North Brunswick resident bowls past disability
Member of the Special Olympics competes in China, wins two medals
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

Wilfredo Ruiz (r) stands with his parents after receiving two bronze medals for bowling at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, in October.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Wilfredo Ruiz is a 30-year-old township resident. He has been working as a cart person at the Stop & Shop in South Brunswick on Route 1 for three years. He used to play baseball and basketball. He now enjoys video games, television and music.

At the age of 9 months, Ruiz suffered a fall that caused a blood clot on the left side of his brain. He is classified as neurologically impaired and semi-paralyzed on his left side. But this hasn't limited Ruiz, who began bowling at age 12 and has been bowling with the Special Olympics for the past 12 years. He recently celebrated two bronze medals he received while at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, in October.

"This was more special because there were a lot of people," he said. "I thought I would do good, but I brought back two bronze medals and a ribbon."

Ruiz practices every Friday night and bowls in a league on Saturdays, which he said is "easy" to do. He said his highest score is 206 and he has bowled turkeys before.

"It's a good sport. I like to bowl. I like to talk to people and be around people," he said.

Two summers ago, when Ruiz attended the National Games in Ames, Iowa, and brought back two gold and one silver medals, he dreamed of going to China. While in Asia from Oct. 2 to 11 this year, he bowled against competitors from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Singapore and China. He said his scores were 142 and 148.

"It was different. The food was different. I like Chinese food but over in China, they had cold rice and nothing but good food over there," he said.

Iris Ruiz said that her son enjoys bowling because he feels accepted and is able to do it well.

"Bowling to him is his life, his biggest challenge. His goal is to be better at it every time he bowls, and he has a lot of fun when he bowls," she said. "His selfesteem has improved a lot and he has become very outspoken."

Under the direction of Coach Chris Hanko, Ruiz's future goals include more bowling competitions, especially the 2011 World Games in Athens, Greece.

"Who would think that playing bowling as a boy would take him someday to another side of the world?" Iris Ruiz said.