AMESBURY — Coming down to the wire, the Hawaiian Rollers toppled reigning champion the Amesbury Fire Department at Thursday’s 14th annual Sgt. Jordan M. Shay Memorial Bowling Tournament at Gametime Lanes & Entertainment on Haverhill Road.
The two teams have been trading the title back and forth since the 12th annual tournament when the Hawaiian Rollers debuted and won their first title, only to be bested the next year by Amesbury FD. Now bragging rights are back with the Rollers.
“We lost by like two pins,” Amesbury Fire Chief Jim Nolan said.
The Sgt. Jordan M. Shay Memorial Foundation was established to honor the last wishes of Jordan Shay, a 2005 graduate of Amesbury High School and a member of the U.S. Army killed in Iraq during his second deployment in 2009.
Nolan described the winning team as “a good bunch of guys.”
“Amesbury Fire, Newburyport Fire, the Hawaiian rollers and the Amesbury police were all in a row, and we all got along great and we had a lot of fun together,” Nolan said.
Looking ahead to next year, Nolan said his department will be gunning to take the title back. Nolan is set to retire as fire chief officially on June 27, but as a member of the foundation’s board will be returning next year anyway.
“Two pins is not a lot,” Nolan said.
Spending over five hours at the event with his department bowling and sharing drinks with the rest of the community, he said it is always one of his favorite events.
“Jordan’s memory brings the community together,” Nolan said.
Shay Foundation president and Jordan’s mother, Holly Shay said they raised over $30,000 on the night.
“It was just super successful,” Shay said.
The tournament was created to honor her son’s legacy in way that reflected his fun-loving personality, according to Shay.
“This is something that he would like, although he’d probably be embarrassed at how many people turn out for it,” Shay said.
She said 40 teams signed up to compete, with the complex so filled that she said it was oftentimes hard to move.
“We hosted 240 bowlers. It was wild in there for a while,” Shay said.
Asked about what it has meant to have the tournament continuing strong after a decade, she said no one expected it to last this long.
“And to see it continue is truly amazing and it means everything to those who love Jordan,” Shay said.
Nolan said he has always considered it an honor to be a member of the foundation’s board.
“We give a lot to veterans agencies and people that are in need,” Nolan said.
He thanked Gametime for continuing to host the event each year.
“They’re fantastic to work with,” Nolan said.
He also thanked all the businesses and other members of the community that donate gifts and time to make the event possible.
“The behind the scenes work that goes on for the months of preparation is amazing,” Nolan said.