2014 Team Kentucky Bowling

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Coach

Robin Ballinger Robyn Ballinger of Louisville will serve as the Team Kentucky bowling coach. Ballinger has been a Special Olympics coach for 11 years, working with the Special Olympics program at Binet School. She is a US Bowling Congress Silver Level certified coach and has also served as an assistant bowling coach at Sacred Heart High School and the University of Louisville. Ballinger was also a member of the Team Kentucky coaching staff for the 2010 USA National Games, where she coached track and field athletes. Team Kentucky track and field athletes earned 10 medals at those Games. She is the youth director at Executive Strike & Spare and works at the Hope Center for Growth which serves teens with Autism.

Athletes

All members of the bowling team will compete in singles, doubles and four-person team competition at the National Games.

Amanda Browning Amanda Browning, 31, of Taylorsville has been a Special Olympics athlete for seven years and has bowled for all of those. She also competes in aquatics. This is the first time that Browning has competed at the National or World Games level. She works at 200M Group. Browning enjoys artistic crafts and crafting of all kinds.

What are your biggest accomplishments?: As a Special Olympics athlete I have won medals in swimming and bowling and ribbons in track and field. By meeting new people it helped me with my job and my art. I have won two Blue Ribbons for art at the State Games.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: When moving to Kentucky, Special Olympics helped me make new friends. I am very proud of my medals and look forward to each season.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: It’s a chance of a lifetime, and having my family from other places see me compete, I am very excited to get to go to New Jersey. I am looking forward to meeting athletes from all over.

 

Jason Finkey

Jason Finkey, 33, is the first athlete from London ever selected to Team Kentucky. He has been a Special Olympics athlete for 27 years and has competed in bowling for nine. In addition to bowling, Finkey competes in track and field. This is his first trip to a USA or World Games event. Finkey works at Arby’s.

What are your biggest accomplishments?: Competing in SOKY Games.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: I have always wanted to go to the World Games, so being able to compete in the USA Games has shown me that that hard work will help me achieve my goals.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: This means that I am one step closer to completing my dream of competing in the World Games.

Jeremy Simpson Jeremy Simpson, 38, of Wittensville in Johnson County has been a Special Olympics athlete for 14 years and also competes in track and field. He is the first Johnson County athlete ever selected to Team Kentucky. This will be his first time he has competed above the state level.

What are your biggest accomplishments?: I am very active in the Church and choir.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: It gives me something to do and something to look forward to.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: It gives me a chance to do something I have always wanted to to participate in — USA Games. This has been my goal. I will do my best.

 

Julia Steinman Julia Steinman, 22, has been a Special Olympics athlete for 12 years, and has bowled for all of them. She also competes in basketball, softball and track and field. The Joseph-Beth Booksellers staff member will be making her first trip to a Special Olympics National or World Games event.

What are your biggest accomplishments?: I have a job, volunteer three days a week at a day care and a couple times a month at the humane society.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: It has taught me to be a part of a team, to do my best and be proud of it. I have made many friends from all over the state.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: It is such an honor to represent Kentucky. I am excited about going and nervous I may not do well.

Meet Team Kentucky

Aquatics
Artistic Gymnastics
Athletics
Basketball
Bocce
Flag Football
Golf
AS Coaches