Story has been updated.

COEUR d’ALENE — Bonners Ferry Special Olympics athletes took home big wins at the Idaho State Regional Bocce Ball Tournament last weekend.

The Bonners Ferry team, which had five participants, saw Laurie Vaughn and Julie Weible win first place overall. Mike Bjoraker took third place and Gavin Lee and Charlie Meeker took fifth place.

Candace Tweeton, sister of one of the athletes, said onlookers could see the joy on the athletes’ faces as they competed.

“It is all about the small victories,” she said.

Special Olympics allows those with intellectual and physical disabilities to participate in athletic competitions with others at their level.

Tweetman added that she hadn’t seen the Bonners Ferry Special Olympics athletes smile as much in their lives as they did last weekend at the bocce ball tournament.

The Special Olympics team competes in different sports every season. They will move on to practicing winter sports soon. Bowling season is tentative at this time.

Special Olympics is also raffling off tickets for a 2022 Toyota Tacoma. Each ticket is $10, with $7.50 being donated to the Bonners Ferry Special Olympics team. The remainder will benefit Special Olympics Idaho.

Special Olympic participants must have a physical or intellectual disability and be 11 or older. If you have a family member that qualifies or want to purchase a raffle ticket, call John Beck at 208-610-0157 or Candace Tweeton at 928-716-0198.

For more information on Special Olympics Idaho, go online to www.specialolympics.org/programs/united-states/idaho