—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge girls bowling coach Nick Vinson talks about Amyrra Lumsden who passed away in a car accident. It was Senior Day at the Family Bowling Center for the Dodger bowling teams. Standing with Vinson are Lumsden’s family, left to right, Aythan Lumsden (brother), Janelle Lumsden (mother) and sister Aryssa Lumsden.

Senior Day is typically a day to honor future graduates.

On Monday at Family Bowling Center, it was just that for the Fort Dodge bowlers and a day to a remember one as well.

To begin the boys/girls meet Nick Vinson, the Dodger girls coach, talked about Amyrra Lumsden, a Fort Dodge student who passed away after a car accident nearly two years ago.

“It was difficult to talk about,” Vinson said. “Just to think about the fact that we would be talking about the college she was going to bowl at and all the conversations about bowling.

“This night is meant to honor the seniors who have put in time over the years and nobody put in more time than she did.”

Lumsden bowled on a state qualifying team for the Dodgers.

“I’ve gotten to know the family pretty well and I coached Aryssa for four years,” Vinson said. “It’s tough to think about all the aspirations that she had and where she wanted to go. It was good to see her family there. Her brother and her mom Janelle was there as well as her grandma and other family and friends.

“There was a lot of emotions from the kids early on and then they started to settle in.”

Calli Graves and Sammanta Welter are the other two Dodger seniors.

“Calli has done a good job this year trying to lead,” Vinson said. “Her and Sammantha are really competitive when it comes to bowling and they are putting up some good scores.”

Graves led the Dodgers on Monday with a 313. She had games of 125 and 188. Welter had a 270 and rolled a 156 and 114.

Also competing for the Dodgers was Ara Ellis (107-126–233) Joely Gilbert (103-126–229), Cierra Robell (110-85–195), and Kaylie Guthrie (85-86–171).

The Fort Dodge boys honored seniors Slade Babb, Blake Seeman, Kody VanValkenburg, Leland Sassman, Lium Powers, Orrin Rurup, Jaxton Jones, Sam Salvatore, Aidan Russell and Tyson Squire.

The Fort Dodge boys lost a tight contest to the Polar Bears, 2,423-2,391.

Leading the way for the Dodgers was VanValkenburg with a 351. He had games of 172 and 179.

Sassman had a 343 with a 196 and 147.

“Honoring our seniors is always a special meet, so a win would’ve been fitting, but we just didn’t have anyone really on their game,” said head coach Julie Ulrich. “To lose by 32 pins in a match that was ours for the taking is disappointing and I know the boys aren’t happy with their performances.

I reminded them that they should take away something from every competition and learn from it but it doesn’t do any good to hang their heads for long. Putting this meet behind them and doing the work to get better should be their focus.”

Babb had a 339 (171, 168) Seeman had a 301 (166,135). Powers checked in with a 264 (117, 147). Freshman Holden Doster had a 235 (137, 98).

The Dodger junior varsity won 1,871-1,406.

Orrin Rurup led the way with a 297 (152, 145). Russell (90-133–223), Squire (114-86–200), and Salvatore (77-105–182).

Greyson Chance (111-112–223) and Bailen Peterson (145-115–260) also rolled for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are back in action again on Monday when they host Waterloo East at Family Bowling Center.