Bowling event benefits Jason Kline scholarship fund

On April 3 from 7-10 p.m., Wapakoneta City Schools will host a Scotch Doubles Bowling event at Astro Lanes. And for anyone unfamiliar with the term, Scotch Doubles does not involve whiskey.

"No," Wapakoneta City Schools Superintendent Aaron Rex said in response to the alcohol question. "You'd get worse and worse I think as the bowling event went along."

Rather, the term refers to teams of two alternating bowling throws. In this case, it will be mixed-gender teams where - regardless of what happens with the first attempt - the other person will take the next shot.

The goal is to raise money for the Jason Kline Memorial scholarship fund, a scholarship that has existed since 2011 and provides $2,000 to a college-bound high school senior. When asked, Robert Askins, executive director of the Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation - which facilitiates the scholarship was unable to provide a total for this year’s applications. He did say over the past four years the program has drawn roughly 20-30 applicants.

The event is for a good cause.

"He [Kline] was a close, personal friend of mine, and just an all-around great person," Rex said.

Rex described Kline as someone who could be friends with anyone, had a great personality, cared for everyone and was invested in students.

"Whether you had him as a coach or a teacher or he was one of the building administrators, you always knew he cared about you," he said. "Even if it was a disciplinary situation, I think the kids always felt cared about. He had their best interests in mind."

According to Rex, Kline was the reason for the slogan 'every day is a good day,' a phrase that is scattered around district buildings.

"He just was that kind of selfless person," he said. "He wasn't going to tell you [and] didn't want you to feel bad for him."

Rex said the event served as a good way for the staff to get together and remember the impact he had on teachers and students.

This will be the third consecutive year of bowling, an activity he chose over golfing in part because it was difficult finding a date where everyone could golf. He also didn't want the risk of having to reschedule over bad weather.

"Bowling, it's inside and it was easier to find a date that we could use," he said.

He and Kline were actually on a team in a men's bowling league.

Besides being on a bowling team, Kline was a math teacher at the high school from 2000-2005 before serving as the assistant principal from 2006-2010. He coached the freshman boys basketball team from 20002001, the middle school boys from 2001-2006 and was a volunteer golf coach.

He passed away in 2010 following a fight with cancer. He was in his early 30s.

"You became a better person by interacting with Jason," Rex said.

Past events have raised anywhere from $5,000$10,000 toward the scholarship fund.

If you would like to participate, you can sign up at Astro Lanes. But hurry, there are limited spots available after Rex sent out a district-wide email inviting staff to participate.

Besides bowling, there will also be raffles.