BOWLING UPDATE
From Tenpins & More

* Nine divisional winners from various age brackets were determined in last weekend’s well-attended Pepsi State Youth Bowling Championship tournament held at Tenpins & More.

Local winners included Lucia Griego (Under 12 Girls), Kira Vanderlip (Under 15 Girls), Mia Medina (Under 18 Girls) and Aiden Ruiz-Jimenez (Under 18 Boys).

Other winners came in from Alamogordo, Las Cruces, Melrose, Sandia Park and Albuquerque.

Ruiz-Jimenez’ six-game total of 1,350 (average 225) was the highest set bowled showing the value of him chasing almost-weekly youth tournaments throughout the region including in Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.

In other events held recently at the Rio Rancho pin plant, seven shared in almost $ 2,000 prize-money at the 9-pin No-Tap led by Espanola’s Kenneth Friedrich’s 1,620 winning total in the Open final.

Shane Muller captured Men’s A by 14 over Ron Michel, while senior bowlers, Tony Sanchez won Men’s B and John Waldschmidt took Men’s C.

Kassi Romero beat recent Coloradan “transplant” Trinity Williams in the Women’s A final – by ten pins – with veteran Gloria Gonzakowski returning to form in Women’s B, while Arthana Hampel secured the Women’s C win over Socorro’s Riza Paterson.

* This month forty bowlers, in separate sections for men, women, seniors and youth, will bowl the match-play finals of the annual “Champion of Champions” tournament. Prize-money of more than
$ 4,300 is the reward for the top finishers in each category.

* New short-season winter leagues are ramping up to start at Tenpins & More.

This Monday (Jan 13) the youth/adult doubles (Family Affair) kicks off at 6.30pm, followed by the Senior Trios on Monday (Jan 20) at 4pm. Then both Saturday morning leagues reform on January 25, youth at 9.20am followed by adults at 11am.

Entry is open to everyone with – or without – prior bowling experience. Interested folks can sign up at the Center at 1416 Deborah Road SE in Rio Rancho.