Wheelchair bowler hopes to host Adult Unified tournament

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – A South Ripley graduate is not letting physical challenges hold him back from participating in the sport he loves. 

22-year-old Travis Benning was born with Spina Bifida and has been wheelchair-bound for the past five years. 

He first started bowling when he was 13 and can now often be found at Pollard’s Bowl in Versailles. 

Benning has an average score of 140 and even livestreams his bowling matches on his ‘Rollin With Rollie’ Facebook page. 

He created ‘Rollin With Rollie’ to help raise awareness and accessibility of wheelchair bowling. 

Travis is determined to help others who are disabled pursue new interests and hobbies. 

“You have to let people try things before you tell them they can’t. All it takes is trying one time to figure out whether they can or can’t do something,” Benning said. 

Benning revealed that some of the biggest challenges he’s faced aren’t physical but rather mental. 

“Throughout my life, I’ve had to decide whether I want to even attempt to do certain things, or go certain places with my friends, because it is frightening to figure out that you can’t do stuff that you really want to do,” he shared. 

Travis has set a goal and hopes to see it become a reality in 2026.

He wants to host an adult unified bowling tournament at Pollard’s. 

“I want to fill this eight-lane bowling alley with different people that come together through this one mission,” Benning said. 

He encourages anyone, regardless of ability, to reach out to him if you’re interested in bowling. 

“Whether you can walk or not, have a missing limb or anything, I will gladly help you figure out whether bowling is something you’re able to do or not,” he added. 

We encourage you to follow Travis by clicking here and we hope his dream of an Adult Unified Bowling Tournament becomes a reality this coming year!