Rockford Special Olympic Bowlers Prepare for the State Competition

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Dylan and Mariyah, two young athletes diagnosed with autism, are set to compete in the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament in Decatur on Dec. 6, representing Team 10 Bowling.

For the second consecutive year, Dylan and Mariyah from Team 10 Bowling are preparing to showcase their skills at the state level. They both took first place in the regional meet a few weeks ago. Last year, three athletes from the team advanced to the state competition2025 “They’ve all worked very hard,” said Stacey Weigel, coach of Team 10 Bowling. “We’re going into our second year, last year, all three of my athletes made it to state and did very well.”

Before Team Bowling 10 was established, Dylan’s journey in bowling began as a therapeutic activity, helping him adjust to different sounds. Over time, it has transformed into a passion that drives him and his family. Dylan’s father, Robert Legoo, says his positivity is what stands out the most.

“Dylan was like a beacon of positivity amongst all the bowlers. He never gets upset when he throws a bad shot,” Legoo said. “He always congratulates everyone around him whether they’re doing well or they’re not doing well. He’s giving thumbs up and high fives to everyone he meets.”

Team 10 Bowling was established to provide opportunities for children like Dylan and Mariyah to be part of a supportive community, something bigger than themselves.

“All of these athletes are like your children. We’re such a giant family. The one thing that I love about bowling is the fact that at the end of the day we’ll always be family and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Weigel shared.