As the sound of crashing pins and cheers emanated from the Mount Si Senior Center activity room, a passerby might have thought there was a bowling alley in the recently renovated building.

But the hubbub at the North Bend center is electronic in origin: it’s the Mount Si Wii bowling team at play.

“I never thought I’d ever be playing video games,” said team member Mary Ann Moss. “I’m just amazed about how fun it is,”

The eight team members use motion-sensor devices to play competitive games on Nintendo’s newest console against teams from other senior centers. The program was started in North Bend after center Activities Coordinator Janet Fosness attended a demo a year ago and realized local seniors would have a blast.

The program was started in February, and encourages fitness as well as social activity for players.

“People started coming because it was fun and different,” Fosness said.

Back in the game

Seniors attend Tuesday afternoon bowling sessions to chat, snack and take down a few pins. The new technology has given team members a way to get back into a hobby that they loved in their younger years.

“I used to bowl years ago,” said North Bend resident Betty Edens. “Now, it’s a lot more difficult to pick up a ball.”

She decided to try the Wii program, and found the lightweight controller much easier to handle.

“Some of us aren’t physically capable of playing real bowling anymore, so it’s nice to play and to break up the week,” said Moss.

Many of the seniors have found the activity a refuge from otherwise monotonous routines.

“It keeps you going,” Moss said. “Most of us are retired, so it’s something to do to fill the extra time.”

As an activity for both the able and not-so-physically capable seniors, Fosness said she was amazed how Wii bowling became a multi-skill activity where players can improve with each turn.

“There was a guy in a wheelchair at a tournament who was playing as well as anyone else,” she said.

Signing up for their first tournament in June at North Bellevue Senior Center, the eight Mount Si Senior Center Wii Bowlers came out ready to play with enthusiasm and verve.

Tourney play

Taking third place out of six teams, the day counted as a win for the local seniors.

“It’s so fun to watch them, because they just get so lively,” Fosness said.

Practicing last week, members of the team alternated between solemn, serious looks as they swung their controllers and rounds of cheers after each roll.

“Of all the teams in the Northwest, we’re the ones with the most enthusiasm,” said Don Carlile, who travels from Renton to play with his newfound North Bend friends. “We’re a team, so we all want to show our talents.”

Now, the team must move from their third-place spot to grab first in a September tournament at the Burien Senior Center.

Their goal: to “take down Burien!” Moss exclaimed.

“We’re looking forward to winning it,” said Edens.

• Mount Si Senior Center is located at 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend. Call the center at (425) 888-3434 or visit www.mtsi-seniorcenter.org.