Bessie Roberts, at age 95 is the star of her bowling league.

Bessie Roberts is a 95 year-old bowler at the Virgin River Bowling Center in Mesquite who’s garnered so many accolades about her bowling that she’s one of the top stories emanating from the 2022-23 bowling season.

And the catalyst for all the plaudits came from seeing Roberts mowing down bowling pins after slinging her 10-pound bowling ball down the lane in her Friday morning Ladies Trio League.

And the response was always one of both amazement and hope. First, amazed at seeing how impressive it was in seeing Roberts at her age make throwing a bowling ball look so effortless. And secondly, seeing her bowl and still be so physically active provides a beacon of hope for all with a wish of being able to do the same down the pike when eventually turning 95.

Now with all that being said, she’s the first to acknowledge her days of lighting up the scoring monitors with humongous scores are behind her. However, it’s also crystal clear her days of serving as an inspiration for others are far from over. And in fact, will likely be an inspiration for years as an example of not letting age be a barrier in pursuing dreams such as being physically active and still bowling, even as a septuagenarian.

And as she’s mentioned in conversations with her, she doesn’t let age define her. Her focus is on always staying positive and focusing on doing what she can do, and not what she can’t do.

Roberts sports a career high 693 series and 278 game. She’s also in the Sun City West, Arizona Bowling Hall of Fame where she lived for 22 years after leaving California.

She’s always loved sports, was captain of her high school basketball team, played shortstop in softball, still plays golf once a week, and loves watching both bowling and golf on TV. And if you ever see her cruising the streets of Mesquite behind the wheel of her Mercedes, and should you see her stop to get gas at Maverik, pull over, and say hello and she’ll appreciate it.

Her kindness, humility, and positive attitude resonates with other bowlers. Marty Wilks, a fellow bowler may said it best, “Bessie is the sweetest person you could ever meet, and she always lifts the spirit of those around her.”

For an eye-popping 17 years Mardon and Judy Connelly have shown their love of bowling by making a 37 mile trip from their home in Overton to bowl in the 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Early Risers League in Mesquite. And amazingly, this year, they are also making a second trip after joining the Gamblers 4 Ace’s League on Monday nights..

And what else is amazing is that on November 16th, 2023 they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Something else amazing is Connely won another medal in this year’s Mesquite Senior Games with a pole vault of almost 6 feet.

Finally, before taking up bowling, Connelly was a teacher in the Los Angles Unified School District for 33 years and some of his students included a son of actress Jane Mansfield and a daughter of the Hall of Fame basketball player, Elgin Baylor.

Frances Harper is another awe-inspiring example of a passion for bowling. Amazingly, since 2012, she’s been making the equivalent of a 140-mile trip traveling to Mesquite from her home 70 miles away in Apple Valley, Utah to bowl in the Early Risers League each Wednesday.

And in addition to her bowling, she does an exceptional job as league secretary. Harper is a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds. Amazingly, both her mom and dad attended Hollywood High School where Mickey Rooney was a classmate of her dad.

Finally, for for three years, Dennis Craft has been making the 41 mile drive from his home in the St. George area to bowl in the Kings & Queens League in Mesquite and just finished his best season at the VRBC.

The key was over the final six weeks he averaged 217 and included his season-high 721 series and 256 game which paved the way for a 2022-23 season average of 205.

Away from bowling, Craft is a runner who finished multiple marathon races during his days when living in California, and these days he’s still very competitive in the 10K races he enters

Next week’s column will be the final one for the 2022-23 season and will cover the teams who won the various league championships at the VRBC this season.