COWORKERS IN URBANDALE SPLIT $10,000 POWERBALL PRIZE

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Field Worker John Metz Claims Prize On Behalf Of Group Of 39 Coworkers

DES MOINES, Iowa – A group of Des Moines-area coworkers got a big surprise when they realized that a Powerball® ticket they thought had won a $100 prize actually was a $10,000 winner!

"There was quite a buzz around the office that day," John Metz of West Des Moines said as he claimed the $10,000 prize on behalf of himself and 38 of his coworkers at Compressor Controls Corp. in Urbandale who call themselves the "CCC Bunch."

Metz, 49, a field service representative at the company, claimed the prize Monday at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines. Metz said he and his coworkers start an office pool for Powerball tickets when the game's jackpot is $100 million or more.

Metz said a coworker mistakenly thought they'd won a $100 prize and gave him the ticket so he could use the winnings to buy more tickets for the group. But when Metz went to a local convenience store to have the ticket checked, he got a receipt from the clerk showing that it actually was a $10,000 winner.

"I had gone to turn the ticket in over lunch so when I got back, almost everybody was gone at lunch," Metz said. "I just hung around the front door with the list in my hand and anybody who was on that list, I told them, 'Give me a high five!' And they'd go, 'Why?' Then I'd show them the receipt showing that it was a $10,000 winner. Then I'd get some high fives!"

The group's winning ticket was purchased at Casey's, 3935 N.W. Urbandale Dr. in Urbandale for the Powerball drawing on April 8. The $144 million jackpot that night was won in Washington, D.C. The winning numbers were: 1-6-48-52-56 and Powerball 9. The Power Play number was 5.

The CCC Bunch's ticket matched four of the first five numbers drawn and the Powerball to win a $10,000 prize. If the group had added the Power Play® to its ticket, the coworkers would have won $50,000.

Players can increase their prizes with the Power Play (except the jackpot) up to five times. The cost is $1 per play. The Power Play number, 2 through 5, is chosen at the beginning of the drawing indicating the amount prizes (except the jackpot) will be multiplied if that number is drawn.

Metz said that the CCC Bunch will continue with its office pool because it's something fun.

"We never thought we'd win enough to make a distribution amongst everybody, we'd just pour whatever winnings we'd get back into the next drawing if it was over $100 million," Metz said. "It was all just for fun. We never, ever thought we'd win enough for a distribution. But that's why we play!"

Winning numbers may be checked at the lottery Web site at www.ialottery.com or through the winning numbers' hot line at (515) 323-4633. Winning numbers may also be checked with lottery retail outlets or by calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Players may visit the Iowa Lottery at 2323 Grand Ave. in Des Moines or go to one of the lottery's regional offices in Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Mason City or Cedar Rapids to claim prizes.

Since the Iowa Lottery's inception in 1985, its players have won more than $2.2 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.1 billion for state programs.