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No, nobody kidnapped our bowling beat writer — not yet, anyway. And no, the Tribune sports staffers have not boycotted bowling.
Let’s just say we needed to get our pin placement in order, and believe we have done that. So every Tuesday from this point on, pick up a copy of the Trib, or go online at www.lacrossetribune.com, and we’ll get you up to speed on what is happening at the La Crosse Area USBC Bowling Association’s 11 houses.
Yes, that was news me when I found out there are 11 bowling centers in the area that are all a part of the association.
We hope you enjoy reading about what is happening on the lanes, and also enjoy our expanded list of honor counts, top 10 series, 300s, and soon, calendar items.
Read on, and feel free to let us know what you think.
800 SERIES: What’s up with the red-hot start? Four area bowlers — Geoff Schewe of Winona, Scott Curran of La Crescent, Randy Strangstalien of Westby, and Nick Heilman of La Crosse — have each cracked the 800 series mark just a little more than a month into the season. While all four are accomplished bowlers, to roll an 800 this early even surprised Dick Zierke, the owner of Pla-Mor Lanes, where three of the four 800s have been rolled.
“To see what we have seen this early, yes it’s a bit unusual,” Zierke said. “There are a number of factors involved. We haven’t changed anything (oiling patterns) for four years. The guys, the gals, they see the same type of conditions as last year and the year before.”
Zierke did say there was “a good scoring set of pins” that were in place when the 800 series were recorded.
“I started the season with an older set of pins,” Zierke said. “They (pins) react differently. The bowling balls of today cause pins to fly.”
Zierke said those sets of pins have been replaced, and bowling centers will typically replace a set of pins every month or so. He said he has noticed that scores have gone down a little since the new pins were put in place, but nothing drastic.
“They are down a touch, we have had a lot of big men’s scores this year,” he said. “It’s not to say they (scores) can’t get back up to where they were.”
300 GAMES: Everybody likes to find out who spun a perfect game, right? We do, too. So each week, you’ll see who had a perfect night right here, right with the same list of honor counts and top 10 series of the season.
We need your help, however, so league secretaries please keep us up to date with 300 games. Simply mark it on the sheet you send us, or send me an e-mail at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com if we missed it.
AND HE’S HOW OLD? Kobe King, a youth bowler who recently turned 10, turned some heads Saturday morning at Pla-Mor Lanes when he rolled a 588 series. That’s right, a 588!
LOCAL HALL OF FAME: When Ed Seielstad, the manager of the La Crosse Area USBC Bowling Association, brought up the topic of a local bowling hall of fame, I was surprised that one didn’t already exist.
Seielstad, along with a number of others, will soon change that as they are in the process of establishing the La Crosse Area USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Bowlers must be at least 55 years old, and will be considered for their bowling achievements, as well as off-lane contributions.
Stay tuned for more information about this. It’s a great — and long overdue — idea. One that should be fun to follow all the way from the nominations received to who is actually in the inaugural class of inductees.
BOWLING CALENDAR: If you’re a regular reader of the Tribune, or a frequent visitor to our web site, you know that there are a number of different calendars we run. Event calendars, outdoors calendars, golf calendars, to name a few.
Well, we’d love to run a bowling tournament calendar, too. So bowling house owners and operators, please send your calendar items to sports@lacrossetribune.com, or to me at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com
If you’re a bowler who is simply hosting your own tournament — this one’s for you, Bill Niles — then send me your information, and we’ll put it on the calendar.
IDEAS, IDEAS, IDEAS: Know of a good story from the league you bowl in? Or, somebody who bowls in your local house that would be an interesting story? Please don’t hesitate to call me, or send an e-mail to the address listed above. We’re always looking for good ideas, and need your help.
Jeff Brown can be reached at (608) 791-8403, or at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com
