Menifee's Del Anderson II: Bowling sure is up his alley

Mighty Menifee's Del Anderson II was all smiles after bowling scores of 244, 236 and 247. Photo courtesy of So. Calif. Special Olympics

By Tracy McDannald
Special Olympics of Southern California

Special Olympics Southern California’s Bowling Championship brought out the best in nearly 400 athletes who competed Aug. 25 in a pair of sessions at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley.

Special Olympics Inland Empire had a strong showing in the morning session. Of the 47 divisions (29 male and 18 female), Inland Empire athletes accounted for 16 gold medals.

Notable among the day’s performances were the athletes representing Mighty Menifee, the local Special Olympics program run in coordination with the City of Menifee. Mighty Menifee has a total of 34 bowlers in its program; they were allotted 10 bowlers, selected by random draw, to attend the 2018 Bowling Championship.

Mighty Menifee bowlers came home with two gold medals, four silver medals, one bronze medal and two fourth-place ribbons. And the most amazing performance of all came from 21-year-old Del Anderson II.

Bowling in Division M27 in the afternoon session, Anderson had spectators gathering around him with each strike. But the growing attention did not seem to bother Del, who won the gold medal by posting an eye-popping cumulative score of 727 over his three games. He didn’t leave a single pin standing all afternoon, picking up a strike or spare in all 10 frames of each game.

After racking up scores of 244 and 236 in his first two games, Del only got stronger as he opened the third game with strikes in each of his first four frames. He saved his best for last, closing the final frame with three strikes to post a score of 247.

The final roll was as remarkable as any. With Del’s confidence growing after each strike and the crowd behind him, he pointed his two index fingers to the sky as soon as the ball left his hand.
“I’m really good at bowling!” said Del, who completed his first bowling season for Special Olympics.

But it was far from his first tournament and taste of success. In fact, Del has a pair of perfect 300 scores to his credit already.

His parents, Del Sr. and Sheila Anderson, said their son has been bowling since the age of 4. There was a time Del II would practice for “seven, eight hours a day” when his father managed a bowling alley. Whether it’s competing, watching professionals or playing bowling video games, the sport is his passion.

Del II said his favorite bowler is Brunswick professional Sean Rash.

“He loves everything about bowling,” Del Sr. said. “He studies the game.”

Avid bowlers themselves – Sheila competes in leagues with her son on Sunday nights and coaches juniors for the United States Bowling Congress with her husband – the Andersons look at the bowling alley as an equalizer. Del II’s autism is a nonfactor, and the quirky delivery and form that produce the looping spin and curve on his roll draws the respect of his peers and on-lookers.

After breaking his arm in the fifth grade, Del II tweaked his approach and started bowling by simply palming the ball as opposed to using the finger holes. In his mind, the weight of the ball was a detriment to his performance coming off an injury.

The coach in Sheila questioned the strategy, but she stepped aside and let him do what felt most comfortable.

“Whatever works for him,” Sheila thought.

It’s safe to say that was a good call.

Now, he’s already got his sights set on the upcoming fall season and playing softball.

“I want to hit a home run,” Dell II said.

On the men’s side in the morning session, a pair of divisions were tightly contested. Jared Thompson (Central Riverside) and Joshua Wade (Pasadena) tied for the gold with identical 347 cumulative scores in Division M22. Meanwhile, Monti Peterson (Greater Los Angeles – MATC) edged out Richard Springs (San Diego County – El Cajon) by a pin, 341-340, for the gold in Division M34.

Here is the list of Mighty Menifee award winners at the competition:

Del Anderson – Gold
Jonathan Haller – Gold
Rebecca English – Silver
Scott Jenkins – Silver
Travis Ramsey – Bronze
Billy Brayley – 4th place Ribbon
Juan Alvarado – 4th place Ribbon
Stacey Lahr – 4th place Ribbon