Fond du Lac Bowling Association

It’s never cold during the winter in the bowling establishments when the fellows of the Fond du Lac senior leagues are burning up the lanes with some hot kegling.
The alleys barely had a chance to cool down after “The One,” Larry Secord, scorched them at Parkway with his phenomenal record 859 series (300, 279, 280) on Nov. 25.
The very next week “The One” continued his torrid pace by firing a fantastic 736 series.

Then, on Dec. 21 at Ledgeview Lanes, “The Don,” Don Halbach, used his Storm Rapid Fire ball to blaze an outstanding 801 series on games of 256, 279 and 266.
“I’ve been bowling for 50 years, and this was my first 800,” said Halbach, a mink rancher from New Holstein. “I wasn’t nervous at all after my second game. My partners, Chuck Schuette, Elmer Deitte, Gerry Bonlander and Dennis Lautenschlager, are fun to bowl with, and we always keep each other relaxed.

“Besides, I had a lot on my mind because my 5-year-old grandson was going through his fifth chemo treatment that day for a brain tumor.”
Tearing up a bit and putting things in perspective, Don said, “I wasn’t thinking about bowling; I was thinking about my grandson. I was talking quite a bit with my partner, Elmer Deitte, about him. You know, Elmer is 86, and he’s such a pleasure to be around.

“I didn’t even count right. I ran the first eight strikes the last game and then spared a 10-pin in the ninth. I thought if I struck out in the (10th) I’d end up with a 798 series so I thought I couldn’t make 800 anyway.

“The first ball in the 10 I left the 3-9 “railroad” and picked it up. On my final shot, I left the nine pin and someone yelled 801! I couldn’t believe it.”
Three times previous to the 801, Don shot 779 including a second-place finish in the 2005 state senior tournament. He has fired two 300 games, with his last one coming in 1985.

This season Don has had some other excellent scores, blasting series of 726, 710 and 707 while averaging an admirable 208.
The day after Halbach’s gem, Ledgeview Lanes erupted again as Roger “Chief” Behnke lit up the lanes with his eighth career 300 game on the way to an outstanding 741 series.

Just six days later, Behnke returned to Ledgeview to shoot an astonishing 771 series.
Behnke, a retired city of Fond du Lac police officer, ex-Marine and senior bowling all-star, has been cuffing and stuffing his competition all season long by sharp-shooting the pins with additional series of 727, 725 702 and 698.

While Secord and Halbach have reached the coveted 800 mark, the high 700 series belongs to Dennis Schabel with his gripping 776 series.
“The King” has lofted out other fine scores this season, including series of 705 and 700 with a high game of 279.
Ralph Kleinhans, the retired UPS boss, waited until Dec. 23 before delivering his Christmas package — a sizzling 752 series along with a 279 game — and a week later he wheeled a fine 704.

Jerry Hintz, (cousin of Terry), has hammered a searing 299 game as well as games of 279, 278 and 275. Jerry blistered the lanes with amazing series of 750, 722, 715, 712, 708 and 707 this season.

Chuck Schuette, “The Coach,” has been putting on a full-court press on his competitors while blasting series of 742, 702, 699 and 690 along with a 278 game.
Norb Wetzel, “The Pro,” is again the most consistent senior league bowler with a high average of 221.

Wetzel, a Fond du Lac Bowling Association all-star and hall of famer, has shot series this season of 729, 712, 711, 708 and 705 with a pair of 279 games.
Schuette, Secord, Schabel Behnke, and Hintz are not far behind Wetzel’s average, carrying remarkable averages of 213, 213, 212, 212 and 211, respectively.
With only half the bowling season completed, the men of the senior leagues have fired some red-hot scores. The lanes now have extra extinguishers in place because at the current pace something is going to catch on fire during a senior league session.

With the start of a new year, senior league bowlers in Fond du Lac have not let up on their torrid pace from last year. Some of the higher scores during January include Norb Wetzel’s sizzling 793 series, including games of 289, 279 and 225; Dave King’s astonishing 780 series, which included games of 277, 267 and 236; Roger Behnke’s second 300 game of the season and his grouping together fantastic series of 771, 748 and 733; Jerry Binotto’s 747 series on games of 247, 279 and 221; and Roger Jewson’s excellent 732 series.

Just past the midway point of the senior men’s bowling season there have been two 800’s, 60 700’s, 21 690’s, Behnke’s two 300’s and exciting 299’s rolled by Jerry Riley and Jerry Hintz.

Although these numbers are outstanding for any set of bowling leagues, they are particularly impressive considering the ages of the bowlers who are posting them.

The ages in the senior leagues range from 55 to 94, with the average for both men and women being 74. Still, many of the higher-aged keglers are at the top of the leaderboards.

Lorin Orvis is a prime example of an older fellow beating up on the “youngsters” in the leagues. At age 80, Lorin this season has hammered out series of 729, 707 and 696 along with a high game of 278.

Orvis, who retired in 1994 after 43½ years (he emphasizes the half year) with Wisconsin Power & Light, is averaging an outstanding 200. Mr. Smooth, Orvis makes it look easy as he delivers to the pocket accurate pin- scattering strikes.

Phil Laugenecker, age 94, didn’t start bowling until he was 68. Originally from the Theresa area, Laugenecker, who ran a farm implement business, was too busy working to take time out to bowl.

Now, Laugenecker is the grand pappy of the men’s senior leagues in Fond du Lac. Born in 1915, Phil recalls the tough years of the Great Depression when he considered himself lucky to make $3.50 a week, an amount that would now only cover half of his league’s bowling fee. Already this year Phil has rolled a 522 series and a 201 game.

The “senior” woman senior bowler is Gladys Lamers, who, at 90 years young, carries a very respectful 123 average. Gladys Birschbach at 84 is carrying a remarkable 150 average and has fired a 546 series and a 211 game this season.

Katie Groeschl, 83, has bowled like she skis — with skill and tenacity — and has slammed out an impressive 494 series while averaging 146 at Karl Ray Lanes.

At 80, Donna Klintworth is averaging 140 with a high series of 503 while at age 80 Charlene Ollerman is averaging 144 and shot a 501 series with a 208 game.

The “Queen” of the women senior bowlers is Nancy Tobey. The perennial all-star and powerful kegler, Tobey this season has fired rockets to the pocket producing series of 651, 628, 619, 611 606, 604, 599 and 594 with high games of 236, 235 232, 221 220 and 215 while averaging 190.

Carol Wetzel has also been on a roll with high series of 640, 610 along with games of 245, 241, 225, 223 and 213 while averaging 174.

Sandy Binotto has shot a terrific 625 series and has blasted a high game of 245. Sandy Hanson (wife of Doc) ripped a 604 and has high games of 238, 220 and 216.

Marlene Perry has the two highest games in the women’s senior leagues with games of 254 and 247 while rolling series of 596 and 586.

Other women senior bowlers with nice series and/or games include: Joann Vey, 593 and 580 with games of 229 and 225; Jeanette Messner, 572; Jane Thomas, 567; Shirley Abler, 566; Patti Uttendorfer, 563, 551 along with games of 227 and 222; Marion Roghair, 550 with a 220 game; Marlene Mossong with a 222 game; and Rosie Hernandez with a 215 game.

The Fond du Lac senior bowlers, like vintage wines, just keep improving with age.

— George Kulas can be reached at geokulas@charter.net.

The 19th annual WOMEN’S SINGLES SCRATCH TOURNAMENT held this past weekend at Karl Ray Lanes in Fond du Lac, was once again well attended with 83 women bowlers participating in the 3 divisional event. In the 190 and over average Division I, Linda Bard won the Division’s Championship rolling games of 236, 235 and 178 for a 649 series. In second spot, Lori Muentner rolled games of 202, 186 and 222 for 610, while third spot went to Nicole Wagner with her 606 series on games of 225, 190 and 191. Megan Jirsa took fourth on games of 214, 210 and 179 for a 603.
Division 2 bowlers have averages ranging from 160 to 189, and in this division, Verna Mae Immel took Championship honors on games of 214, 173 and 224 for 611. Following close behind, second place winner Beth Kelley with a 609 series on games of 179, 215 and 215. Not far behind came Nancy Tobey on games of 193, 206 and 206 for 605.
Bowlers averaging 159 and under, make up Division 3 in the Tournament. Michaele Nimmer with a 140 average, rolled 100 pins over her 3 game average with a 520 high series and winning Division 3 honors. Holly Bechler followed in second place with a 501 series.
The Tournament also features optional doubles, Linda Bard and Lori Muenter won Division 1 doubles with a combined score of 1259. Doubling up with a Divison 2 bowler, Barb Blanck, Linda and her partner took over Division 2 with their 1175 score. First place in Division 3 Doubles went to Holly Bechler and Janis Gutreuter whose combined score totaled 977.
Prior to the actual tournament play, each year compliments of Norb’s Pro Shop, a pre-tournament attraction is held each day of the Tournament. Anyone who knows Gladys Lamers, a 128 average Division 3 bowler, can appreciate her winning the competition Saturday, when she held out over some 40 bowlers throwing a necessary strike to win the Gift Certificate prize. Sunday’s competition was won by Beth Kelly, a Division 2 bowler.
Other features of the Tournament included additional ways to win prizes and or prize money. Another such feature for each division is high series scratch; most pins over average in the bowlers second game, last place prize for each division. A New Freeze Bowling Ball was won by Dorothy Reitz. Area hotels donated one night stays, a winner in each division.
Hoping to see all our bowlers back next year, CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s winners.

Div 1 Winner Linda Bard

Div 2 Winner Verna Mae Immel

Div 3 Winner Michaele Nimmer

Doubles Winners Linda Bard & Lori Muentner

By George Kulas

When Larry Secord walked into Parkway Bowling Lanes on Wednesday carrying his Ebonite “The One” bowling ball, little did he know that by the time he left he would be “The One.”

At 74 years young, Secord is now the one with the highest three-game series ever rolled by a senior league bowler in Fond du Lac.

Secord hammered out the record 859 series on games of 300, 279 and 280 in the Personal Touch/Pizzaville Senior League.

“It’s pretty hard to believe,” said Secord, a lifelong Fond du Lac resident.

“Thirty four out of 36 strikes is something you never think is going to happen, you know, in a three-game series.

“They turned the lanes on in practice for free bowling, and I had like four or five in a row.

“I said, ‘I’m not going to waste any more; that’s enough.’ I went into the first game, and they just kept coming.”

According to the USBC Fond du Lac Bowling Association 2008-09 Yearbook, there are five other bowlers ahead of Secord and one tied with him, but those were rolled in non-senior leagues.

Here are the top six scores in the FBA: Jon Gross, 888; Carey Slater and Kelly Thomas, 878; Brian Burgess, 868; Mark Marschall, 867; and Steve Kocos and Secord, 859.

Kocos was on the senior all-star team for 2008-09, but his 859 series came March 24 in the L & R Construction Business Early, a non-senior league.

Kocos was the only other senior in the top seven.

In the pocket on every shot, Secord struck 34 times out of a possible 36. Secord would have become a co-world record holder with a 900 series had those two pocket hits struck.

Not many bowlers noticed Secord’s start to his first game until around the seventh frame when word was passed down that “Secord’s got the first seven.”

After rolling his ninth strike, anticipation grew, and other bowlers’ attention turned to lanes seven and eight. His demeanor didn’t seem to change as he calmly approached the lane for each of his three shots in the 10th frame.

Secord said that Ray Serwe, a horseshoe throwing partner, calmed him down going into the 10th frame when he came over and said to him, “Think like you’re throwing horseshoes — just enjoy it.”

Secord did enjoy it as he fired solid rockets to the pocket amid cheers from other league members on his first two strikes in the 10th.

When he struck on his final shot for the perfect 300 gem, thunderous cheers and applause rang out in the building after which Larry was inundated with wholehearted handshakes from his cohorts. Larry previously bowled a high game of 299, and he was ecstatic to finally get his first 300, which according to the United States Bowling Congress the odds of shooting are 11,500 to 1.

But the day wasn’t over as Secord strung strikes in the first four frames (a hambone), and observation once again returned to his shots. After leaving and then converting the 10-pin in the fifth frame, Secord struck out to finish with a whopping 279 game.

Again, handshakes and congratulations surrounded the calm, relaxed Secord, and word spread that a 221 game would give him the coveted 800 series — a score much more difficult to achieve than a 300 game and one that the many bowlers will never attain.

While a 221 game itself is difficult to shoot for many good bowlers, it could be that much more difficult with the added pressure of knowing shooting it would result in a lifetime achievement.

It looked like Larry was going to run them out again as he started the third game with a strike. Then a stubborn seven pin in the second frame stood, and it looked like the 221 would not come easy.

But his teammates — Larry Wetzel, Joe Schroeder and Elmer Hintz — helped keep him relaxed with small talk. Secord converted the spare and then went on to strike out finishing with a dazzling 280 game, resulting in a thunderous ovation from the entire league.

“It’s still unbelievable,” said Secord, who retired in 1995 from St. Agnes Hospital after 33 years as a painter. “I went there to the bowling alley relaxed, and they just came so easy that it was unbelievable.

“It’s something I never thought I’d reach.”

He has been bowling in the senior leagues for a little more than 10 years after coming off his second rotator cuff surgery in his bowling shoulder.

Secord has now set the standard for all senior league bowlers in Fond du Lac by cranking out an 859 series to earn the title of “The One.”

Jason Buerger is on pace to break the all-time single season record for perfect games in the Fond du Lac Bowling Association. Buerger might not only shatter the record, he might double it up.

Buerger has five perfect games through the first eight weeks of league play, and is on pace to roll a mind-boggling 20 perfect games this season.

While the unofficial record is believed to be nine (Brian Burgess during the 1992/93 season), the only suspense left is when is he going to break the record and how many is he going to finish with for the 2009/10 season.

Buerger has also rolled a couple of 800 series this season with a high of 837 on October 8th that included a 299 and 300 game at Dan’s Village Bowl in Brownsville.

Buerger, who is averaging an impressive 241.46 in the American Family Insurance/Rock the House Classic league on Thursday night at DVB, looks to be a lock to make his third consecutive appearance on the FBA All-Star team.

“Jason is a great teammate (although he’s not on my team) and an all around good guy”, Kelly Thomas said (fellow keggler at DVB). “A very likeable guy. He has a unique style of bowling (with all that power) that other cannot imitate. He is secretly smart about the game and doesn’t flaunt his success (everyone else does it for him). He makes the game of bowling look easy”. 

Thomas was quick to point out the reason behind Buerger fast start this season. ” Consistency”, he said. “He bowls three nights a week (that helps). He has always been a great athlete, good in all sports”.

Buerger is using a three year old Hammer No Mercy ball. His normal line is up 14-18, not much belly, but a lot of power.  His first shot of each frame has been the key to his fast start. “I’ve never seen anybody try to make his first ball of every frame, the best ball that he has ever thrown,” Thomas said.

When asked what he more impressed with, Buerger’s power game or his accuracy, Thomas replied, “His power game. When he does miss his mark (not very often), he still has a chance with all that power behind his ball.”

While there is so much talent in the FBA, Buerger has quietly ascended himself to the top of the association. While he might not being paying attention to all his success, everyone else is watching his probable run into FBA history.

Dave Wightman reached the pinnacle of his bowling career this summer when he was inducted into the Fond du Lac Bowling Association Hall of Fame during the annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet held at Ledgeview Center inside Ledgeview Lanes.

Wightman got an early start to his bowling career at West Side Lanes back in the early 1950’s. “I lived near West Side Lanes and my parents bowled  there a lot,” he said. “My interest in bowling grew from being at the lanes all the time.”

Wightman’s enjoyed the sport so much he took part of his time off on weekends from school to watch some of his idols. “I grew up watching the PBA on TV in those early days,” he said. “I always wanted to bowl as good as the pros.”

Wightman has some very impressive numbers on his FBA bowling resume. He has recorded sixth 800 series, fifteen 300 games, six 299 games, and one 298 game.

Wightman rolled his first and career best 800 series on Nov. 8, 2001 at Karl Ray Lanes when he rolled games of 256, 288, and 286 for an 830 series.

Wightman made the FBA Senior All-Star team in 2008 with an impressive 225 avg. He also made three appearances on the FBA’s All-Star Second team in 2000, 2002, and 2009.

Wightman has bowled in 14 USBC Championships. He had a great year in 1995 when he recorded a career best game of 264 and 721 series in Reno, NV.  He broke the 1800 barrier in 2000 in Albuquerque, NM when he rolled an all-events total of 1,820.

Wightman didn’t waste time when asked about his three favorite moments of bowling league in the FBA. “My first 300 game in 1993 is at the top,” he said. “Then my 830 series in 2001 and rolling back-to-back perfect games last season at Parkway Lanes.”

Wightman has always put team accomplishments ahead of individual honors and he was proud last season when his Tuesday night team almost broke the association scratch series record. “We came up four pins short of breaking the record,” he said. ” It was a night I will never forget. Afterward, everybody on the team was down a little bit (for not getting the record), but I was proud of how we bowled together as a team all night. Our series was the fifth highest in the nation last season.”

Sid Silcock, Tim Lemke, Tim Zorn, and Steve Kocos were teammates of Wightman’s that night.

Wightman has been a member of the Board of Directors of the FBA since 1995 and he went out on top in 2008/09 when he was President of the association.

Wightman has been an active member in the FBA since 1960. “This season will be my 50th year in the association,” he said.”The streak is not consecutive because I took time off to serve in the military and I missed a couple of year when my children were young.”

Wightman’s wife, Sandy, along with their children, Eric and Doug (daughter-in-law Meghan), and grandchildren, Sydney and Alexis were their to support and cheer Dave on. “It was so special to have my family and friends there during the ceremony.”

Even though it was Wightman’s night, he took some good old ribbing from his two sons.  “At my ceremony, my two sons presented me for induction, he said. ”They treated it like a “ROAST” and got some good zingers in on “Dear Old Dad” that night. It was a ton of laughs.”

He handled a disruption in practice and disappointment in his first game to roll games of 295, 244, and 279 for an 818 series, his second career 800 series in the Fond du Lac Bowling Association.

McDermott just got done with his warm-ups when he was summoned by teammate Chip Gilgenbach to help get his equipment out of his vehicle.

“I was playing between the seventh and eighth board with my Track Rising,” he said. “I felt OK until Chip showed up at the end of practice and needed help getting into the trunk of his car. I changed out of my bowling shoes to go outside and help. After 10 minutes, we still couldn’t get into his vehicle, so we got Frank Hilbert to sub for us.

“That definitely took my mind off of bowling.”

The delay didn’t seem to bother McDermott as he opened the first game with nine consecutive strikes.

“I caught a couple of breaks early in the game,” he said. “I started to settle into a groove late in the game. I was rolling the ball well and thought 300 was a definite possibility.”

Things got a little dicey in the final frame as McDermott battled the pressure of a perfect game.

“When the 10th frame came around I was shaking in my shoes,” he said. “I missed wide right on the 11th shot, but it came back and carried a splash hit. I thought the pressure was off. But as I regrouped for the final shot, the nerves really kicked in.”

McDermott took some extra time before delivering the final shot.

“Off my hand, I thought it was going to be a decent shot. I must have set it down short cause it hooked hard on the front part of the lane and ran high leaving the Greek Church,” McDermott said. “I told my teammates afterward that I was more nervous going for 300 this time than any of my previous six perfect games. I think I just got a little too juiced up and wanted it too bad.”

With 539 going into his last game, McDermott had his eyes set on 800.

“I guess I was looking to redeem myself for the half-count 295 game,” he said. “I knew exactly what I needed, and I was focused on getting it.”

McDermott started the last game with a turkey and then spared a 10 pin in the fourth frame. He then ran the next five to set up the all-or-nothing 10th frame.

“I thought I needed the first two strikes for 800,” he said. “All three shots were stuffed. I was pretty pumped up after the second ball in the 10th. Afterward, I realized I only needed the first strike for 800.”

McDermott credits his ability to block out the last ball of the first game as the key to his series.

“I knew I needed to get back focused immediately,” he said. “There was a lot of good-natured ribbing coming my way for leaving the half-count. Maybe that helped me to get relaxed quickly and get back focused on the task at hand.”

McDermott’s big night, though, didn’t crack his top three favorite bowling moments.

“Winning team titles with Finnagan’s and Salty’s will always be at the top of my list,” he said. “My first 300 and 800 are right behind those championships.”

McDermott rolled a career high series of 820 in the same league in 2007.

Five times, Steiner has had the front eleven strikes to start a game only to come up short of 300 every time.

He wasn’t about to let it become a six pack as he rolled games of 276, 234, and 300 for an 810 series.

The practice session didn’t give Steiner much confidence as he struggled to find ball reaction.

“It wasn’t pretty in warm-ups,” he said. “I always have problems with my footing so it’s hard for me to find the break point which gives me the best possible chance to strike.”

Steiner found something he liked, starting the first game with nine consecutive strikes heading to the 10th frame with a chance at 300.

“It was like someone turned a switch on,” he said. “I was playing an aggressive line between the third and fourth arrow with my Hammer Bite and it matched up perfect with the lane conditions.”

But as has been the case numerous times before, Steiner let the opportunity slip away in the 10th frame.

“I hit my leg on the release of the shot in the 10th frame, and basically gave the ball no opportunity to get back to the pocket.”

With 510 going into the last game, Steiner had thoughts of redemption on his mind.

“I was thinking I had an outside shot at 800,” he said. “I was rolling the ball real well except for the hiccup in the tenth frame of the first game. I knew 800 was a long shot, but I felt if I executed my game plan and kept my nerves under control, it was a possibility to get there.”

The start of his third game was almost an exact duplicate of his first game.

“I started with the front nine again,” he said. “In the seventh frame I was thinking this could be redemption for hitting my leg in the first game in the 10th frame.”

Steiner struck on his first two shots in the 10th frame to set up the pivotal last ball. A last ball that has caused heartache in the past.

“I made two great shots to open the tenth,” he said. “The last shot felt great, and as it dove into the pocket, I thought it was money. The nine pin was rocking back and forth. I thought it would never fall. It felt like an eternity but a pin finally knocked it over. I felt like I threw King Kong into Lake Winnebago afterward.”

Steiner says the difference between the first and third game was more about his composure than his mechanics or his equipment.

“I kept my nerves under control,” he said. “I was big-time nervous the first game, but I was as cool as the other side of a pillow the third game.”

Steiner’s series shot right to the top of his favorite moments in bowling.

“Definitely number one,” he said. “My first career 800 series at Parkway Lanes and winning the FBA team tournament title last year round out my top three.”

Steiner’s lone other 800 series came on Jan. 18, 2005 when he rolled games of 269, 259, and 299 for an 827 series in the Businessmen’s Late League at Parkway Lanes.

Dave Wightman became the sixth person in the history of the Fond du Lac Bowling Association to roll consecutive perfect games during league play.

Wightman accomplished the feat last Tuesday night at Parkway Lanes in the L&R Construction League. He rolled games of 300, 300, and 224 for an impressive 824 series.

Wightman wasted little time in practice finding a comfortable line to the pocket with his Track Rule.

“The shot was great,” he said. “I was playing my normal line between boards eight and nine. The conditions never changed, which allowed me to stay there the entire night.”

Wightman started his night with nine consecutive strikes. He took a little extra time before he stepped on the approach in the 10th frame.

“I was a little nervous,” he said. “I think you always are a little excited under those circumstances. I was very relaxed from the start and was able to maintain that most of the night.”

Wightman caught a break on his second ball in the 10th frame as he recorded his 13th career perfect game.

“I came in a little light on that shot,” he said. “The pins mixed and pushed toward the seven and took it out.”

The second game was almost identical to the first game through the ninth frame. Then things got intense heading into the 10th frame.

“The pressure was on,” he said. “Back to back 300s is something I have never been close to accomplishing before, so I really was working hard to keep my head in the game. My teammates were great about keeping things light-hearted and the conversation going so I didn’t have to stand and think about it so much.”

Wightman sealed the deal in the 10th as he recorded his 14th career perfect game.

“I carried a light mixer on the first shot,” he said. “The last two balls felt good right off my hand.”

Wightman was overwhelmed a little bit after he converted on his last shot in the second game.

“It was amazing,” he said. “When I released my last shot, I knew I had thrown a good ball, so I just hoped for good carry. When everyone started to congratulate me, I could hardly believe it.”

With 600 going into the last game, Wightman had several thoughts racing though his mind.

“I was thinking that I had a chance at the association scratch record of 878,” he said. “I also thought that 900 was still a possibility. I was also thinking, I better shoot 800 after this start, otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it from my teammates.”

Wightman started the third game with four strikes. He then left a 10-pin which ended his string of 28 consecutive strikes.

“I felt a little weight come off my shoulders,” he said. “It was a little disappointing, but the pressure level changed immediately.”

Wightman finished with a 224 as he fell six pins short of his career high series.

“I had a chance going into the seventh to still get the association record,” he said. “I was a little careful on that shot, and I paid the price by leaving the Big Four.”

Wightman open the next frame as he missed a seven-pin.

“I threw a good shot but left the seven,” he said. “(Once) again I was too careful, and I whiffed on the spare. That cost me a chance at my career high of 830. Fortunately, I struck out from there to salvage my 800 series.”

Wightman put his gem at the top of his list of favorite bowling moments of his career.

“Definitely, this tops them all,” he said. “Before then, It was probably my first 300 game and 800 series.”

Wightman, who is president of the FBA, has rolled six career 800 series.

Dave Roberts shook off a little pain Friday night as he recorded his fifth career perfect game during mixed league action at Parkway Lanes.

Roberts rolled games of 236, 194, and 300 for a 730 series.

Roberts almost got a substitute Friday night, but he decided to give it a shot even though he was experiencing some discomfort on his bowling hand.

“It was a struggle just to get through practice,” he said. “I broke the skin open on a crack on my middle finger, so I really couldn’t give it my best effort the first two games. The pain went away the third game, and I finally had a chance to play my own game again.”

With 430 going into the last game, Roberts was just looking to finish the night on a strong note.

“I was looking forward to the last game,” he said. “The conditions were ideal. I knew I could go high as long as I controlled my ball speed and could consistently hit my target.”

Roberts started thinking about rolling a perfect game after he started the last game with six consecutive strikes.

“It was kind of funny,” he said. “I joked around with my wife earlier in the evening before bowling about shooting a 300 and an 800. I knew I was halfway home.”
Roberts struck on his next three shots to set up the pivotal 10th frame.

“I got pretty nervous before I stepped on the approach the last frame,” he said. “I caught a break on the first shot as the four-pin tripped forward. The next two shots felt great off my hand. The only thing I was worried about was leaving a corner pin. Fortunately, both shots ripped the 10-pin out.”

Roberts admitted afterward that a minor adjustment was the key to his third game success.

“At the beginning of the night I was playing straight up the second arrow,” he said. “I then moved my target inside a board but started swinging the ball out to the eighth board. I found some great ball reaction out there.”

Roberts didn’t hesitate when asked to mention his favorite moments of his young bowling career.

“I bowled my highest all-events total at the USBC Nationals in New Mexico last year with a 1,918,” he said. “Bowling my first 300 game and 800 series rank up there along with being able to bowl mixed league with members of my family.”

Roberts, who bowls in three leagues throughout the season, enjoys his breaks away from the bowling center.

“I enjoy hunting, fishing, watching racing and spending time with my family,” he said.
Roberts sets modest goals for each bowling season.

“I always want the 300/800 combo,” he said. “Plus, it is a bonus if I can beat my uncle, Denny Schabel, on Thursday nights.”

Roberts rolled a career high 818 series at Tower Lanes in Beaver Dam during the 2005-06 season.

Roberts, second-vice president of the Fond du Lac Bowling Association, has rolled three career 800 series.