Broomfield High seniors bowl with senior citizens through P.E. program

Mar. 20—The lanes at Broomfield's Chipper's bowling alley were packed Monday morning as Broomfield High seniors joined a senior citizen league for a few games, resuming a school tradition after a three-year pandemic hiatus.

Cheers regularly erupted as the two groups celebrated each other's strikes or offered encouragement after a bad throw. When they weren't knocking down pins, the 50 high school seniors and 30 senior citizens swapped bowling tips and shared stories.

"It was so much fun," said Broomfield High senior Gabby Lovatto. "Having them cheer for us, it made us feel very appreciated."

Broomfield High P.E. teacher Tom Burgesser said bowling with the senior league is a highlight for his senior bowling classes, one he was glad to bring back after the pandemic. His classes bowl at Chipper's four days a week except, usually, on Mondays, when the lanes are reserved for the senior league.

"Bowling is a lifelong activity," he said. "My students can do this for the rest of their lives."

Both groups said it's not so much the bowling itself that they love, but instead the camaraderie and time spent with friends.

Joetta John, who joined the senior league about 10 years ago, said her group has missed not having the high school students join them.

"We had a blast with them today," she said. "We're all in our 70s and 80s. It's all in good fun. We don't get too excited about who is in first and second place in our league."

Nan Otero said she bowled before she had children, then with her son when he was in high school. She started bowling with the senior league two years ago.

"We don't care if we do awful," she said. "We laugh, we tell stories, we have the best time."

Broomfield High senior Holly Vanderberg said bowling is her favorite part of the day.

"You just get to go bowl with friends for an hour," she said. "It doesn't feel like a class."

She added that bowling with the senior league "made my heart happy."

"These seniors, they're the sweetest," she said.

Senior Tia Hernandez said Broomfield students wait until senior year to take P.E. so they can earn the credit through a bowling class.

"It's tradition that all the seniors bowl," she said. "It's awesome."

Tia and several other high school students admitted that the seniors probably out-bowled them on Monday.

"I'm not that great at bowling," Broomfield High senior Joey Huggins said. "I got some pointers bowling with them and learned a lot."

Mary Bryniarski said the high school students energized her league, helping them bowl better games. Plus, she joked, "we wanted to show those whippersnappers."

"It was a lot of fun," she said.