Wheeling Special Olympian bowls perfect game
A suburban Special Olympian is celebrating a perfect score she achieved during a recent bowling tournament.
Valerie Gagilano, a Wheeling resident and member of Northwest Special Recreation Association, bowled a 300 at the 2014 Northeast Sectional Bowling Tournament held Oct. 19 in Addison, according to Special Olympics Illinois spokeswoman Alexandra McMillin.
Gagilano had received a gold medal at her Area Bowling competition over the summer, which qualified her to attend the Sectional Bowling Tournament in Addison. There she competed against other gold medal winners from around the Chicago area.
The bowling ally - Stardust Bowl - presented Gagilano with a 300 Club pullover in congratulations for her achievement. Katie Grisham, director of Area 5, said Gagilano is the first athlete to bowl a 300 in her 12-year career with Special Olympics Illinois.
Gagilano, 30, next will compete at the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament in Peoria on Dec. 6.