Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood | Several U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 416th...... read more read more
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The Powerball League of Indian Lanes had a vacancy and Staff Sgt. Robert Laws was looking for an activity he and a few Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Soldiers from the TEC could participate in after hours. He chose Indian Lanes because of its proximity to Vicksburg (about 30 miles).
“We started bowling to do something together outside of the military,” said Laws.
The four-man team of Soldiers bowls in the league once a week. Each team member bowls three games. The TEC team joined the league in August, 2016.
Coincidentally, league president Tim Brown is an Army veteran. He noted that the league has been in existence for several years.
This league naturally has veteran bowlers which we know means they could have high averages.
Just ask team member Master Sgt. Leveron Cameron, a veteran bowler with an average above 150. “They have a lot of good bowlers here,” pointed out Cameron.
The other Soldiers on the team are Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Miller, Staff Sgts. Gloria Rivera and Ariel DeLeon and Sgt. Brandon Shaw. They take turns composing the team each week.
Shaw is the other veteran bowler besides Cameron and Laws.
Laws, an intelligence noncommissioned officer, has been bowling for about 20 years with an average of 200.
Shaw, who is on his first AGR tour as a motor sergeant, has been bowling for about four years.
He said he enjoys bowling on the team because of the opportunity to spend time with fellow Soldiers while not at work and it also builds camaraderie.
On the other lane, DeLeon is on his second AGR tour in the transportation job field and is an amateur bowler.
“I’ve been improving a lot,” said DeLeon.
He noted that he has even been practicing on his own time – sometimes on weekends.
So how does he like bowling so far?
He replied that it has become his hobby.
“It gets me out of the house for a few hours and I am able to exercise in some sort of way,” he said.
He added that the actual bowling movement is a good way to stretch.
Rivera’s reflections on her first bowling experience included that she was not aware of the complexity of bowling.
“Anyone can throw a ball and knock down pins but it definitely takes
practice like everything else in life,” said Rivera who is on her second AGR assignment in the supply job field.
Being the team leader also has allowed Laws to practice teaching his bowling skills.
He admitted teaching his bowling prowess has been challenging. Some of these challenges, include teaching his team how a handicap works, he said.
He added that one of his strategies is ensuring the first bowler is capable of rolling a strike on the first frame.
Something else he enjoys is knowing that this team is engaging with the community.
“They see the military is trying to get involved with the community,” said Laws.
Brown agreed.
“It really brings the community’s focus a little more when they see them out, especially when they are wearing shirts that say the U.S. Army,” said Brown.
The team wears custom-made shirts with Army Strong in gold letters and a red Engineer Castle on the front and the back.
None the less as Laws said, “We just have fun and come out and enjoy what we do.”
Everyone also wins.
As Rivera said, “It is amazing how much positive feedback and encouragement you get from teammates, other bowlers and even from the opponents.”
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2017 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 223826 |
| Location: | VICKSBURG, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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