The Inaugural Blazer Bowl was a smashing success Thursday afternoon with a dozen bowling teams comprised of UNT Dallas staff and friends of the university competing for the ballyhooed Iron Kettle, a grand prize of truly mystical proportion that will come to forever signify this burgeoning event.

Created by UNT Dallas' Office of Advancement to be part staff recognition and part fundraiser, the first edition of the Blazer Bowl, held at the AMF Lanes in DeSoto, raised more than $3,100 that will go directly to the UNT Dallas Foundation. Contributions can be made through December 31 at https://give.classy.org/BlazerBowl2018.

The Blazer Bowl overall winner, determined by total fundraising plus team bowling score, was the CyrusOne team, One Dream, which included Sarah Dubec, Amanda Epperson, Dawn Guehler and Greg Higgins. These friends of the university were backed by a generous donation from UNT Dallas Foundation board member James Guess, whose wife, Kellie Teal-Guess, is CyrusOne’s executive vice president and chief people officer.

 

The first-place trophy (and, yes, there were impressive trophies) awarded for top bowling scores went to team Fire Ballers, a squad captained by UNT Dallas President Bob Mong. A former star baseball and football player in his earlier days, it quickly became apparent that President Mong might have had a promising future on the lanes. Check out the photograph above captured by Marketing & Communications Creative Manager, and roving photographer, Jared Horn. With a classic form like that, it's no wonder President Mong's team ultimately basked in the glory of taking the inaugural title. 

President Mong's victorious teammates included Dr. Monica Williams and her husband Eric Davis, Alicia Brossette, event co-originator Victor McGlothin and Colette Taylor. Second place went to the creatively named, The Bowling Stones, which starred Cynthia Perez, Dean Boyd, Bea Perez, Marian Stewart and Walter Stewart. The TRIO Blazers captured third place with some striking performances from Emilia Castillo, Anacleto Contreras, Nakia Douglas, Chazmen Kidd, Kimberly Riddick and Mashaela Stripling.

“We want to thank all of our faculty, staff, alumni and friends who participated in the inaugural Blazer Bowl, benefiting the UNT Dallas Foundation," said co-creator Derrick Morgan. "It was a great afternoon to engage, celebrate another outstanding year and fundraise for our growing foundation. We look forward to doing it again next year as we build the Blazer Bowl tradition!”