lanes for the 350 participants from 16 different states. There were 39 from North Carolina, including the four representing Wayne County.
The local Special Olympians had been preparing for the big moment over the past six months -- practicing once a week, sometimes twice, Don Jenkins said.
He has served as bowling coach for about a dozen years, while he and wife, Charlotte, have been involved with Special Olympics for 20 years.
They know the value of the program and what it has meant to their son.
Alan, meanwhile, put all his efforts into focusing on the task at hand -- bringing home the gold.
"I just thought about why I was there. We were a team, representing our home state," Alan said. "I feel happy that everybody got to know that we were representing North Carolina."
The occasion also brought up some unexpected emotion for the 29-year-old.
"Being with her (Emily) for six years, but it was hard the second day because we never won a medal back-to-back," he said. "I gave her the biggest bear hug.
"I would never have dreamed this moment for anything. I wouldn't trade her for anything."
He credited his partner with being his coach, second only to his father.
"She said, 'Focus on the pins, don't focus on anything else,'" he said. "Once I got my mind set, daddy's behind me, mama's behind me, and I thought about my nieces and nephews. I kept them in t he background."
Miss Crawford, now 23, was a Wayne Community College student when she first met Alan and became his partner in the sport.
After six years together, the duo has an easy shorthand between them, respectful but riddled with good-natured teasing.
She has recently opened up her own shop, Emily's Boutique on Royall Avenue, and spoke earlier this week about her affiliation with Special Olympics.
"It's so hard to describe sometimes," she said. "Just the experiences going there. I get to meet so many people with Alan."
"And everybody loves Emily," Don said. "They have been 'Beauty and the Beast' for six years."
Returning home last weekend after winning big in Texas, Alan's first order of business was expressing his appreciation to Wayne County and the Grantham community -- where he attends Selah Christian Church and is a member of the Grantham Volunteer Fire Department.
"Sunday I told the church, I want the Grantham community to know I appreciate them for their support, especially the fire department and the groups over there," he said, his voice catching. "I told them thank you and I told my church family thank you for the support, financially, and for the prayers."
"He just wants to thank all the businesses, the civic clubs and organizations," his father said. "We have a lot of community support, we really do.
"Without them we wouldn't be able to do the things we did."