The Cortez Special Olympics Bowling Team is headed to regionals again this year, and coach Marcy Alvaz says the team of 12 bowlers is ready to take home a victory.

Fourteen bowlers ranging in age from 13 to 56 have been practicing every Saturday for the past two months at Lakeside Lanes in Cortez, and 12 of them are headed to the Western Area Bowling Tournament in Grand Junction on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Aldaz, who has been involved with Cortez Special Olympics since 1996, says bowling is one of the most popular offerings among local Special Olympics athletes and the team regularly goes to regionals and states.

“They compete hard, and they’re looking for that first place,” said Alvaz. “They want to bowl as hard as they can. It’s pretty amazing to see them get ribbons.”

In addition to regular Saturday practices, Aldaz and the team spend the summer raising funds to make it to regionals. Through fundraising efforts of the ladies bowling team at Lakeside Lanes, the Cortez Gun Show, the Geer Memorial Car Show, a summer wine tasting event, and a silent art auction this Friday at The Farm Bistro, the team nets the roughly $1,200 it needs for travel and overnight accommodations.

“We have a lot of volunteers that help us raise money throughout the summer that we are very grateful for. We’ll be taking four vehicles up to Grand Junction, plus hotel rooms, meals for regionals and that’s expensive,” said Aldaz.

The silent art auction at The Farm Bistro is Friday, Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information about how to donate or volunteer with the Cortez Special Olympics, call Marcy Aldaz at 970-560-9577.