Travis Bathurst: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Travis Bathurst, 24, of Dallastown.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled an 824 series at Suburban Bowlerama.

I started bowling: At Lincolnway when I was 13.

Bowler I have learned the most from: Steve Elicker.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Don’t get too uptight; have fun.

Most memorable bowling moment: Rolling my first 300 game two years ago.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: Adjusting to the lane conditions.

Bowling appeals to me because: Everyone can do it and it’s very social.

Non-bowlers don’t realize: the complexity of the game and how much difference there is between pro and amateur bowlers.

The toughest part about bowling is: Stringing strikes together.

Future goal: Although I have a 300 game and an 800 series, I would like to accomplish both of them in the same night.

Note: East Lincoln Lanes hosts a Plastic Ball Doubles Tournament, 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 30. The tournament features five games across 10 lanes and a top prize of $400. Entry fee is $50 for early birds and $60 for walk-ins. All balls are subject to approval for the tournament and bowlers are requested to check in early. Plastic Ball Doubles Tournament rules can be found at www.eastlincolnlanes.com.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Mike Keating: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Mike Keating, 67, of York.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled his high series of 757 at East Lincoln Lanes and two days later rolled his first 300 at Suburban Bowlerama.

I started bowling: Nearly 40 years ago.

Bowlers I’ve learned the most from: Frank Curry, Ken Dixon, Glenn Himes, Bill McCauslin and many more.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Slow your approach and get the ball out on the lane.

Most memorable bowling moment: When the 8-pin fell on the first ball of the 10^th frame en route to my 300 game. It looked like it was going to be a stone 8, but it unbelievably toppled. With that break, I felt destined to roll my first 300.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: My timing—coordinating my footwork and arm swing.

Bowling appeals to me because: I love the competition and the challenge.

Non-bowlers don’t realize: How important making your spares are to becoming a good bowler. They tend to think it’s all about the strikes.

The toughest part about bowling is: Keeping your concentration.

Future goals: Roll another 300 game and become more consistent.

Note: Colony Park Lanes North hosts the Don Kauffman Tournament, 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 16. The tournament features an eight-game format on the sunset pattern. Top prize is $800, based on 40 entries. Entry fee is $60. For more information, call 848-6262.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Adam Landis: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Adam Landis, 37, of York.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled his first 300 game and high series of 791 at Colony Park Lanes North.

I started bowling: At Lincolnway when I was 10 or 11 years old.

Bowlers I have learned the most from: My teammates.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Take the game frame by frame.

PBA bowler I enjoy watching: Norm Duke.

Most memorable bowling moment: Rolling my first 300 game. It’s been a long-time goal.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: Being consistent for three games.

Bowling appeals to me because: I enjoy the competition and the camaraderie.

Non-bowlers don’t realize: How competitiveness and enjoyable bowling can be.

Future goal: Roll an 800 series.

Note: Colony Park Lanes North hosts a 40 Frame Game Scratch Tournament on a Kegel pattern, 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 30. First place is expected to pay $500, based on 40 entries. Entry fee is $30. For more information, call 848-6262.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

County bowlers grabbed headlines in 2010

It’s never a dull year on the York County bowling lanes. Area bowlers kept the tradition alive as they racked up some impressive achievements during the past year. Here are the Top 10 bowling stories of 2010.

Area bowlers--Adam Baer, Terry Miller and Jimmy Plessinger—won an unprecedented three PBA East Region titles. Baer defeated Terry Decker of Philadelphia, 238-210, to capture the PBA event at Turnersville, N.J. Miller earned his second PBA East Region crown at Lebanon when he stopped Ken Yokobosky of Fredon, N.J., 227-188. Plessinger downed Tommy Gollick of Oberlin, Pa., 265-200, in Lancaster to earn his PBA East Region crown.

Dave Zelger, 50, of Red Lion rolled games of 300, 277 and 300 for an 877 series at Lion Bowl. He fell one pin shy of tying the county record of 878 set by Marvin Goldberg in 2000 at Lion Bowl.

Jimmy Plessinger, 29, of York blistered the lanes at Suburban Bowlerama during the 2009-10 season to post a 245.9 average for 90 games. His average is the second highest in York County history. Mark Crawford holds the record with a 246.6 average for 99 games at East Lincoln for the 1995-96 season.

Lindy Decker, 39, and Dave Zelger, 50, were named Bowlers of the Decade by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. Decker has distinguished herself at all levels of the sport. Her 236 average for the 2008-09 season is a record for York County women. Zelger made his mark by being one of the most consistent, competitive and versatile bowlers. He posted high average among county bowlers on three occasions, including a personal high of 239 for the 2005-06 season.

Tim Mixter, a 27-year-old Special Olympian from Hanover, flirted with a perfect game. He rolled the first 10 strikes in a row before finishing with a spare and a 289 game at Hanover Bowling Centre. Mixter carries a 172 average.

Bowling lost a great ambassador, dedicated volunteer and long-time competitor when Bob DeGroft, 81, of Hanover died. He had been involved with bowling for more than 60 years. His many accomplishments included becoming only the second York Countian to be named president of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association in 1989. DeGroft was a member of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Hall of Fame and the York County Bowling Hall of Fame.

Ed Hombach, 43, of Mt. Wolf rolled 34 of 36 possible strikes for an 857 series at Colony Park East. It erased Chuck Geesey’s mark of 847, which had stood since 2001.

Julie Carson, 28, of York rolled games of 279, 299 and 265 for an 843 series at East Lincoln Lanes. It is the third highest series ever rolled by a York County female bowler.

Chuck Tillman, 49, notched back-to-back 300 games at Suburban Bowlerama. Tillman began the seventh bowler to accomplish the feat on York County lanes.

Ken Dixon, 63, of York and Nolan Barshinger, 26, of Dover teamed up to win the handicap doubles title in the Pennsylvania State Bowling Tournament which was held in York. The pair tallied 1,564 pins (including 202 pins handicap) to top nearly 4,000 doubles teams.

Slenker and Barshinger shine in state seniors tournament

Dane Slenker didn’t plan on competing in the Pennsylvania State Seniors Tournament this year, even though it was the first year the 55-year-old was eligible.

Slenker, a lefty from York, didn’t have a team to bowl with, and he didn’t want to travel to western Pennsylvania by himself. The singles and doubles events were held in Beaver Falls and the team event was held in Aliquippa.

Less than a week before the tournament, however, his friend, Charlie Earnst of Spring Grove, invited him to fill a vacancy on his team created by an illness. Slenker happily accepted and competed in singles, doubles and the team event.

Slenker made the most of the invitation as he garnered third-place finishes in Class 5 (ages 55-59) scratch all-events for six games and nine games and fourth in scratch singles. He teamed with Earnst to place 13^th in scratch doubles.

“There’s a lot of competition in the youngest age division,” said Slenker. “I was very pleased with the way I bowled. It was a great experience. I’m glad I had a chance to go to the tournament.”

Dave Barshinger of York fared well in the Class 4 (ages 60-64). The 62-year-old right-hander finished fourth in handicapped singles and handicapped all-events for six games and nine games.

“I’ve been struggling on the lanes a bit because of a knee injury,” offered Barshinger. “So, I’ve very happy with the way I bowled. Actually, I had to slow my approach down due to the knee injury, and I think that helped me be more accurate.”

Barshinger was competing in his sixth Pennsylvania State Seniors Tournament.

“I try to bowl in all the state tournaments,” said Barshinger, who is past president of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association. “I look forward to them because I know so many bowlers from across the state. I really enjoy the people aspect of the tournaments.”

Other area bowlers who fared well in the state seniors tournament include Greg Stiles and Bill Myers, who teamed to finish 38^th in scratch doubles and Clifford Chapman, who finished fifth in Class 1 handicapped singles.

For a complete list of bowlers who cashed in the tournament, go to www.psbabowling.com.

Jerpy Reinhart: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Jerpy Reinhart, 28, of Gettyburg.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled a 300 game and an 824 series at Hanover Bowling Centre.

I started bowling: At Hanover Bowling Centre when I was 18.

Bowlers I have learned the most from: Bob Hollingshead, Don Smith, Steve Carbaugh and my teammates.

PBA bowler I enjoy watching: Walter Ray Williams Jr.

My most memorable bowling moment: Rolling by first 300 in 2006.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: Being more consistent.

Bowling appeals to be because: It’s different every night.

Advice I would give someone just starting to bowl: Don’t lose your cool.

Non-bowlers don’t realize that: Not all the lanes are the same and how different bowling balls react.

Future goal: Help my fiance Kelsey Dixon become a better bowler.

Note: Colony Park Lanes North hosts a 700 Club Member/Guest Tournament, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9. Teams bowl three games of doubles in two divisions, scratch and handicap. Cost is $25 per person. For more information, call 848-6262.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Brian Kauffman: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Brian Kauffman, 43, of Lancaster.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled an 802 series at Colony Park East. It was his first career 800 series.

I started bowling: At Garden Spot Lanes when I was 18.

Bowlers I have learned the most from: Eric Montgomery and Neil Stemplinger.

PBA bowlers I enjoy watching: Bill O’Neill and Norm Duke.

Most memorable bowling moments: My first 300, first 800 and bowling against Earl Anthony in a pro-am.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Don’t take the game too seriously. You’ll bowl better if you have fun.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: My mental game.

Bowling appeals to me because: I love the challenge.

The toughest part about bowling is: Staying up with the newest equipment.

Future goal: Compete in some PBA regional tournaments.

Note: Colony Park Lanes North hosts a King of the Hill Extravaganza, 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 2. The format features single-elimination main bracket with a consolation bracket. First place is expected to pay $500, based on 128 entries. Entry fee is $30. For more information, call 848-6262.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.