MWSS-171 continues Commander’s Cup dominance

James Hayes, William Janssen, Eric Taylor Jr. and Roy Whitener boasted a total score of 2,231 putting them on top, earning their unit 30 points in the overall Commander’s Cup standings and $100 toward their party fund.

The challenge was a close match between one of the Branch Health Clinic’s teams.

In the end, BHC’s top team composed of Andrew Barr, Joseph Freitas, Cornell Hewitt and Tam Nguyen took second with a combined score of 2,148 and earned their unit 27 points in the standings and $75 toward their party fund.

Third place went to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron with a total of 1,927.

For the Bowling Challenge, four-man teams played three games each in a nine-pin no tap format.

The team with the highest total score would take first place. MWSS-171’s success may have come from their secret weapon.

“Back in the states I was a big bowler,” said Taylor, MWSS- 171 competitor. “I used to go every Saturday.”

Taylor said he hadn’t played since being in Iwakuni, but after the practice rounds his skills came back.

For Taylor and his teammates, the focus was more on challenging each other.

Taylor said they tried to beat each other and then see how they were doing against other teams as a second factor. Taylor boasted the highest overall individual combined score of 664.

Most events in the Commander’s Cup have tended to be on the physically demanding side of things, but the bowling challenge provided a change of pace to allow more unit participation.

“A lot of (Commander’s Cup events) are physically challenging,” said Barb Roman, Commander’s Cup Bowling Challenge coordinator. “(The events are) a variety. So I want to make sure that everyone has a chance throughout the year to show off their strengths for their unit.”

While Commander’s Cup events can get people focused on the competitive side, the overall goal is getting unit
members together and fostering unit camaraderie.