Why She Plays: Serenity Nedza

After she gave birth, Christina Warholak was given a stack of books and sympathetic looks follow by an “I’m sorry.”

Her new born daughter had Down Syndrome -- a congenital disorder occurring when the individual has an extra copy of chromosome 21. 

“When they gave me the books about down syndrome, I couldn’t read them,” Christina said. “It was depressing because of all the naysay and all of the stuff about how horrible this is. I just put the books away.”

The moment she put the books away was the same moment Christina said she didn’t care what the books said. Her daughter is just like everyone else.

 When they gave me the books about down syndrome, I couldn’t read them. It was depressing because of all the naysay and all of the stuff about how horrible this is. I just put the books away.

Now, 11 years later, her daughter Serenity has proven she is just like the other kids -- and it all started with a bowling ball.

Serenity started bowling as a way to spend time with her dad and older sister. But things didn’t come easy at first.

“At first it was, ‘No! I can’t do this,’” Christina said. “We just kept telling her, listen you aren’t going to learn this overnight. You can do this.”

Serenity listened to her parents and didn’t give up on bowling.

Now, bowling has become more than a way for Serenity to spend time with her family. It has become a difference maker in her life. 

I like doing the thumbs up with my teammates and high-fiving my teammates.

“Her posture is different,” Christina said. “When she is bowling she doesn’t have that slouch and that ‘I’m biting my nails off nervousness.’ She is totally different, it’s like a totally different child.”

Serenity has started bowling competitively and is on the “Thumbs Up” team at the DuBois Lanes.

She also competed in York at the state finals and won first place in the handicap singles division. Along with a medal, Serenity earned a $500 scholarship for college.

But that’s not why Serenity bowls -- her reason is much more simple.

“I like doing the thumbs up with my teammates and high-fiving my teammates,” Serenity said.

Serenity also used to cheer, she got involved because she loved to dance and her mom knew it would help her mobility and balance.

Serenity’s favorite things about cheerleading were the boys – and the different cheers she performed.

“I like blue berry and shake, shake your booty,” Serenity said.

Serenity like sports because they make her happy.

Her mom likes sports because they teach Serenity she can do anything she puts her mind to and they prove she is just like her peers.

Christina also hopes Serenity participating in sports allows those lessons to reach more people than just her daughter.  She is hoping others will see what Serenity is accomplishing and realize she, and others with disabilities, are just like everybody else, even if it does take them a little bit longer to understand something.      

“They can do it,” Christina said. “They may not be able to do it at the same pace and same rate as you, but they can do it. She’s not going to learn the dance moves right away and she may be off a beat, but she can do it. She might not be able to lift the same amount of weight you can, but give her time and she will be able to do it.”