Area bowlers earn national recognition

Strikes and spares can win games, but it’s the fun and friendship that are often the biggest reward of a night on the lanes.

Two local teams checked all those boxes and were recently recognized by the United States Bowling Congress for having the top series in the country in their respective divisions for the 2022-23 season.

The team of Andrea Behr, Ann Coleman, Shannon Pluhowsky and Lori Reasoner did more than win a city title with their 2,858, they topped all fourwomen teams in the country during the entire season. Pluhowsky led the team with 776 as the Come Get Some squad edged out the next closest competition from Arizona and Virginia by 78 and 89 pins, respectively.

“A good team is more about having fun than just having good bowlers,” Pluhowsky said. “It’s also about good chemistry.”

Pluhowsky’s philosophy also paid off in the mixed division as her league team — Michael Bentz, Jackie Coterel, Matt Coterel, Curtiss Rasnic Jr. and Pluhowsky — posted the high national series for three men and two women with 3,766. They topped a solid team from Wichita, Kansas, by 48 pins. Rasnic led the Bowl 10 squad with 811 while Pluhowsky posted a 775

“I was actually speechless when I found out,” Jackie Coterel said. “It’s so great to be part of a team that can shoot something this high.”

The New Carlisle bowler has been on the lanes for more than two decades but had never earned national accolades. Her assessment of their success came down to one thing.

“I would say the chemistry is behind it all,” she said. “It’s all of us having a good time. And it’s a team, we’re not bowling individually.”

Her husband Matt agrees.

“We have good individual bowlers, but our strength is our ability to mesh together,” Matt said. “We feed off each other. When everyone is clicking the strikes just keep piling on.”

And so do the smiles.