With only one practice year under their belt, Homer Special Olympics scored big in the Special Olympics Fall Games in Anchorage over the weekend.

“We did awesome,” said Carol Shuler of Homer, the community coordinator. “We took five teams and three teams took gold, one took bronze and one took fourth. That was an awesome showing for our first time at state.”

Each two-person bocci team paired one Special Olympic and one non-Special Olympic athlete.

“Awesome” was the same word Shuler used to describe Homer’s new bocci coach Ruth Mitchell.

Also having impressive results at the fall games were the local golfers.

“We took three teams and all took silver. We cleaned up,” said Shuler. “Rich Ison has been our goal coach for six years and is an awesome coach.”

Homer’s athletes also demonstrated “the best sportsmanship of anybody,” said Shuler. “I was very proud of that. They were high-fiving opponents when they had a good shot.”

The focus is now on bowling, with state competition in November and a local bowlathon fundraiser Oct. 19.

“We’re looking for community teams of four people who would like to raise money for Special Olympics and come bowl with us that day,” said Shuler. “Any teams that raise $200 or more are eligible for prizes.”

For more information, call Shuler at 235-9264.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.