Bowler has perfect game on March 12

Darwin E. Haroldson bowled a 300 game &8212; a series score of 739 &8212; on March 12 at Holiday Lanes in Albert Lea. He bowled the game in the Holiday Classic League. He has been bowling for 65 years. His previous high game was 297. His current average is 198 and his highest previous average is 209.

&8220;This is a great thrill after 65 years of bowling,&8221; he said. &8220;I&8217;ve traveled, hunted all over the world. Shot elephant, lions, leopards but not he same feeling of accomplishment. Now I know what all the hollering was about.&8221;

Haroldson started bowling and setting pins at 13 years old during World War II, back when there was only convential grips and the best averages were in the low 190s.

Holiday Lanes owner Loren Kaiser did a little math about the years Haroldson has bowled.

Kaiser found the because Haroldson does two leagues per year, he bowls 180 games a year. Take that times 65 years and that equals 11,700 games. Take an average score of about 200 times 11,700 and that means he knocked down 2.34 million pins before finally getting a 300 game.

Kaiser calculated that the steps Haroldson took while bowling would equal about 9.2 miles per season or 18.4 miles per season for two leagues.

He also calculated that, considering travel to the bowling alley, Haroldson had to use an average of 1,500 pins per gallon of gasoline.

Kaiser can explain it all the next time you see him at Holiday Lanes.

Tiger goalie given sportsman award

Ben Waalken, senior goaltender for the Albert Lea High School boys&8217; hockey team, was the 2008 recipient of the Hobey Baker Character Award presented by the Minnesota Wild. In recognition of exemplary character and sportsmanship. This award is given to select seniors throughout the state each year.

Alden-Conger student will play college football

Matt Bremseth, from Alden-Conger High School, will be attending University of Wisconsin-Stout and playing football for the Blue Devils in 2008. The Blue Devils are working towards being the 2008 conference champions in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-Stout is located in Menomonie, Wis. The Blue Devils open the season Sept. 6, at Menlo College in San Francisco.