Students throw strikes to benefit American Cancer Society

The fundraiser benefited the American Cancer Society.

By Catherine Rolfe

Published Nov. 7, 2008

Junior Bonnie Koon had thyroid cancer as a sophomore in high school. On Wednesday, fellow members of honors fraternity Phi Sigma Pi joined her in as they bowled in Brady's Bowl Over Cancer, an event benefiting the American Cancer Society organized by the Student Union Programming Board. For the team from Phi Sigma Pi, cancer awareness is close to the heart. Junior Jordan Petrek, Koon's roommate, has seen the effects of cancer on her own family. So when Koon and Petrek heard about the event, they decided to get involved.

"Kids our age should participate in things that help to better other people," Petrek said. "I think it shows awareness. If you can help, why not?"

Petrek, Koon and the rest of their team hoped that their enthusiasm, if nothing else, would carry them to victory.

"We're going to be awesome, we're all pretty excited," Petrek said. "Or if we're not good, it will at least be entertaining."

Koon was confident.

"I'm expecting to excel," she said.

Sophomores Tyler Filmore and Robbie Yakel are all that remains of the champion bowling team that dominated last year's Brady's Bowl Over Cancer.

"We got really lucky last year," Filmore said. Referring to Yakel, he added, "He had the game of his life."

Yakel's team won the charity tournament last year after he bowled seven strikes in a row and ended up with a score of 244.

"I don't know how to explain it," Yakel said. "It was the luckiest thing I've ever done."

Teammate Ryan Senciboy was impressed.

"I didn't know you had that kind of bowling ability," he said.

This year, however, the team gained a new bowler and a more apprehensive approach to the tournament.

"We're not going to win this year, there's a lot more teams," Yakel said. "And that guy's got a ball bag."

The team then turned around and looks at the competition.

"I'm freaked," Senciboy said.

But Sam Doveikis, a new addition to the team, maintained a positive attitude.

"We're definitely going to go all the way," Doveikis said. "Without a doubt."

Nine other teams participated in the fundraiser, and the teams with the top five average scores competed on Thursday for the championship. Unlike last year's winners, though, some participants were less optimistic about their bowling abilities.

"I come in dead last every year," graduate student Mark Ritchey said. "But it's fun to be around."

Ritchey was bowling along with fellow members of FOCUS, a group for Christian graduate students.

"I'm new," teammate Mark Leatherman said. "So I thought this would be a good chance to get a nice, leisurely break from studying and do something fun."

Ken Zahringer, also a member of the FOCUS team, simply hoped to come out of the tournament healthy.

"I'll be happy if I get through the night without throwing my back out," Zahringer said.

This year, SUPB added a new feature to the tournament called "Pins for Wins." Outside of the entry fee of $5 per team member, participants could also donate or raise money for the American Cancer Society. This way, teams gain one point added to their final score for every dollar raised, giving Ritchey a new opportunity. He doesn't expect a win, he said, "unless I pull out a check and buy it."

The women from Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority had similar expectations for their bowling performance.

"I'm really bad," junior Mary Burford said. "This will be an experience."

But they were still enthusiastic.

"I'm hoping for a strike," sophomore Diane Vadnal said.

Junior Miranda Popejoy was the projected star of Kappa Kappa Gamma's team because she has been bowling since the age of 6.

"I love bowling because of its competitiveness," Popejoy said. "And, it's always been a family thing for me, so it reminds me of home."

One of her teammates, sophomore Gigi Steinbarth, says she drew her bowling expertise from video games.

"I like Wii bowling, so it'll be interesting," Steinbarth said. "But we're banking on Miranda."

Despite their skill levels, the sorority's team was excited to get involved, especially because a few of the women's parents, such as Burford's father, suffer from cancer.

"I just want people to know that it's really easy to support," Burford said. "In little ways, you can make a big difference."

Freshman Shawn Clark went further in describing his bowling skills.

"I'm basically a professional," he said, laughing.

Clark competed with his girlfriend, freshman Casey Payne, and a friend from high school, freshman Emily Ulrich.

"I'm going for two strikes," Payne says. "That's my goal."

Clark, who is sitting across the table, laughed: "I'm going to get way more than two strikes," he said. "Just kidding, she beats me in everything."

Clark and Payne said it was Ulrich's idea to get involved with Brady's Bowl.

"This is the first charity thing I've done since Boy Scouts," Clark said.

Freshman Cameron Williams attended the tournament as part of "A Marvelous Time," an MUTV/Channel 23 show. By spotlighting the cancer fundraiser, Williams hoped to raise awareness about terminal diseases.

"I think it's important for people to realize that these people and their families, they do go through a lot," Williams said. "We should do anything we can to make their lives easier."