MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 Marines competed in a championship bowling league tournament at the Strike Zone here July 28.
Approximately 22 Marines, split into 11 teams, competed in the morale-building event.
“From what I understand, this is the first time that a unit has sponsored a bowling league,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Maurice Patterson, MALS-12 sergeant major. It’s great both for camaraderie and motivation, he added.
Participation in the bowling league was open to all MALS-12 personnel.
Patterson said he enjoyed watching how the various MALS-12 departments gathered for a good time and described their coming together like the fingers of a hand curling to make a strong fist.
“It makes our team that much stronger,” said Patterson.
Cpl. Carlos Chen, a MALS-12 headquarters operations clerk, was responsible for organizing the league.
“I love to see Marines have fun,” said Chen. “That’s the main reason why I started this.”
The MALS-12 bowling league met at the Strike Zone bi-weekly during lunch for nearly 23 weeks.
When MALS-12 came to play, the Strike Zone came alive with the sounds of Marines laughing and jeering over the roar and explosion of bowling balls barreling down their lanes ramming into bowling pins.
Scenes of Marines laughing, shaking hands and high-fiving each other could be seen all across the bowling center as some competitors managed a strike.
“Camaraderie was the main focus at all times,” said Chen.
Several Marines joined the league to be a part of the friendship the event inspired.
“I just wanted to come out here have fun and meet new people,” said Pfc. Nicholas Bartholomew, an event participant and a Split Happens team member. “I met about 12 different people I’ve never met before in my life, and now I can go around and talk to them about anything.”
On the last day of the games July 28, the 23 weeks of competition were tallied up to determine who the winners of the bowling league were.
After the numbers were added, Split Happens managed to climb up from seventh place to first with 54 wins. Old School came in second with 53 wins and Starvin’ for Tomorrow came in third with 52.
Bartholomew said he was surprised his team won first place because he was doing so badly in the beginning.
“A few weeks ago I changed up all my style,” said Bartholomew. “Everything just kind of came together.”
Most Marines who participated in the bowling league considered the competition a great success.
“I asked for feedback quite a few times and these Marines, they loved it,” said Chen.“How often do you get to talk trash to a staff sergeant or a gunny while bowling against them?” he added.
Coming off the success of the MALS-12 Bowling League, plans are being made to make a new league to include members from all squadrons aboard the station.
“I’m looking for maximum participation next time,” said Chen. “533, 242, all the squadrons on base. Hopefully a lot of Marines will see this as an opportunity to do something — come out and have fun.”