Pictured Above Are: Josh, Kristi, and Justin Thompson
Dedicated Adults Help Mesa Strikers Become One Of The Top Junior Programs In The State Of Arizona.
Getting Her Kids Into The Sport, Was Kristi Smith-Thompson's Key On Becoming Involved In Bowling.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor the tenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Mesa - - - Kristi Smith-Thompson always wants what is best for her kids - all 39 of them.
No, that is not how many she originally gave birth to. But, as the secretary and treasurer of the Mesa Strikers youth bowling league at Brunswick Zone Mesa, it is her goal to make sure every youth bowler in her league has the opportunity to win scholarships and awards that junior bowling provides them.
It was in fact September of 2011, when she walked into BZM and got her sons Josh and Justin involved in the game of bowling; she knew then she had to get involved with the Mesa Strikers herself. Five years later, along with a dedicated group of coaches and volunteers, the Mesa Strikers are one of the most self sustained junior programs in the State of Arizona.
"I decided to get involved with the Mesa Strikers before my sons started their second season in the program. I had volunteered as a parent volunteer," she explained, on how she got involved. "The center had one of its staffers handling the program. The league's President, Mike Albertson, asked the center if they would let us take over the program. The center agreed to do this, and I have been involved 110 percent ever since."
If you have ever met Kristi in person, you will notice she is a very organized individual right off the start. She admits when she gets involved with something her kids are participating in, she is an 'all in mom' just by human nature.
"There are two things that I wanted to accomplish right from the start. One was, I wanted to make sure that our kids got every award, and earned every scholarship opportunity that was made available to them," she said, once she became the secretary/treasurer. "And two, develop a league that was competitive and fun for the kids to be part of. Once a kid loses interest in something, its not fun for them to participate in anymore."
In the beginning, she also feels there were a lot of things she had to learn and adapt to herself when it came to junior bowling.
"Absolutely, this was a learning window for me as well. I had to learn all of the rules, and find out how many scholarship opportunities are available to junior bowlers," she said, of the learning curve. "I am still finding out about a lot of opportunities that I don't want my 39 kids to miss out on."
The Mesa Strikers bowl every Saturday at 9:30 am at BZM. Kristi's support group includes league President Mike Albertson, and Vice-President Chuck Morenzoni Sr. Her coaches are: Ron Huemiller, Chuck Phelps, Chuck Morenzoni Jr., Joe Thompson, Bob Collins, and Neal Haney.
"We have seven coaches this year, and they are all registered under the volunteer program. We are also fortunate that we can have a coach on every pair of lanes this year as well," she said, of the Mesa Strikers support group. "The one thing we don't do though, is assign coaches to certain kids. Our coaches work with all of the kids, and we keep documentation on what we are working on.
"All of our coaches will go through the certification program. Two of them already have earned certification, and we also have one silver certified coach," she added. "Since we have made this change, we have gotten a lot of positive feedback from the kids and their parents."
Because of the coaching at Mesa Strikers youth league, it was the main reason Gary Roff got his son, Russell 10, started in the game of bowling.
"The coaching was the biggest reason I got Russell involved in the league," said Gary, a Vice-President with the Mesa Metro Association. "There are other leagues in the area that have dedicated coaches as well, but I also knew the coaches in the Mesa Strikers program. Since he joined the league, he changed his bowling style a lot. He also enjoys the camaraderie with the other kids. He is just like any other kid. He will have his big moments on the lanes, too."
It also makes life a lot easier for all of the adults involved with the Mesa Strikers youth league, when everyone is on the same page and wants to accomplish the same goals for their kids. The kids who want to get extra coaching on the lanes get it, and as a result of the extra coaching sessions, their averages go up. The coaches have regular meetings every-other month to follow up on the progress of every youth bowler.
According to the MMA yearbook this year, there were 14 kids within the association that averaged 190 or higher. The top five average bowlers were: Matthew Wachter, 203; Christopher Mayes, 201; Gabriel Villegas, 199; Grant Strehl, 197; and Bailey Jayes 197. Kristi' son Josh, finished the year with a 193 average.
"The game of bowling has changed a lot since you and I learned how to bowl," she said, of how far the game has advanced. "Today, its all about the equipment the kids have in their bag. I am not surprised that the kids know so much about bowling today. That's because they have the desire to learn as much about bowling as they can."
And coming soon in January, the kids will have another chance to test their knowledge, as the Mesa Strikers will be forming a Sport League on Monday evenings at BZM. The cost of the league will be $13 a week. Whatever sport pattern the AZ Draft League bowls on that evening, the kids will be bowling on it as well.
One of the biggest reasons the Mesa Strikers have been able to become a self sustained group is because of its fundraising efforts. This past summer it has been able to raise money through a 9 Pin No-Tap event, and a Bakers Doubles tournament.
"We held these events last summer to keep the cost of bowling down for the kids at $10 a week," explained Kristi, of the fundraising events her league holds. "This year at our city and state tournament, we will also be able to pay for and enter eight four-man teams into the event (the MMA youth event is on January 21 and 22 at Mesa East Bowl). "Ball raffles and 50/50 drawings are also a big boost to our fund raising as well."
Speaking of fund raising, her son Josh, a senior at Valley Christian High School, will be taking part in a unique senior project on New Years Eve day.
"Josh's senior project that he picked had to be one that involved an international charity. The tournament that we are holding will be a 9 Pin No Tap fundraiser on New Years Eve,beginning at 12 noon," said Kristi, of her sons project. "The cost to bowl in the event will be $30.00. Seven dollars and 50 cents from each entry will go to 'Feeding My Starving Children'. Our goal is to feed a lot of children during the upcoming year,"
BZM hosted the MMA youth tournament last year. The highlight of the youth tournament came when Gabriel Villegas rolled a 300 game and 800 series. The Mesa Strikers along with the Firebirds, will be hosting the TOC Saturday night tournament. It is a fun adult/youth tournament for the TOC participants. The TOC will take place in April 2017, and it is for kids who advanced out of their city tournaments.
"I have taken my passion for bowling and paired it with my passion for helping these poor children," said Josh, of his upcoming senior project. "It would mean the world to me to know that I have the support of my bowling community along with my family and friends."
The Mesa Strikers League consist of a: Bumper League, a JV League, and a Varsity League.
Mesa Bowling News - December 16, 2016