Striking resemblance: Son of reservist wins district bowling championship

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ebony Nichols
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  As one of Airline High School’s top bowlers with a 180 average, L.D. Dawn, was instrumental in leading the team to a district title recently. 

Following their victory, L.D. and his team went to Lafayette, La. for further competition, where they won one and lost one. 

L.D. attributes the loss to two key factors. “We just new we would win before the season even started,” he said. “We looked too far ahead, and the players down South are more competitive.” 

Also, L.D. said the team forgot to pull out their good luck charm, their “Thing” action figure. The Thing is a character from the Fantastic Four, whose catch phrase is “it’s clobbering time.” He said the team will not make this mistake next season, which begins in November. 

The 14-year-old champ and son of Senior Master Sgt. Laraine Warren-Dawn, 917th Services Flight superintendent, has bowled since he was nine. 

His love for bowling began here at the Barksdale youth center. 

“My friends and I played at the youth center every Saturday,” he said. “They (his friends) were part of a league, so I joined too.” 

L.D. is interested in other sports, but not as much as bowling. 

“I like basketball,” he said. He doesn’t play for the Airline team. “It would interfere with my bowling and I think I’m a better bowler.” 

Sergeant Warren-Dawn said she couldn’t ask for a better sport for her son to be involved in. 

“Bowling is competitive, but there are no chances of getting hurt, like there are in football or basketball,” she said. “He can play inside, and he doesn’t work up a sweat.” 

Mom attends all of L.D.’s practices and tournaments, but doesn’t interfere much with preparing or coaching him. 

“Too many people coaching him would just confuse him,” she said. “I leave the coaching up to my husband and his mentor (Master Sgt. Ronnie Griggs, 917th Maintenance Operations Squadron.

Sergeant Warren-Dawn goes to all of the practices and tournaments, but doesn’t interfere much with preparation or coaching. 

“Too many people coaching will just confuse him,” she said. “I leave the coaching up to my husband and his mentor (Master Sergeant Ronnie Griggs, 917th Maintenance Operations Division superintendent).” 

Sergeant Griggs, an avid bowler himself, has mentored and coached L.D. for the entire time he’s been bowling. 

“I have enjoyed working with L.D. the past five years,” Sergeant Griggs said, “I’m glad to have the opportunity to play a very small part in his road of life. I will continue to be blessed by the opportunity to assist in his quests.”