BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — A Boise man is getting ready to represent Idaho at the Special Olympics USA Games next week.
37-year-old Jon Harmon of Boise is the #1 seed for bowling!
He's autistic and has found bowling to help him overcome certain challenges.
"I learned to control my annoyance of the different noises," said Jon. "Like... people behind me and beside me."
By day, Jon is a bagger at Albertson's on Ustick.
"He'll go and take the groceries to the car and just really connect with our customers," said Jeff Aldous, store director for the Albertson's where Jon works.
By night, Jon is a star bowler!
He first picked up a bowling ball when he was nine-years-old.
Today, he has two perfect games on record— ten if you count practice!
"It's the best feeling ever," said Jon. "When you do your first strike in the first frame, just everything comes together! Every shot is just money, money, money!"
Most recently, Jon bowled a 300 at the Idaho Special Olympics Tournament. Now, he is going to Seattle for the Special Olympics USA games.
"I know this is the ultimate for Jonathan!," said Rebecca Harmon, Jon's mom. "This is what he's wanted for years and years. Here it is! This coming week! Here we go!"
Jon is ranked number one going into the competition out of hundreds of bowlers from around the country.
"It's a dream come true! I am trying to keep my emotions together because I don't want to cry on TV. It's just been a dream of mine. It's hard to explain how happy I am to go do something like this and try to come back to Idaho and have a gold medal! [To] be a world national champion for Idaho and my country!"
Jon leaves for Seattle on Saturday. The competition starts Monday morning.
He promises to let us know how he does!
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