Chiefs' bowl-a-thon raises money, sees two perfect games

  • Published
  • By Kevin Chandler
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The annual bowl-a-thon, a three game, 9 pin tournament sponsored by the Altus Chiefs Group, typically lets the men and women of Altus have some fun while also raising money for various enlisted functions. This year participants were treated to more enjoyment, however, as two bowlers had perfect games.

Airman First Class Helena Cox from the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Mr. Larry Sole, 97th Force Support Squadron, both bowled perfect 300 games. According to various websites, the chances of bowling a perfect game are somewhere around 10,000 to 1, although nine pin bowling is easier.

Chief Master Sgt. L. Gail Hargis, 97th LRS Fuels manager, says the feat is still something to marvel at. "Even though it's 9 pin, no tap where 9 pins count as a strike, your ball still needs to generally hit the strike pocket area," she explained, "so getting a perfect 300 game is quite amazing."

Tech Sgt. Keith Wineberg, 97th Civil Engineering Squadron, won the event with a total score of 784 for three games. Mr. Sole finished second with a 770 while Senior Master Sgt. Chris Hargis, 97th FSS came in third with a 701. All three received medals for their scores.

But the grand prize went to Mr. Terry Kratz from the 97th LRS. Mr. Kratz took home a TOXIC Raw Hammer bowling ball for raising the most money in pledges. Mr. Kratz brought in almost a third of the event total $928.