181st member rolls into first place at 44th Annual Air National Guard Bowling Tournament

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. John S. Chapman
  • 181st Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
No one would have thought that when TSgt Brandi Wallace stepped into the Tropicana
Bowling Center, St. Louis, Mo., on May 11, bowling history would be written. Wallace, a
regular bowler on the ANG Mixed League in Terre Haute, Ind., has been bowling for four
years with her team, Bad-As-Bowlers. She has held a 140 average steady over the years, and this year's tournament seemed to play right into her hands. The ANG Bowling Tournament, which is a handicap event, levels the playing field for all participants. 

Wallace recalls just walking into the bowling alley saying, "Ok, who has the first round?" It was obvious she wasn't thinking too hard on bowling. She actually just wanted to have a good time with everyone. 

Her first event was team, and Wallace rolled 157 her first game, 184 on her second game and finished off with a 144 on her third. Combining her handicap score her final score for the Team event was 653. The next day was singles and doubles, where she bowled with her doubles partner, Darin Weaver. She rolled 168, 212, and 167, totaling 715 with handicap and a team total of 1326, which put them in 8th Place in doubles. Then with only a 15-minute break in between sets, the singles event was next. 

Bowling 166, 161, and 164, adding in her handicap she totaled 659, which was good enough for 1st place in the Single's Event. This made her the first woman champion of the single's event in the ANG tournament's history. When you combine Wallace's 9 games with her handicap, she rolled a 2027 which was enough for 2nd Place in the whole tournament. 

Next year's tournament will be held in Selfridge, Mich., where Wallace will be defending her Singles Championship title.