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WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE - A local high school bowling team performed well at the state bowling tournament, thanks to the training they received at White Sands Missile Range.
The Onate High School bowling team came home from the state bowling championships with fourth place overall, with individual players coming in even better. While the school is not based on WSMR, the school's team uses Roadrunner Lanes Bowling Center as a practice location. The arrangement was made to allow the school to use Roadrunner Lanes for free, as a way of promoting the sport and encouraging business.
The practices have allowed the students skills to improve, and this year netted them victories at local and regional tournaments, as well as the fourth-place finish at this year's state tournament. Individually, Dallas Ehlert took high series first place; Ryan Doan took third; Ryan Gose placed fourth and earned high game; and Anthony Dominguez received an honorable mention for the all-state boys team.
Three years ago, the team could only practice at locations in Las Cruces. Even though the businesses in town were closer, the cost to the team was also higher. At WSMR, the teens get to practice for free.
"What we have to do is raise all of our money to bowl. If Bill (Foster, manager of Roadrunner Lanes) charged us for linage, we would have to pay for it (out of the team's budget)," said Karen Sanborn, the team's coach.
Since the cost of the buses needed to travel to the various bowling
The result of all the training time they've had shows, as the team has improved over the three years it's been training at WSMR.
"From three years ago to now, they have improved immensely. In all the tournaments they've been in, they've either taken first or second place," Foster said. He said that an executive decision was made to allow for the free practices to promote the sport and boost food and beverage sales.
"As the manager, it's my call, and the reason I do that is I get returns. These kids eat real well, so I can let them bowl free ... Plus they bowl, so we've had them in the youth league and we've also just started our new Tuesday night sport league and six of them are on that," Foster said.
The free practices were extended to O-ate because the school's attendance includes many of WSMR's students, but the arrangement has been extended to other Las Cruces Schools as well. The other schools will have to pay to play at Roadrunner Lanes, but at greatly reduced prices.
What's Up at White Sands is a weekly feature provided by White Sands Missile Range. This week's article was written by Drew Hamilton of the Missile Ranger.
