Barksdale bowls over competition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chad Warren
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Several bowlers from Barksdale recently traveled to Houma, La. for the 64th annual Louisiana State Bowling Tournament hosted by the Louisiana State Bowling Association.
 
The tournament, which was held in two different venues in order to accommodate the large number of competitors, showcased the best bowlers Louisiana had to offer.

Barksdale's highest placing team finished sixth out of 383 competing teams with a total pin count of 3,466 and consisted of: Senior Master Sgt. Rich Sutherland, 2d Maintenance Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Ray Faircloth, 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Rickey Brandenburg, 2d Bomb Wing plans and programs, Staff Sgt. Dan Hill, 2d MXS, and Senior Airman Dan Shorter, 2d Operations Support Squadron.

"It felt great to place high among all the teams that competed," said Airman Shorter, who began bowling two-and-a-half years ago because the bowling alley offered one-dollar games for dorm residents. "I'm a very competitive person so I love to get a chance to go up against some of the best bowlers in Louisiana."

The team members, who met by bowling together in the Tuesday night intramural league here at Barksdale, learned from each other and plan on competing in the future.

Airman Shorter is grateful to have experienced working with teammates who are willing to share their knowledge and help him to improve his game. He knows that all of the experience gained will help him to be a better bowler in the future.

"Sergeant Faircloth helped teach me how to bowl with a reactive ball and it only added to my love for the game," said Airman Shorter. "Hopefully I'll be able to compete in the Louisiana State Tournament again next year as well."

In addition to the team finishing sixth out of the entire state of Louisiana, Sergeant Faircloth placed in several individual categories as well. He placed 75th out of 1,915 participants in the all events handicapped category with a total pin count of 2,080 and 35th out of 1,181 participants in the all events scratch category with a total pin count of 1,994.

Being named one of the top 10 teams in the state of Louisiana is an amazing accomplishment, but even with this stellar performance, Sergeant Faircloth knows there is room for improvement.

"I was kind of disappointed we did not finish better," said Sergeant Faircloth, who has been bowling since 1988 when he worked at Holiday Lanes in Bossier City. "Four out of our five bowlers were at least 30 pins above their book averages. Otherwise, we were the only team in the Shreveport-Bossier area to place in the top ten."