Spang bowlers have best games of their life

Published March 26, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Three hundred. For competitive bowlers it is the number that symbolizes perfection. It is the goal they strive for when they roll the ball in the first frame of their game. It is also one that most players never reach.

During a typical night of Tuesday league bowling, this aspiration became a reality March 18, 2008 for Tech. Sgt. John Schaefer, 606th Air Control Squadron NCOIC of emergency management,. This was just days after Ryan Allshouse, Bitburg High School 10th grader, found himself one pin shy of the perfect game March 15, 2008.

Sergeant Schaefer said bowling has always been a part of his life. "My dad and mom were bowling on leagues before I was even born," he said.

Having a bowling alley as a constant fixture in his life growing up has led Sergeant Schaefer to a more than 20-year involvement with the sport. Part of the game for Sergeant Schaefer is that it is the only sport where building muscles and having the speed of a gazelle is not required; instead it is all about technique and a lot of luck.

He is currently a member of two weekday leagues and works part-time at the bowling alley. During this time Sergeant Schaefer met Ryan, a 16-year old bowler.

Ryan took up bowling four years ago while his family was stationed in Turkey. His mother, Master Sgt. Lillian Allshouse, 52nd Mission Support Squadron NCOIC of personnel readiness, signed him up for youth league bowling when a friend of the family began coaching a team.

After making a permanent change of station move here about the same time as Sergeant Schaeffer and the two began bowling together.

"When Ryan started to get serious about bowling John was there to give him advice," Sergeant Allshouse said.

After the two bowlers earned their personal high scores days ago, Sergeant Schaefer admitted that bowling is not all about skill. "I got one pin luckier than you," he said to Ryan as they prepared to bowl some practice frames.