Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Scott | (Capt.) Scott Lentsch, a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier assigned to Army Reserve Medical...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Capt. Scott Lentsch, a nurse assigned to Army Reserve Medical Command and a Fort Dodge, Iowa native, has been bowling for more than 30 years. He is the oldest and perhaps the wisest bowler in the Army, and he loves teaching the young “kids” a thing or two about his craft. The last four years he has qualified for the All Army Bowling Team, but this year he decided to be the coach instead.
The All Army Bowling Team held their trials for the team at Camp Pendleton, California on May 2nd and 3rd, just prior to the team competing in the all services competition, but Lentsch’s job as coach began long before meeting the applicants for the team in California.
All Soldiers interested in trying out for the team were required to submit their high scores and averages with their application. Carole Herr with All-Army Sports at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, assisted coach Lentsch in selecting and coordinating travel for the nearly 20 male and female competitors for the 2017 competition.
Herr, a program analyst for All Army Sports, points out the benefits of Soldiers participating in the program.
“All Army Sports gives Soldiers the opportunity to represent their unit, their installation, and the Army, and to take their sports to the highest level that their skills will take them. Soldiers return to their unit more physically fit, with a sense of pride and with leadership experiences that will translate to the battlefield,” Herr said.
After completing tryouts, four Soldiers with top scores for the male and the female categories made the team. This year, the top male average score was 197 and the female average score was 170. To arrive at that score, the Soldiers had to play 24 games on four different oil patterns which Lentsch has committed to memory, bringing up the patterns on his iPad for the Soldiers to see and plan the best area to throw their ball based off of varying factors.
“That’s the whole goal of being here, is to improve on your game. You were selected, but also can you become a better bowler? I’m here throughout the whole year. It doesn’t matter if they don’t make the team next year or (even) make the selection process next year, I’m here the whole year. I’ve become a family for them. I’m not just here as a coach, I’m here as a mentor as well,” said Lentsch.
After trials were complete, an exhausted group of Soldiers entered a private room in the bowling alley on Camp Pendleton to hear the results, sporting various injuries after throwing for 24 games in two, nine-hour days. Fortunately, Lentsch is a critical care nurse assigned to the 7225th Medical Support Unit, and can help them address their injuries as well. Before the slots were announced based on scores, Coach Lentsch gives out awards for perseverance and other qualities that can only be measured by the heart and not numbers.
The top four bowlers selected for the male team were Staff Sgt. Allan Smith, Spc. Adam Ahmad, Sgt. 1st Class Damian Codrington, and Staff Sgt. Christopher Heron; and the competitors representing the female team were Sgt. Geneitha Allen, Staff Sgt. Tiara Jenkins, Sgt. 1st Class Quincie Blackshear, Sgt. 1st Class Chandres Bolden.
With the teams established and only eight Soldiers to coach, Lentsch describes his focus.
“I’m not the one throwing the ball, they are. I’m not the one going through all the struggles they’re going through. I can only see and help them on what they’re going through and give them my knowledge. But in the long run, what makes a good coach is a good player. Does he give them the knowledge and the tools to be that good player? If I can pass that on, then I’ve done my job.”
Lentsch then addressed the players about a unique situation. The Marines had not fielded a women’s bowling team for many years. The service team coaches got together and proposed that the Army, Air Force, and Navy could each lend one female competitor to the Marines who only had one female bowler for 2017, and who would not get to participate without a full 4 woman team. Together the services created a multi-service women’s team to play into the rotation. The Army female identified was Col. Elizabeth Keough, who proudly wore her Army bowling shirt while contributing to the Marines’ overall score.
Saturday, May 6th began the three-day Armed Forces Bowling Championship. Army awards for the Armed Forces Championship were given to Staff Sgt. Tiara Jenkins who received first place for singles games and Sgt. Geneitha Allen who came in third. For women’s doubles, Sgt. 1st Class Chandres Bolden and Sgt. Geneitha Allen placed third place. For the men’s team, Sgt. 1st Class Damian Codrington received third in the men’s singles and in All-Events he also took third. Despite the strong effort from the Army team, the Air Force led the 2017 competition, taking home the majority of the 40 medals awarded.
With the competition complete, Coach Lentsch will return to being Nurse Lentsch. His stateside mobilization with the 7225th Medical Support Unit will soon be complete, and he will return to his place as a traditional Army Reserve Soldier in a Medical Support Unit in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lentsch remains committed to the role of coach for the All Army Bowling Team for the near future, hoping to share his knowledge and pass on his many years of expertise.
**For those not familiar with oil patterns, the Professional Bowlers Association uses different oil patterns to increase the degree of difficulty for the bowlers. The best technique for a bowler is to hook the bowling ball as they throw it down the lane. This helps the ball come in at an angle to hit a gap between the first head pin in the center and one of the two pins in the second row. This placement and the hook help increase the chance of knocking down all the pins and getting a strike. In the past, oil was placed on lanes to help protect the wooden floors. Today’s harder surfaces are designed to resist wear, so oil patterns are now placed to make the ball slip irregularly, and are intended to be incorporated in the bowler’s playing strategy.**
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2017 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 234353 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Hometown: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Hometown: | BOTHELL, WA, US |
| Hometown: | CHARLOTTE, NC, US |
| Hometown: | CLEVELAND, OH, US |
| Hometown: | FORT DODGE, IA, US |
| Hometown: | GRANADA HILLS, CA, US |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Hometown: | POOLESVILLE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | WARREN, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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