Fall Sports Hits High Gear in October

October is a huge month for the SOKY fall sports season. The State Equestrian Competition is already behind us and both bowlers and flag football teams are competing throughout the month for the chance to advance to their respective state competitions. More than 1,400 bowlers are in action in October at eight Area Tournaments across the state and 350 athletes on 42 teams will compete in three Regional Tournaments.

Bowling

Bowling continues to be our most popular sport and a tremendous entry point to Special Olympics competition. Prior to it outgrowing every bowling facility in the state and moving to having athletes qualify via area bowling tournaments, the State Bowling Tournament was our largest single-sport event and rivaled the State Summer Games for total number of competitors. The bowling season consists of several weeks of local practice that lead up to Area Bowling Tournaments that are held throughout the state. All bowlers who record and report at least 10 practice game scores qualify to compete in their Area Bowling Tournament. For the third year, those area tournaments take on added emphasis this year as bowlers must win at least a silver medal in their area tournament division in order to qualify to compete in the State Tournament. Area Bowling registration deadlines are fast approaching, but there is still time to get involved.

2025 Bowling Schedule
Oct. 4 – Area 8 Bowling Tournament; Southland Lanes, Lexington
Oct. 11-12 – Area 4 Bowling Tournament; King Pin Lanes, Louisville
Oct. 18 – Area 6 Bowling Tournament; Galaxy Bowl, Richmond
Oct. 18 – Area 7 Bowling Tournament; Walt’s Center Lanes, Newport
Oct. 25-26 – Area 1 Bowling Tournament; Cardinal Lanes, Paducah
Oct. 25 – Area 5 Bowling Tournament; Southern Lanes, Bowling Green
Oct. 26 – Area 2 Bowling Tournament; Diamond Lanes South, Owensboro
TBA – Area 3&9 Bowling Tournament; Bowl Rite, Prestonsburg

Flag Football

Flag Football has been the fastest growing team sport offering for many years. The flag football season consists of two regional tournaments that lead up to the State Flag Football Tournament that will be held in November at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.

2025 Flag Football Schedule
TBA – Region 1&3 Flag Football Tournament; St. Xavier High School, Louisville
TBA – Region 2 Flag Football Tournament; Thomas More University, Crestview Hills
Nov. 2 – State Flag Football Tournament; George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester

Artistic Gymnastics

Kentucky’s gymnastics program has a long proud history of producing World and USA Games champions. Dreams of being the next to claim World and USA gold begin at our annual State Artistic Gymnastics Competition. The event will tentatively be held  in November at Legacy All-Sports in Lexington. The event brings together between 30 and 35 gymnasts from several adaptive programs throughout the state.

For more information about bowling, gymnastics or equestrian, please contact Kathy Marshall at kmarshall@soky.org. For more information about flag football, contact Loran Trent at ltrent@soky.org. You can reach either at 502-695-8222.

For volunteer opportunities, contact Michaele Roy at mroysoky.org or 502-695-8222.

Equestrian

After bad weather forced a one-year hiatus, our Equestrian athletes had a beautiful day as the State Equestrian Competition returned in 2025. More than 25 athletes and their horses were on hand at Frankfort’s Pura Vida Farm on Sept. 27 to compete in dressage, western equitation, English equitation, working trails and showmanship.