Bowling balls and pins were temporarily replaced by turkeys and Coke bottles Saturday at the first Turkey Roll-A-Bowl.

The roll-a-bowl was sponsored by WDEK, Kingsbury’s Pick ‘N Save and Coca-Cola. The companies gave away prizes and groceries to people who received the highest point totals from bowling with frozen turkeys to knock over or move 10 empty 2-liter Coke bottles.

From Nov. 8 to 14, WDEK asked listeners to mail postcards to the station or register at Pick ‘N Save, 2500 Sycamore Road, for the contest. WDEK air personalities acted as pin-changers while conducting a live broadcast from the event.

WDEK and Pick ‘N Save received nearly 1,000 entry blanks, but only 20 people were picked to participate in a makeshift bowling lane at Pick ‘N Save.

“About 100 to 150 people showed up to watch as spectators,” said Dave Bavido, WDEK program manager, who dressed up as a turkey for the event.

Male participants rolled turkeys that weighed about 13 pounds, while females tossed turkeys weighing about eight pounds. The techniques used to roll the turkeys also were different, Bavido said.

“My first strategy was to roll it between my legs, but I used the handle instead and went with the hook approach,” Smith said.

To prepare for the event, Smith said she had two trainers helping her out. “My roommate had me lifting minestrone soup cans and my other trainer told me to go for the calm approach,” Smith said.

She said she was surprised and happy to win the contest. “I was just happy I was one of the 20 people picked,” Smith said.

WDEK also was pleased with how the event went. “It was a complete success in WDEK’s terms and we had more fun than we thought we’d have,” Bavido said.