Over the weekend, members of the Iola branch of the United State Bowling Council received their first place trophies for competing in a state-wide Bowling for Veterans Link tournament in November.
The bowlers could participate in one of six divisions — three for men and three for women — and four out of those six division winners came from Iola.
The winners included Carol Olson, Mitch Valentine, Megan Scheibmeir and Myron Cary.
Iola had 51 bowlers compete in the tournament.
Separately, bowlers participating in leagues also had the opportunity to donate a dollar in each league they bowled to the BVL to have a chance to earn a pin for the top handicap for each league.
Elaine Caldwell (677 series) won it for the women’s league, Cory Davis (715 series) won it for the men, Briley Prather (430 series) won it for the Bantam league, Emily Lawrence (562 series) won it for the Majors Girls league and Jonathan Wall (620 series) won it for the Majors Boy’s league.
For the first time since 2001, the BVL raised over a million dollars to go towards providing recreational and therapeutic programs and activities to help veterans including encouraging participating in sports and the arts to help speed recuperation and boost morale.
“We can’t thank our bowlers from Kansas enough for helping us break that million-dollar number,” BVL Chairman Edna Donovan said. “Throughout the state — in small towns and big cities — the hard-working volunteers really made a difference.”
PHOTOS: Bowlers earn trophies and pins for competing in BVL tournament. Above from left, Megan Scheibmeir, Myron Cary, Carol Olson and Mitch Valentine. Below, back row from left, Emily Lawrence, Cory Davis and Jonathan Wall. Front row, Briley Prather and Elaine Caldwell. REGISTER/TIMOTHY EVERSON
