WAYNE, Neb. -- Wayne High's Unified Bowling Team has been competing since unified bowling was acknowledged as a NSAA sport years back.  

Unified bowling requires teams of three including one athlete, who is a student with a disability, accompanied with two partner students who do not. 

Head Coach Kayla Varley, who is also the school's special education teacher, said that winning is always nice, but it's the relationships formed that's most important. 

"I love it because I can see what's happening here, and when our season is short, so when our season ends I get to see these relationships that are happening right now and how they joke around," Varley said. "How that then spills over into other classes and throughout the whole year and in the cafeteria, and in the gym." 

The premise of unified sports is to bridge a gap between people with disabilities and those without. 

It also provides inclusive opportunities in various sports, and senior Brooks Kneifl agrees. 

"Usually, they don't get to compete in all of these sports," Kneifl said. "Unified sports have created just great experiences for these kids with disabilities and it's just fantastic for them. Unified bowling brings us all together." 

Unified bowling shows students that their disability doesn't make a difference in their performance. 

And with determination, like sophomore Brady, you can even be the best on the team. 

"Learning to make them go straight, and knock the pins all down," Brady said. 

With State Championships around the corner, the Blue Devils are practicing to tighten up their game after a close call at districts. 

But, senior Bo Armstrong, said their hard work and teamwork pushed them on. 

"We've been working hard this season, and districts we were nervous. We were down going into the last game, and we got in a huddle," Armstrong said. "We talked to each and every one of our players, and we're like this is what we need and we did it." 

Wayne High Unified Bowling Team will be in Lincoln on Monday to compete for the State Championship title against the best if the best. 

Sophomore Gavin Redden said they plan to strike out the competition, while also having a good time. 

"I really just want to have a good time," Redden said. "I want to win first of all, but I want to have fun doing it."