Bowlers Natalya Camacho of Florida and Eric Maurin of Pine Bush aim to strike gold at the Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota this week. Camacho is paired with Stacey Orzell of Goshen, while Maurin’s partner will be Kieran Currao of Chester. The bowlers have been practicing in Newburgh for the past month in preparation for the national competition.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be my first time on a plane this year,” Camacho noted last month while competing at the Special Olympics New York state games in Buffalo. “My parents are very proud of me.”

The USA Games are held every four years and take place in Minneapolis, MN from June 20-26 this year. The competitions in Minnesota include 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states. The bowling competition is being held at Lucky Strike Lanes in nearby Blaine, MN