By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
June 28, 2002
The adults' state tournament and the State Games of Mississippi bowling event have come and gone in Meridian, and now it's time for the young bowlers of the state to take center stage.
The 37th Annual Young American Bowling Alliance state tournament of Mississippi will be hosted by Dixie Bowl Lanes starting Saturday.
The tournament will run for the next three weekends with two shifts each on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the singles and doubles competition shifts will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then on Sunday the team competition shifts will be at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Bowlers should have already received confirmation sheets with the dates and times he or she is scheduled to bowl.
The first weekend is expected to be the busiest while the second should be slow because of the holiday weekend. Around 75 teams are expected to compete in the state tournament. About one-third of those bowlers will probably be local bowlers.
On Saturday the bowlers will bowl three games in the singles event. After those three games are bowled, the bowlers will bowl three more games if they are competing in the doubles event.
On Sunday, the teams will bowl three games. Each team will consist of four bowlers.
Bowlers will compete in one of four categories depending on their age. The bantam group is for bowlers under 9-years-old. The next category for 9-11-year-olds is the prep division. The juniors are ages 12-14 and the major-senior division is for everyone 15 and older.
The bowlers will compete in their category unless a younger bowler bowls on a team with older bowlers. A boy and girl will win in each division according to their handicap series. The bowlers will be competing for trophies.
Also during the tournament, Hamasa Temple will have a concession stand outside of Dixie Bowl Lanes. The stand should be open for all shifts so everyone can stop by and buy some refreshments. A portion of the proceeds will go to the local YABA program.
Not all of the action will be on the lanes during the tournament. Each Saturday night during the tournament a pool side party will be held at Days Inn. The party will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Everyone who is participating in the tournament is invited to attend. The local YABA group is sponsoring the party and there will be a cookout at each party.
Volunteers are welcome to help with the party or to help visiting guests at the lanes. For more information call Leon Fike or Candace Blackmon or contact Dixie Bowl Lanes.