Finalists set for 25th annual New Mexico Games bowling competition

RIO RANCHO (Nov. 1, 2024) — With one final crack of the pins, the "Center Finals” of the 25th annual New Mexico Games bowling competition ended, and the roster was set for the state finals, happening later this month at Tenpins & More.

The “Center finals” are essentially a regional qualifying round for the state finals.

This year, the competition, which also took place at Tenpins & More, featured 124 bowlers across 15 divisions. Seventy-nine bowlers stood victorious at the end of the day, their places set for the final competition, the one for all the marbles.

According to a release from Tenpins & More, highlights included:

— In open men's, former New York City policeman Joe LaRosa finished first with a score of 1,366. He also opened with 289 — the highest of any other game in the tournament. Jacob Gill finished in second with 1,320, and Tom Thornhill finished third with 1,309.

— Joseph Paterson was one of three family members to advance, along with wife Teri (women's B) and mother, Riza (senior women's B). Joseph won the men's A division with a handicap-added 1,510 series. Andrew Carver finished in second, and Josh Matthies third.

— Aaron Rivera bowled a personal best 1,491 to win men's B from left-handed Michael Money by 19 pins. Ward Stoffer was third.

— Scott McDonnell captured men's C with 1,403, including a 49-pins over average 190 game to top Vince Likar (1,372) and Trevor Anderson (1,365).

— Karen Coffey won women's A seven-pin ahead of Rio Rancho's Yarelis Alvarez. Alvarez, a winning anchor bowler for the Rams, played 208, 203, 233 and 204, to ease ahead of third-place Jolene Sokohl.

— Sue Robertson had five games above her entering average for the women's B win on 1,368, leaving Linda Herrera and Josie Herson in second and third.

— Monica Archibeque did well in her first tournament, taking women's C with1,403, followed by Sheila Rivera and Annette Aragon.

— Blaine Sparks returned from injury to win in senior men's A with 951/4, an easy winner over Kenneth Friedrich (903) and Mike Watson’s 902.

— Ken Huff bowled four games above his average to take senior men's B with 961, nine higher than first-time entrant Will Eash. Native American leaguer Larry Silva finished third.

— Tammy Michel took a three-pin win from Marilyn Wassmann, followed by Troian Donnachaidh in senior women's A.

— Lynn Robb won senior women's B with 935 over Donna Fevig (901) and tournament newcomer, Tiffiney Archuleta.

— Youth division winners included Cibola student Xavier Provencher, Volcano Vista's Aubrey Griego, Lucia Griego and Genesis Bajonero.

Up next

Nov 2 and 9: High School tournament at 8:30 a.m.

Nov 3: Color Pin Cash at 9:30 a.m.

Nov 10: King of the Hill singles — on a sport pattern — at 9:30 a.m.

Nov. 12: Have-A-Ball doubles tournament starts at 6:20 p.m.

Nov. 20: Team of Four loop tournament with Pepsi branded balls.