By Ens. Jacob Dirr, NR NPASE MW
The U.S. Air Force and Navy claimed bragging rights at the conclusion of the Armed Forces Bowling Championship, featuring elite bowlers from around the world representing active and reserve forces from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, July 18 to 24 at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.
Air Force outpaced the men's competition overall, scoring 18,261 pins to win gold. Army took silver rolling 18,070 pins, followed by Navy in third with 18,065 pins. Army Spc. Shawn Flannery, of Fort Campbell, Ky., took men’s overall individual gold.
Navy took the women’s team gold scoring 16,774 pins overall, with Air Force scoring 16,246 pins for team silver. Army took third place scoring 14,724 pins. Air Force Maj. Danielle Crowder, of Maxwell AFB, Ala., claimed women’s overall individual gold.
The Armed Forces Bowling Championship annual competition features the best bowlers from the U.S. Armed Forces that field a team over a two-day elimination round of over 50 bowlers and three-day championship series in Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Team competition.
Also on the final day, the Army men’s and Air Force women’s team rolled to wins in the Team Challenge. Earlier in the week, Navy bowlers swept titles in men’s and women’s Single and Doubles competition, while the Air Force claimed the top prize in the Mixed Doubles competition.
“I am especially proud that all the Service Members displayed equal competitive determination and joint force camaraderie that our nation expects and necessity demands,” said Armed Forces Sports Deputy Secretariat Mr. Ken Polk.
The competition, which rotates service branch installations each year, rolled in to Naval Station Great Lakes for the first time in recent memory thanks to a new state-of-the-art recreational facility constructed for Sailors and their families, which includes 28 pro bowling lanes.
“Naval Station Great Lakes welcomes greatness, whether it is in warfighting, readiness or competitive sport,” said Naval Station Great Lakes Executive Officer CDR Omar Martinez. “We also have a proud legacy of sports at Great Lakes, and it is our pleasure to welcome the best in the Armed Forces here to continue it.”
The naval station north of Chicago is the largest military installation in Illinois, and the largest Navy-operated training installation. Home to the Navy’s only boot camp, Great Lakes graduates 40,000 Sailors per year.