Local bowler breaks A n' J Bowling record

Sunday, May 4, 2014
Kyle Johnson travels to Reno to compete in the USBC championship. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The United States Bowling Congress is holding its national championship in Reno this year. Greencastle's Kyle Johnson is very much looking forward to the competition.

Johnson is a local bowler in the USBC sanctioned league. It's a mixed league with seven teams and five players on each team. Johnson as recently as Tuesday as broke the house record at A n' J Bowl in Greencastle. In his 800 series of bowling he bowled a perfect 300 in the first game. He then rolled a 279 and a 257 to give him a record-breaking score of 836.

"It started out like any other Tuesday," Johnson said. "Most nights I feel like a have a pretty good shot. The first shot actually tripped the four pin. You don't get to 300 without a few lucky shots."

Luck or no luck, between his first and second games, Johnson bowled 16 straight strikes to start the night and pulled together 23 out of 24 possible strikes in his first two games. This was only the second 800 series bowled out of A n' J Bowl.

When approached and asked if he wanted to know the house record he said he didn't want to think about it.

"The goal isn't to go out there and throw 10 strikes," Johnson said. "It's to bowl a good ball every time. You just focus on good shots. On any given night I don't walk in expecting to bowl a 300."

Accompanying Johnson to Reno is his dad, Hedges Johnson, and his team of bowlers out of Evansville. Kyle Johnson says his father is his inspiration and his motivation when he's bowling.

"I'm still chasing Dad," Johnson said. "He got me started. I drive to Terre Haute every Wednesday and he beats me more often than not."

Because he had asthma, most running sports were not an option, so Johnson found solace in the sport with his dad.

"Dad bowled a lot," Johnson said. "So instead of Saturday morning basketball or soccer, it was Saturday morning bowling."

The A n' J Bowling Center is a favorite spot for Johnson, as he explains that he enjoys the challenge the A n' J presents.

"The center in town is a tough shot," Johnson said. "You have to bring a really good game to put up a good score. It's like golf. You have easy courses and hard courses."

Johnson explains that it's more about the texture of the floor, and that can have an effect on the ball's roll.

"It's an older center with wood lanes," Johnson said. "Typically wood is harder to score on. Most places use synthetic lanes. Wood can get dry. When the lanes get dryer it's harder to score. It's like you have less area to miss."

"In Terre Haute I could bowl a 229 or 230 and in town I could bowl a 213. I'll still feel as though I bowled just as well. It's just the difference. It's tougher."

With this 800-series of bowling it is Johnson's 13th 300 game and his 6sixh 800-series.

Johnson leaves for the Reno tournament on Mother's Day and looks forward to the stiff competitors.

"It's always a struggle," he said. "The best amateurs in the world compete. Also the lane conditions them selves make it very challenging."

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