Thereâs a noticeable hitch in Nathan Barnicaâs delivery as he competes for Ephrata s bowling team.
While the sophomoreâs 205 average wouldnât lead anyone to think much of that hitch, the story behind it, and bowlingâs role in his recovery, is nothing short of inspirational.
âHe wasnât able to even walk, and now heâs back and heâs rolling the ball incredibly,â Ephrata bowling coach Nick Vanderwende said recently. âItâs without a doubt the most heart-warming thing Iâve experienced in the sport.â
In October 2018, Barnica was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, a disease that develops from a common virus and affects the spinal cord, causing muscles and reflexes to become weak.