Championship medals are being polished ahead of the Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) Poly Hockey and Unified Bowling finals next week. Nearly 500 athletes and Unified partners from across Michigan are expected to participate in the Lansing area events on Friday, Nov. 4.
Opening Remarks will take place ahead of each competition, featuring a check presentation from Statewide Civic Partner, the Water Warriors. The Water Warriors are a group of volunteers and personal watercraft enthusiasts who work year-round to spread awareness and raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan.
“We call ourselves the Water Warriors, but it’s the SOMI athletes that are the true warriors. They face challenges daily that most of us will never experience,” said Water Warriors Chairwoman, Ann Plegue. “Their bravery inspires us all. It’s contagious. It’s that infectious spirit that keeps us showing up year after year.”
Poly Hockey is an adaptive sport similar to floor hockey. More than 350 athletes on 32 teams will use plastic hockey sticks and pucks and play on a gym floor surface on the campus of Michigan State University.
Unified Bowling brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. Nearly 60 two-person teams will participate in the day-long bowling finals, consisting of ramp and open lane divisions.
Poly Hockey and Unified Bowling State Finals are one of six state-level competitions held throughout the year at Special Olympics Michigan. Additionally, more than 700 competitions are offered at local and regional levels each year. Information on the tournaments can be found here. While there have been area and regional tournaments, this is the first time since 2019 that both Unified Bowling and Poly Hockey have been held together in this format.
Event Details:
- Poly Hockey Finals: MSU IM West Building, 393 Chestnut. Road East Lansing, MI 48842 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
- Unified Bowling Finals: Royal Scot 4722 West Grand River Avenue Lansing, MI 48906 (10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)