Raymond Wheeler knew he was going down.

He had been the King Pin at the City of Troy Nutrition Center for years.

But, it was the first frame of the Wii bowling competition and he was looking at a 4-5, 7-10 split. It would take all the skill he could muster and a whole lot of luck to knock down those pins.

He also knew that college student, Andrew Spigner, was a formidable opponent.

“I got off to a bad start with that split and I knew I was probably done for,” Wheeler said, with a smile. “I got down on myself and finished with a gutter ball. That was it.”

To the victor went the spoils.

Spigner hoisted his trophy, a jar of creamy peanut butter, high in the air amid the cheers from his gallery. He was the champion of Troy Nutrition Center Bowling Competition Monday. He had given Wheeler his first taste of defeat and he did so by beating him at his own game.

“He beat me last time. He really kicked me good. But I watched how he bowled,” Spigner said. “Starting down one side and curving to the middle. It worked for me this time.”

Wheeler and Spigner squared off Monday to bring the Troy University communication students’ class project to a rollicking close.

“The students come each semester to learn about our senior citizens and what their lives have been like,” said Hassie Green, center director. “The students visit the center three times to talk with our seniors. They seem to be very interested in knowing what it was like to have lived 50 and 60 years ago. The seniors enjoy sharing with them. It brings back a lot of memories. “

On Monday, the current group of university students paid their last visit to the Troy Nutrition Center. Seniors George Brown, Jesse Dix, Ann Collins and Charlie Terry entertained the students with tales of way back when.

Brown told a true story of how he lost $2 million in two days time. Dix brought along a pick used by his father-in-law in the coalmines of Kentucky.

Gourds and the technique she uses to decorate them were the focus of Collins’ presentation and Terry told about how times have changed, for the better and maybe not.

“This is has been a very rewarding experience for our seniors,” Green said. “We hope it has been as meaningful for the college students as it has been for us. We look forward to having the communications class back again for the fall semester.”