Scott Hammers / The BulletinRyan Franson.

Special Olympians Mary Stevens and Ryan Franson are taking their talents to the East Coast.

Stevens, a 27-year-old Bend bowler, and Franson, a 23-year-old Redmond golfer, are part of the six-person Central Oregon contingent that will be representing the state at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey next week. More than 3,500 athletes from across the country are expected to participate in the weeklong event, which kicks off Sunday with its opening ceremonies.

“I like the fact that you use your arms and feet in bowling,” says Stevens, who also snowshoes and competes in track and field with the Special Olympics. “And I like watching the professionals bowl on TV.

“I try some of (the pros’) shots,” Stevens says with a laugh, “but it ends up in the gutter all the time!”

Franson, who took up golf just a couple of years ago with his father, is looking forward to visiting a new part of the country.

“There’s a cruise and a baseball game,” Franson says about the most exciting parts of the travel itinerary. “And we get to go to the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center site (in New York City).”

Accompanying Stevens and Franson on the trip east will be Stan Rowland from Redmond, who will caddie for Franson and Jill Simmons, of Bend, who will serve as support for the entire Oregon delegation. Additionally, Bend High students Kyle Gates and Joel Schuster, Special Olympics youth leaders, are scheduled to travel to New Jersey to attend a youth leadership summit. In all, 19 athletes, nine coaches, six unified partners — basketball and boccie teams are made up of Special Olympians and non-Special Olympics athletes — two staff members, and one caddie will represent Oregon at the national games.

Both Bend athletes are scheduled to start competition on Monday. Stevens is set to bowl in a preliminary round Monday at 8 a.m. at the Brunswick Zone Carolier, an 82-lane facility in North Brunswick, N.J., that hosted the Professional Bowlers Association Tour’s U.S. Open men’s tournament in 2012. Franson is set to play nine holes of stroke play Monday and Tuesday at Mercer Oaks Golf Course in West Windsor Township, N.J.

Regardless of how many strikes or birdies they record, Stevens and Franson both seem eager for a rare opportunity to travel and compete.

“I’m mostly excited about the competition and going to a new place and meeting new people,” Stevens says. “I just can’t wait to do whatever everyone else does (in New Jersey).”

—Reporter: 541-383-0305; beastes@bendbulletin.com.