By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
The Mesquite Senior Games Spring Bowling Tournament took place at a bustling Virgin River Lanes on Saturday, March 11. All the bowling lanes were filled with happy seniors, both male and female, giving shouts of joy when a strike was made.
This is the 23rd Season for the Mesquite Senior Bowling Games. Phyllis Margolis, 75, has entered every single tournament since the very beginning.
“I love the games,” Margolis said. “They are so much fun. Come hell or high water, I will be here next year, too.”
Margolis’ teammate, Shirley Kitzmillen, at age 84, has been participating for fifteen years now. Kitzmillen said that she plans to keep competing in the event as long as she can.
age stop them from participating in the MSG Bowling tournament last week. PHOTO BY BOBBIE GREEN/The Progress
Both ladies said that they each have a wall in their homes filled with gold, silver and bronze medals from all the games in which they have participated.
The MSG Bowling event coordinator Toni Gans was busy; along with her five “Lane Angel” assistants; handling any issues to make sure the tournament ransmoothly.
The tournament consisted of mixed doubles in the morning and single competition in the afternoon. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded for each age division in five-year increments beginning with age 50.
MSG athlete Bob Morgan, 90, was entering the MSG Tournament for the first time.
“I bowl regularly with the Mesquite Chiropractic Team,” Morgan said. “I have a high series of 679, which is pretty good for a fellow my age. So I thought I would give this a try.”
Morgan likes golfing, bowling and following sports. When he worked, he was a transit bus driver in Seattle, Washington for 24 years. “I was given a plaque for driving over one million accident -free miles.” he said.
Bessie Roberts is another young 95-year-old that has been participating in the MSG for three years. During that time, however, she bowled a 300 game.
The top men’s double team of Larry Moultine and Dean Walker scored a 1539 series.
The women’s doubles high scoring team was 1674 from Krista Klipatrick and Marge Mongelo.
George Houston took top men’s handicap series with a score of 840.
Anita Sorensen took top women’s handicap series with a score of 839.
Mike Saldivar took both scratch high game and doubles and high series singles with 276 and 727 respectively.
Sherry Willamson took Women’s scratch high game of the day with a score of 211. Diane Marget took scratch high series of the day with a 603 score.
The MSG uses the following George Bernard Shaw quote as its motto: “You don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing.”
