SPORTS News
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SSgt Donnie Thompson (USMC) wins Men's Singles , while Air Force Bowlers Come Up Big Overall in the Armed Forces Bowling Championship
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The best bowlers the military had to offer met at Fort Dix for the Armed Forces Bowling Championship. Held Dec. 4 8, the top eight bowlers - four male and four female - will travel to Reno, Nev., Jan. 6 - 12, where they will compete to represent Team USA in national competition. During the last day of competition, SSgt Donnie Thompson (USMC) wins the Men's Singles Competition. The Air Force was the big winner, grabbing the top spot in both the male and female competition. Ive made the cut for Team USA before, but lost in match play, said overall winner Air Force Capt. Ricky Banister, Fort Meade. That was in 2004. I won the Inter-service Championship in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Bannister was confident of his chances coming into the competition, but he knew nothing was guaranteed as he faced the top military bowlers. It was a tough week, he said. I was leading all week. When youre in the lead, everyone is gunning for you, so its tough. The last day of the tournament, I was 300 points ahead. I was pretty confident then. Heading into the Reno tournament, Bannister is still confident, but says he has a few things to tweak. I feel pretty good. I know what it takes. Im throwing the ball well. There are a couple of things I need to work on, but Ill go home and get them worked out, he said. Air Force Master Sgt. Trish Rodgers, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, was not quite as confident as Banister heading into the competition at Fort Dix, but thought shed have a chance to go to Reno. I figured Id make the cut, but I havent bowled regularly in the last three years, said Rodgers. I pretty much picked up where I left off for the most part. I had to practice the spares a bit; that was the hardest part. Rodgers has never gone to the Reno tournament before, but is looking forward to the challenge. I dont know what to expect. Ive never been there. Im sure the competition will be more than Im used to, she said. The competition at Dix was hard for the bowlers, and for the coaches who made the trip. I probably have as many knots in my stomach as them, maybe more, because I cant do a thing about it, said Army bowling coach Dean Ryan. Ryan, a retired sergeant major, is in his fourth year as the Army bowling coach. Making the trip from Fort Meade, Md., where he is the manager of the bowling center, Ryan said his team did not have much time to prepare for the Armed Forces Championship. We were behind the curve a bit. We didnt have a training camp. We got caught up, but it took a couple of days, he said. The biggest challenge for Ryan and the other coaches was to keep their bowlers in a good frame of mind. We try to keep their heads in the game. Ill watch their form and give them tips, take care of equipment, but mostly I try to keep their heads in the game, he said. One of my guys started losing it a bit. I told him, Forget that last ball and get your head back in it. Ryans advice worked for his bowlers, as one half of the mens team is Army Bowlers. Lt. Vince Gothard, Fort Bliss, Texas, and 1st Sgt. William Anthony, Anbach, Germany, will join Bannister and Air Force Capt. Brian Snyder to comprise the mens Armed Forces Team. For the female team, Rodgers will be accompanied by Navy Chief Petty Officer Bessie Lowry, Mid Atlantic Maintenance Center, Navy Lt. Commander Anita Hawkins, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Air Force Maj. Stephanie Gardner, Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany. December Tournament -SUMMARY- -ARMED FORCES OVERALL MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: -INDIVIDUAL ALL EVENTS ARMED FORCES MEDALISTS - WOMEN: -INDIVIDUAL ALL EVENTS ARMED FORCES MEDALISTS - MEN: -INDIVIDUALS QUALIFIED TO ADVANCE TO THE 2007 U.S. BOWLING CONGRESS (USBC) NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, 7-12 JAN 07, IN RENO, NV: -SPECIAL COMPETITIONS WINNERS: WOMEN'S DOUBLES: MEN'S DOUBLES: MIXED DOUBLES: WOMEN'S SINGLES: MEN'S SINGLES: |