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 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.