Three New Mexico bowlers set a new city and state record team score on the final night of the $ 23,500 Bud Trios League at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho last Wednesday

Bowler Tuesday, May 14, 2024 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATEFrom Tenpins & More * Three New Mexico bowlers set a new city and state record team score on the final night of the $ 23,500 Bud Trios League at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho last Wednesday. Between them, the two right-handers and one southpaw bowled thirty-two strikes from thirty-six deliveries. Pete Sheridan led the way with 290, Victor Napolitano 279 and anchor-man Carl Chavez 266 combined for 835, a remarkable 278.3 average. Chavez later found that their 835 was the ninth highest three-person team game recorded so far this year across the US, which includes more than one million registered league bowlers. * Isaiah Salinas, 19 and Annie Alvarado, 11, won their way in to the New Mexico squad to bowl against twelve Australian bowlers from the city of Brisbane, who will be in Rio Rancho for both the International Challenge Cup and the Youth New Mexico Open in mid-September. Salinas, a powerful two-handed player, shot 225, 221, 188 and 210 for a handicap added 960 series, while Alvarado overcame a low second game to add 145, 168 and 148 for 952. The other nine bowlers each received points for placings, with 21-year-old Robin Prioleau closing with 256, alongside 225, 208 and 199 for 932 followed by former Rams high school bowler, Tyler Grier who also finished with 256 and 910. Next were brother-and-sister, Alberto and Mia Medina, along finishing well with 254 and 222 for 906 and 902 respectively. After the qualifying tournaments are over in July, the top two point-scorers will complete the local side. The next roll-off is this Sunday, May 19 at 1pm. * Up to twelve teams of four will take to the Tenpins & More lanes on Saturday (May 18) to bowl in an email challenge match against bowlers at Keon Park Center in Melbourne, Australia. It’s the third annual contest which has been won by Rio Rancho by 23 pins per game the first year and seven pins a game in 2023.

Entries increased by almost five percent over last year in last week’s 56th annual Native American Bowling tournament at Tenpins & More.

Bowler Tuesday, May 7, 2024 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * Entries increased by almost five percent over last year in last week’s 56th annual Native American Bowling tournament at Tenpins & More. The prestige Masters titles went to two-handed Jordyn Manning of Gallup 175-161 Claudette Casaus in the women’s division, local Rusty Coffey 226-132 over Laguna Pueblo’s Larry Silva in seniors play, Brian LaBelle 226 to Andres Racon 182 in Men’s B and Matthew Vargas in a tenth frame finish 191-188 from Farmington’s defending men’s champion, Scott Ashley. Coffey enjoyed his career best all-events win, with 636 in singles, 710 in doubles and 702 in teams for 2,048 scratch and 2,201 with handicap added. Included in the 704 entries were bowlers from Arizona, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Kansas, amongst others. * Seven winners were decided Sunday in the Spring 9-pin No-Tap finals at Tenpins & More. Regular No-Tap winners, Joe LaRosa (Open) and Becky Fisher (Women’s A) were joined by five newcomers. Andrew McKinsey took Men’s A after overcoming a slow start to finish with 300 and a pair of 278’s to beat Orlando Ulibarri III by eleven pins, followed by Socorro’s Joseph Paterson. Damien Coffey won Men’s B by thirteen from Dennis Scott with Cesar Ruiz-Jimenez third 15 pins behind. Mike Fisher surprised himself with a no-tap 300 and ran off with Men’s C by 84 pins from former Cibola High School bowler, Trevor Anderson and Sunday night leaguer, Brian Peterson third. Sue Buffington made a welcome return to the lanes in Women’s B by 70 pins over Teri Paterson and Evelyn Trujillo next. Diana Conzuelo also won by a wide margin of 89 pins in Women’s C from Teresa Rincon of Bernalillo followed by Laurie Shultz. LaRosa included three 300’s in his 1,701 total, leading runner-up Guillermo Espinosa by 125 pins, followed by Tyler Grier, while Becky Fisher’s 1,430 beat out Karen Coffey and Mia Medina. * Summer short-season league got started this week with two 4-person leagues on Tuesday and Thursday night. Seventeen other leagues will commence over the next few weeks. * Calendar: Sat May 11: Youth qualifier for Australian visit at 1pm Sun May 12: Mothers bowl free open play all day 9am-10.30pm (with paying customers) Sat May 18: Email Challenge Match against teams in Melbourne, Australia at 1.30pm

Arevalo set the stage with an opening seven strikes in a row for 253, while Opela closed with six strikes for 248.

Bowler Monday, February 12, 2024 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * Highest average teams don’t always win handicap-added bowling tournaments but one did Sunday at Tenpins & More, when Carson Opela and Jon Arevalo saved their best team game to break a three-way tie in the annual Superbowl Doubles Marathon. Arevalo set the stage with an opening seven strikes in a row for 253, while Opela closed with six strikes for 248. Even giving up 64 pins, the duo had 437 to leave Jacob Neal and Teresa Hope in second with 367, just ahead of Chris Kenworthy and Sandra Fride who had 363, after all three teams had finished with 6-2 records in earlier match-play rounds. Five teams followed, on 5-3, necessitating a tie-breaker for placings four through eight. Peter Silva and Tom Thornhill had 388, followed by Anthony Garcia and Joe Chacon 375. Then came Khesean Manning/Robin Prioleau 331, Mike and Donielle Waite 314 and Soccoro’s Will Hall and Joseph Paterson 312. The next Doubles Marathon is Scheduled for Easter Sunday evening, March 31, starting at 5.30pm. * There’s plenty of tournament action coming up, with final squads this weekend for the Valentine’s Doubles as well as Color Pin Cash on Sunday morning at 9.30am. Then another round of the King or Queen of the Hill is set for Sunday February 25, also at 9.30am.

RIO RANCHO WINS 8TH STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING TITLE

Bowler Monday, February 5, 2024 No Comment

Rio Rancho Rams high school bowling squad won their eighth NMAA High School state 5-A bowling championship Saturday in the event contested by twelve schools at Tenpins & More. They beat La Cueva Bears in the three-game finale 585-514 with game scores of 213-154, 183-170 and 189-190. After the local team took a comfortable 59-pin lead in game one, the northeast heights school quickly reduced that to 18 pins with a game two opening four strikes in a row. However two open frames and a timely double by the Rams recovered the handy lead, never to be threatened again. Rio Rancho’s eight wins puts them two ahead of rivals, Cleveland who have won the “big schools” crown six times. Others to win once each include Piedra Vista, Manzano, Sandia and La Cueva who won at the Albuquerque Convention Center in 2008. Winning team members included seniors, Alex Thompson, Alberto Medina, Carson and Kylie Belnap, along with Joshua Zeigler, Mia Medina, Isaiah Lopez and Brody Humphries, who along with coaches, Dana Miller-Mackie and Don Thompson and school sponsor Malissa Thompson celebrated by signing the NMAA banner that will find pride of place at Tenpins & More this week. Artesia Bulldogs won their ninth state title beating Espanola Valley in 4-A action while East Mountain beat Sandia Prep in 1-A to 3-A at Silva Lanes on Friday. FATHER BEATS SON FOR KING CROWN Gary Gill beat his son Jacob in a tense final at Sunday’s King of the Hill tournament at Tenpins & More. Dad, Gill threw only two strikes on the touchy sport lane condition but converted seven spares from eight attempts, while his son chopped three spares (2-5, 3-6-10 and 6-10 leaves) along with six strikes to lose 171-180. In earlier “survivor series” action, it took 752 over four games to make the first cut from 25 to twelve. In the cut to six, 191 was the number then 203 by qualifying leader, Leroy Espinoza to determine the finalists as Jacob 222 and Gary 215 entered the final match. Calendar: Sat Feb 10 – Valentine’s Doubles at 9am Sun Feb 11 – Superbowl Sunday Doubles Marathon at 8am

The new “King or Queen of the Hill” bowling tournament series started last Sunday at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho has crowned it’s first champion – and that is Adrienne Hare of Rio Rancho.

Bowler Monday, November 6, 2023 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * The new “King or Queen of the Hill” bowling tournament series started last Sunday at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho has crowned it’s first champion – and that is Adrienne Hare of Rio Rancho. Hare dominated proceedings in the survivor format in which the top half of the field after each round moved on while others were eliminated. All this while bowling on a more difficult sport lane condition, Sunday a 37-foot long oil pattern, which seemed to favor outside boards on both right and left side of the lanes. Seven advanced after the first four games, led by Scott Wiley of Corrales, whose 245, 211, 186, 279 (921) was followed by Hare’s 215, 206, 214, 236 (871) along with Andy Byer 796, Jacob Gill 781, Paul Yoder 766, Eric Vanderlip 759 and Espanola’s Ken Friedrich 749. With previous pinfall dropped, Vanderlip fired 259 to lead three more, Gill 213, Hare 211 and Yoder 210 in to the semi-finals. Hare had the first ten strikes in a row before leaving a pocket 7-10 split for 287, and Vanderlip finished with a desperately needed four strikes in a row to claim the second available spot with 217, relegating Gill 213 and Yoder 204 to third and fourth placings. In the championship round, Vanderlip held a seven-pin lead by the sixth frame but powerful strikes in frames seven through nine gave Hare the nod 228-198. There are two more events set this year – next Sunday November 12 then Christmas Eve December 24.

Eighty bowlers have advanced in the 23rd annual New Mexico Games bowling tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho.

Bowler Tuesday, October 31, 2023 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * Eighty bowlers have advanced in the 23rd annual New Mexico Games bowling tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho. From a near-record 374 qualifying attempts and 127 finalists, the eighty won their way to a shot at gold, silver and bronze medals later this month as well as a chance to be able to represent New Mexico in the National State Games of America finals in San Diego, California next July. Part-time regional pro bowler, Brian Bledsoe included 229, 268, 245, 238, 246 in his winning the scratch Open division with 1,401/6 – a 233.5 clip. Second went to former New York City police-man, Joe LaRosa, only two pins behind with 1,399 followed another two pins back by Dan Brenning on 1,397 in one of the closest finishes in history. Tyler Grier, who recently moved back to Rio Rancho from Ohio, won Men’s A with 1,479, including handicap, ahead of Tom Thornhill 1,433 and Michael Radasa whose 1,429 included his first 700 series which featured strings of 258 and 252. Averey Marquez opened with 265 and closed with 227 to capture Men’s B on 1,516, well ahead of Seth Muller 1,404 and Andy Woolf 1,400. Jeffrey Chavez had an opportunity for a perfect game after starting with nine strikes in a row but settled for 266 as he ran off with Men’s C from Kyle Belnap and Brian Peterson. Robin Prioleau showed some of her best form with games of 215, 227, 245, 266 and 214 to take out Women’s A on 1,427 in front of Monica Redman 1,314 and Johnna Mora 1,307. Jeanne Carver finished with 234, 161, 222 for the Women’s B win on 1,458 ahead of Native American bowlers, Shannon Lastyona 1,402 and Felecia Padilla 1,379. Taking recent lessons from house pro, Paul Yoder lifted Celina Bennett to the Women’s C title with 1,431 beating Emily Sanchez 1,415 and Sandra Fride 1,393. Ken Friedrich, who drives to Rio Rancho from Espanola twice a week for leagues and tournaments threw 215, 225, 255 and 212 to win Senior Men’s A over John Mitsunaga 995-943, followed by perennial New Mexico Games stalwart Perry Hampel next with 904. Mike Creager Sr bowled all four games well above his average of 167 (228, 210, 201, 193) as did second-placed Terry Kamm for first and second in Senior Men’s B action, with Doug Wilson third, not far behind. So too did Rose Burnett in Senior Women’s. Entering on a 142 average, Burnett fired 167, 200, 173 and 160 to beat Thursday night league team-mates, Evelyn Trujillo and Marilyn Wassmann, 996-943-930. Cindy Creager won Senior Women’s B by twenty pins from Sally Kantz with Donna Fevig third a further twelve pins behind. Youth who advanced were Shane Muller, Alex Blair, Carson Belnap, Reid Ross, Alberto Medina, Xavier Provencher, Jonathan Paterson, Marcus Ross, Kylie Belnap, Kenadie Haines, Naomi Seiler, Lucia Griego, and sisters, Evelyn and Annie Alvarado. State finals will be held at Tenpins & More between November 18-26. * Calendar: Sat Nov 4: High School tournament at 8.30 amSun Nov 5: King or Queen of the Hill at 9.30 am

Bowling Buzz: Rio Rancho’s Youth NM Open Scholarships, ‘Filling Frames’ Triumph, Real Bowling Heroes, & High School Season Kickoff!

Bowler Tuesday, September 19, 2023 No Comment

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More* An unprecedented, one-time added scholarship of $ 5,000 is being awarded to bowlers coming to Rio Rancho this weekend (September 23-24) for the annual Youth New Mexico Open. Both scratch and handicap division winners this Sunday will each receive scholarships for a record$ 1,250. Boys and girls ranging in age from six to twenty will vie for the prizes and trophies. It is also the first event in the Mountain West region season of the Junior Bowlers Tour, with double points given. Entries can be processed at bowljbt.com. * Six winners were named after contesting the new “Filling Frames” tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho. Scores did not count in the multi-graded event, instead one point was awarded for each strike and spare made during a four-game set (with 40 points the maximum available). Joseph Paterson and wife, Teri, drove up from Socorro to win their respective divisions. Joseph closed 35 frames in Mens A, while Teri scored 17 in Womens C. Trent Irwin, one of the Center’s most diligent practice bowlers, won Mens B with 34 while James DeGroat, who attended last month’s Coaching Clinic, won Mens C with 25 marks. Johnna Mora, who bowled the summer Scratch Doubles league with multi-Hall of Fame member, Dana Miller-Mackie, threw 31 closed frames for the Womens A win, as did Gloria Gonzakowski in winning Womens B. * Rick Dennison, who bowls the Senior Trios here on Monday afternoons, was nominated and accepted as the newest member of the Tenpins & More “Real Bowling Heroes” award board. Dennison, who bowls three leagues a week between Rio Rancho and Albuquerque Centers, has had his share of health issues these past few years but continues to thoroughly enjoy the sport he has now played for more than fifty years. * The New Mexico High School bowling season gets underway Monday October 2 at Bowling Centers around the state with practice/training sessions after school weekdays and weekends prior the opening matches Saturday November 4 and 11 at Tenpins & More. The local Center has already booked Rio Rancho, Cleveland, Volcano Vista, Sandia Prep, Cibola and Bernalillo High Schools, along with eligible eight graders to get expert coaching prior the imminent start-up. * For more than two decades now, Rio Rancho league bowlers have been the most awarded competitive bowlers in the state, evidenced again last Saturday at the New Mexico USBC banquet. Female Bowler of the Year was our Aileen Linares, while all these bowlers won their way through state- organized events, including Lucia Griego, Kira Vanderlip, Aiden Ruiz-Jimenez, Ayden Lopez, Karen Barcal, Haskell Lee, Gary Hadley, Carl Chavez, Michael Beach, Mike Avila, Brenda Hamilton, Shane Muller, Mia Medina, Alyssa Burks, Kylie Belnap, Phyllis Bustos, Kathy Leitch, Rebecca Sanchez, Adrienne Hare, Robin Prioleau, Michelle Dennison, Kelsey Kryjewski, Zach Harvey, Carson Opela, Jacob Gill, Lauren Jaramillo and Pete Sheridan. The upcoming state tournament calendar was released. Senior is at Silva Lanes November, Pepsi Youth at Artesia in January and April, Women at Farmington in March and the Open State meet at Clovis in May. Fifty members who passed during the year were honored and remembered including Tony Vigil who was a regular three-day-a-week league bowler at Tenpins & More.