MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay -- Believing that there is nothing more enjoyable in life than some healthy competition, the Hawaii All-Military Bowling Tournament pitted Marines against Sailors, soldiers and airmen last week. After the last pin had been struck and the frames tallied up, the Air Force had rolled to victory.
Try outs for the annual competition begin in February at each military base in Hawaii. The top six males and the top four females then advance to represent their branch at the Hawaii All-Military contest, which lasts four days in March. Teams play six games per day, each at a different location.
During the doubles competition on Day One at Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hi., Army females won, and Navy men striked their way to victory. During mixed doubles on Day Two, at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, the Air Force completely dominated.
Day Three at Fort Shafter, tested individual competitors in singles events. The Air Force and Army triumphed after 10 frames. In final competition during Day Four, every branch was looking out for itself. When the judges tallied final scores, the male retirees and the Air Force females had conquered the other services.
Millie Gomes, bowling program director for Navy Region Hawaii, said it's always fun to see such healthy competition between the military branches.
"You can really see a lot of camaraderie all of the branches have with each other," she said. "With the challenge of trying to prove they are the best, everyone really gets close, even for a sport like this."
Gomes was especially pleased with the turnout despite budget cuts.
"The competitors still wanted this to continue," she explained. "We promote the competition and everyone has a good time. It's well worth it to the people competing."
Marines couldn't make it to last year's tournament, as most were deployed, so Gomes was pleased that they rounded out and made the competition complete this year.
All military members are invited to ready themselves for tryouts next year. Though airmen were named champions in 2004, there's almost a year's worth of splits, spares and strikes to be perfected for Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marines and Sailors to take home the bowling championship in 2005.