Even Higher Scores Dominate the Early 1990’s

This month, Bowling History continues its trek through Kokomo’s bowling history with coverage from the 1990-91 season through the 1994-95 season. If you thought that the scoring was high in the 1980’s, it was even higher in the 1990’s. It seemed like everyone and their brother – or sister – were shooting 700 series.

Regular Bowling Column Appears Again

On November 17, 1990 the weekly Kokomo Tribune bowling column resumed following a several year absence. The bowlers or Kokomo should thank Mike Butler and subsequent authors for taking the time to write these columns. KWBA Publicity Chairperson Jan Turner, who provided information from the women's association, aided Butler.

Almost two years later, Don Spall took over organizing the column. Spall's first column appeared on October 31, 1992.

Bob George wins Regional Tournament

After having turned professional, local bowler Bob George won his first Professional Bowlers Association Regional tournament in December 1990. George would go on to have limited success on the pro tour usually finishing near the cash line.

Greg Garretson Buys Cedar Crest Lanes

In April 1991, Greg Garretson purchased Cedar Crest Lanes from Ted Wooley. Garretson has demonstrated himself to be an excellent promoter of bowling since. Kokomo also gained an excellent bowler as Garretson has rolled two 300 games and consistently averages over 200.

Super Classic League Formed

A traveling Super Classic league was formed for the 1990-91 season. This league rolled in each of the three major centers in town on a weekly rotational basis. The 84 Lumber team captured first place. This team consisted of Randy Workman, Mike Butler, Dave Turner and Doug Workman. Trent Marner claimed high average with a fine 205.8. Close behind was Doug Workman with 204.1. Looks like the lefties cleaned up wherever they bowled! High match play winning percentage went to Randy Workman with 62.89%. Close behind was Jim Mote with 61.74%.

The System of Bowling Results in New Lane Conditioning Rules

The ABC completed it's analysis of high scoring and introduced the "three unit" rule for the 1991-92 season. This rule directed the bowling centers to apply a minimum of three units of lane conditioner across all boards as far down as the lanes were being dressed. It was thought that this would stop the escalation in scoring by preventing dry boards on the outside of the lanes from careening back shots thrown wide of their marks.

Hindsight now shows that it only resulted in a new revolution of bowling ball materials and even higher scoring.

Kokomo Hosts State Tournament

Kokomo hosted the 1992 State Tournament at Don Lowry Lanes East and West. Over 1200 teams participated including a large contingent from Kokomo. Local bowlers performed well in their home centers.

Local Bob George teamed with his ex-Indiana University bowling teammate Mory Smulevitz to capture the doubles actual championship with a score of 1393. Mike Bessel and Garry Goff finished in 2nd place in doubles handicap. Two more places back were Todd Hale and Rick Bailey.

Jon Dieterman finished 4th in all-events actual with a score of 2033 only 22 pins behind the winning score. Mike Butler finished in 7th place with a fine total of 1998. Bailey also finished in 6th place in all-events handicap.

Learn To Bowl Program Conducted

A Learn to Bowl program was conducted for four weeks rotating through each of the four Kokomo bowling centers. This program introduced over 400 bowlers to organized bowling instruction aimed at increasing league participation and making the game more fun.

Team Series Record Increased - Three Times

On March 18, 1992, Arvin Construction set a new Kokomo team series record when they rolled a fabulous score of 3344. They eclipsed the Fletcher's Steak House record of 3318 set at Astro Bowl in 1980. Rolling at Cedar Crest Lanes, Arvin Construction put together games of 1164, 1053 and 1127 for the new mark. Members of the team with their scores were: Bob Dunn (722), Scott Nelson (572), Brian Walker (640), Mike Phillips (683) and Greg Garretson (727).

Then on October 6, 1992, only 7 months later, they broke their own record when they rolled a 3351. Scores this time were: Greg Garretson (782), Scott Nelson (683), Mike Phillips (633), Brian Walker (628) and Bob Dunn (620). Nelson's 683 was a career high.

The high-scoring Revs-N-Resin team became the first team to eclipse the 3400 barrier locally when they scored a towering 3420 at Don Lowry Lanes West on December 29, 1994. Leading the way was Tim Merritt with 729. Close behind was Bob Burge with 714. Rounding out the scoring was Barry Blanton (679), Jon Dieterman (667) and Bryan Mose (631).

Team Game Record Broken Too

On January 10, 1993, the team game record was elevated over 1200 for the first time. The Cedar Crest Lanes team of Gary Exmeyer (215), Bob Dunn (300), Ron Harding (264), Ralph Johnston (247) and Trent Marner (237) pounded out a total of 1263.

KBA Starts the We Care Pledge Bowl

In 1992, the Kokomo Bowling Association began a new event to help raise funds for the We Care program. Organized by Mike Butler, the event was conducted using a very unusual format. The inaugural event was hosted at Don Lowry Lanes with each bowler rolling one frame on each lane across the 32 lanes. A total of 47 bowlers participated in that inaugural 32 frame game event and raised over $4000. Since its inception, the event has raised nearly $100,000 for We Care.

KWBA Introduces Local Award Program

The progressive Kokomo Women's Bowling Association introduced a local awards program for the 1993-94 season. This program provided additional awards aimed at lower average bowlers who found many of the WIBC awards out of reach. The program proved very successful and provided recognition for more bowlers.

KBA Organizes Two New Tournaments

The Kokomo Bowling Association organized its first City Mixed and City Senior Tournament in 1994. The City Mixed event, jointly conducted with the KWBA has been one of the fastest growing and most popular events.

ABC No Longer Male-only

On March 18, 1994, the word "males" was erased from the ABC Constitution. This was a result of a pending lawsuit by some higher-averaging women that wanted to bowl in an men's scratch league since their women's leagues shunned them due to their skill level. This action, decided at the ABC convention in Mobile, Alabama, saved sanctioned bowlers from paying costly legal fees. Individual ABC leagues can decide whether their league is open to women ABC members. Since the landmark decision, some top local women bowlers have participated in the local ABC-sanctioned scratch league and one in the men's city tournament.

Kokomo to Host Women's State

Kokomo hosted the Women's Indiana State Bowling Association in 1995. This was the first time Kokomo hosted the event since 1959. Almost 9200 bowlers participated.

Top Men’s and Women’s Series

Tremendous scoring dominated the era. Listed below are the multiple 700 series shooters and all the 650 shooters for the women.

Three 800 series were shot in this 5-year span. Mike Phillips shot only the 4th ever in Kokomo on April 22, 1992 when he fired an 814 series. Only six months later on October 5, Steve Sullivan cranked out his 802 series. Then Brian Graham shot the first of his 800 series while subbing for his father on March 17, 1995. Graham's final tally was 803.

Jon Dieterman led the way with 27 series over 700. His top series were 794, 785, 782, 761, 760, 756, 753, and 751. Next in line was Ed Martin. Martin was still cranking out 700 series at a regular clip as he rolled 23 of them. Martin’s top scores were 794, 771, 765, 752 and 751. Third in line was lefty Trent Marner. He splattered the pins for 20 series of at least 700. Marner’s top scores were 773, 760 and 750.

Shown below is a list of bowlers with the number of 700 series and scores over 750 (or their high score).

Randy Workman – 17 – 781, 752 and 751
Gary Exmeyer – 17 – 732
Doug Workman – 16 – 768 and 753
Dan Preston – 15 – 761 and 756
Jon Kelley – 14 – 766, 764, 762 and 757
Greg Garretson – 13 – 782
Charlie Locke – 13 – 767, 758
Bob George – 12 – 761
Bryan Ramberger – 12 – 750
Bob Dunn – 12 – 742
Jim Mote – 11 – 756
Ron Harding – 10 – 738
Clint Spencer – 9 – 780
Steve Sullivan – 8 – 802
Bryan Mose – 8 – 766, 759 and 755
Dave Turner – 8 – 762, 754 and 753
Larry Richards – 8 – 748
Jon Martin – 8 – 732
Pat McLothlin – 7 – 753
Tom Arnett – 6 – 769
Dave McDorman – 6 – 758
Floyd Russell – 6 – 724
Jeff Wood – 5 – 760
Dave Wolfe – 5 – 758
Richard Smith – 5 – 746
Gary Brown – 5 – 739
Ralph Johnston – 5 – 721
Tim Merritt – 4
Danny Gross – 4 – 770 and 752
Tom Beale – 4 – 757
Bryan Frank – 4 – 752
George Grant – 4 – 750
Wayne Burthay – 4 – 743
Rick Hartung – 4 – 741
Jay Lawrence – 4 – 740
Allen Hawkins – 4 – 730
Mike Butler – 4 – 725
Bob Burge – 4 – 725
Fred Reed – 4 – 724
Mike Phillips – 3 – 814
Jeff Mickelson – 3 – 759 and 759
Barry Blanton – 3 – 754
Rocky McClish – 3 – 750
Steve Wilson – 3 – 739
Chris Geisler – 3 – 734
Buford Bullard – 3 – 726
Jack Bender – 3 – 725
Bruce Young – 3 – 718
Renny Mitchell – 3 – 717
Marty Aspiazu – 3 – 717
Jeff Spall – 3 – 715
John Hose – 3 – 714
Steve Bradbury – 3 – 713
Rick Krieg – 2 – 759
Jeff Schultz – 2 – 746
Jeff DeMoss – 2 – 744
Steve Wooley – 2 – 736
Donnie Lawrence– 2 – 734
Melvin Parsons – 2 – 734
Don Spall – 2 – 729
Tom Haughn – 2 – 729
Jim Selvey – 2 – 727
Rick Bailey – 2 – 727
Dennis Branch – 2 – 723
Paul England – 2 – 723
Greg Harris – 2 – 719
Jim Hundley – 2 – 718
Richard Santos – 2 – 718
Max Snodgrass – 2 – 718
Tex Thornton – 2 – 717
Richard Wilkes – 2 – 716
Rodney Ott – 2 - 713
Ray Comoglio – 2 – 701

Others bowlers rolling 750 as their only 700 series are Brian Graham (803), Brian Needler (799), Mitch Cover (785), Mel Shaffer (779), Dick Meoak (773), Kerre Ferre and Mike Utterback (768), Ron Coburn (767), Glen King (765), Jerry Gamblin Jr. (763), George McConnell (758) and Don Monroe (755). Another 66 bowlers rolled a single 700 series.

Eighteen women scored over 650. They are all listed below. Four women eclipsed the 700 barrier with Barb McClish breaking the mark on two occasions.

Sandy Shuck – 731, 694, 681, 674 (2), 651
Barb McClish – 714, 701, 652
Beth Stanley – 710
Lynn Harbaugh – 700, 680, 654
Kathy Exmeyer – 685, 679, 670, 664 (2), 661 (2), 660, 657, 656, 653
Linda Dodrill - 678
Lisa Graham – 674, 667, 665, 655
Bev Huff – 673
Jeri Flowers – 671, 667, 665, 657
Kim Akers – 671
Cindy Babb – 669
Val Imbierowicz – 665, 665, 664, 656
Colleen Holaday – 664, 663, 657, 655
Daisy Strange – 663
Ann Ramberger – 657
Carole Smith – 657
Leslie Paul – 656
Jane Cloum - 653
Top Men’s and Games

There were so many games over 270 that this month I am only recognizing those of at least 280 for the men.

Bob Dunn - 300 (2), 299, 289
Jon Dieterman - 300 (2), 290 (3)
Bill Schultz - 300(2)
Gary Exmeyer - 300, 299, 297, 290, 289, 287
Ed Martin - 300, 299, 289
Ron Harding - 300, 299,
Trent Marner - 300, 289(2)
Mike Phillips - 300, 289
Floyd Russell - 300, 288, 280
Danny Preston - 300
Wayne Burthay - 300
Dick Winkler - 300
Gerard Kelley - 300
Rick Bailey - 300
Steve Huff - 300
Richard Santos - 300
Richard Comoglio - 300
John Vote - 300
Brad Wilson - 300
Floyd Hooks - 300
Mike Butler - 300
Mike Harford - 300
Sam Terrell - 300
Mitch Cover - 300
Dave McDorman - 300
Bob Linzey - 300
Tom Power - 300
Danny Patterson - 300
Dave Turner - 299, 287
Jeff Wood - 299, 290
Dave Tressler - 299
Bryan Mose - 299
Don Price - 299
Kent Wright - 299
Dennis Branch - 298, 288
Adrian Richardson - 298
Renny Mitchell - 298
Bob George - 297
Dan Mann - 297
Bryan Ramberger - 290 (2), 289
Jack Bender - 290 (2)
Chris Geisler - 290
Randy Workman - 290
Ray Cameron - 290
Brian Graham - 290
Larry Bonnafon - 290
Dave Olsen - 290
Brian Tuttle - 290
George Grant - 290
Mike Utterback - 290
Clint Spencer - 290
Jon Kelley - 289, 287
Pat McLothlin - 289, 280
Perry Shelton - 289
Kerre Ferre - 289
Bryan Frank - 289
Steve Sullivan - 289
Jon Martin - 289
Russ Morrow - 289
Brada Pratt - 289
Bill Harmon - 289
Gale Peterson - 289
Rick Kelley - 289
Mark Renken - 289
Danny Gross - 289
Jim Mote - 288, 286
Richard Smith - 288, 286
Dave Wolfe - 288
Doug Workman - 288
Jeff Pontius - 288
Les Hufford - 288
Brian Martin - 288
Fred Hayes - 288
Cory Carter - 287
Bill Schaefer - 287
Dick Meoak - 287
Steve Smith - 287
Jim Selvey - 287
Mike Thomas - 287
Gary French - 286
Steve Bradbury - 286
Jerry Gamblin - 285
Jay Lawrence - 285
Hershel Davis - 280
Fred Reed - 280
Terry Beale - 280
Tom Arnett - 280
Marty Aspiazu - 280

There were 95 games of 279, Eighty-six 278 games....well, you get the idea!

Some of these games had special significance. One of Bob Dunn's perfect games was rolled in the Central Indiana Bowling Association (CIBA) tournament in Wabash. Trent Marner and Danny Preston rolled their 300's in the Steelworkers Tournament in Indianapolis on March 16, 1991 only one week after Dunn's out-of-town perfecto. Steve Huff rolled his in the 1992 City Tournament at Cedar Crest. Gary Exmeyer and Jon Dieterman shot their 300's at the same time rolling against each other in a league at Cedar Crest.

Richard Santos shot an additional 300 game not shown above since it was in a non-sanctioned league. Ron Harding fired his 300 game at the State Tournament in Fort Wayne in 1993. He shot his 299 in the City Tournament. Mike Harford rolled only the second 300 ever at the Grissom Air Force Base Lanes. Scott Wagenblast rolled a 300 in the State Tournament at Don Lowry Lanes East. Finally, Fort Wayne resident Sly Hill rolled a perfect game at Don Lowry Lanes in October 1991 during the State Jamboree being hosted by Kokomo.

Top Women's Games

Women's games of at least 250 are shown below.

Lisa Graham - 279, 258, 256
Lynn Harbaugh - 278, 269, 266
Beth Stanley - 278, 266, 259, 258
Ann Ramberger - 278
Colleen Holaday - 277, 256, 255
Cindy Babb - 276
Kathy Exmeyer - 274, 268, 267, 263, 262, 258, 255, 254, 253, 252
Sue Hight = 269
Sue Ann Frank (YABA) - 269
Jeri Flowers - 268, 264, 258
Susan Hewitt - 268
Kim Akers - 267
Deb Stewart - 267
Karene Painter - 265
Barb McClish - 264, 255, 250
Barb Godlove - 264
Marcia Carpenter - 264
Denise Leicht - 263
Cyndy Trent - 263
Gloria Chapel - 259
Bev Huff - 258 (2)
Sandy Shuck - 258
Nikki Lauderbaugh - 258
Eva Wilson - 258
Deb Alexander - 257
Jan Turner - 257
M. Shearer - 257
R. O'Neill - 257
Peggy Sheveily - 256
Adah Harding - 256
Sandy Bowman - 256
Barb Hamilton - 256
Alice Morrow - 256
Linda Dodrill - 256
Ann Crow - 255
Cheryl Ehman - 255
Jennifer Smith - 255
Daisy Strange - 255
Shirley Kelly - 255
Linda Rossman - 255
Sabrena Gamblin - 255
K. Dockenmeyer - 254
Cheryl Fowler - 254
Patty King - 254
Terri Walker - 254
Shirley Meyers - 254
Carrie Hurst - 254
Val Imbierowicz - 253, 251
Mary Ann Holmes - 253
Dee Johnson - 253
Nancy Haines - 251
Sandra Crable - 251
Men's High Averages

Here are the men's high averages for each of the centers during this time span. These averages are based on a minimum of 60 games in a league. Note the domination by Ed Martin and Jon Dieterman!

1990-91 Season
Don Lowry Lanes East - Jon Kelley - 208
Don Lowry Lanes West - Jon Dieterman - 217
Cedar Crest - Ed Martin - 211
Eagles - Ed Martin - 190

1991-92 Season
Don Lowry Lanes East - Ed Martin - 208
Don Lowry Lanes West - Jon Dieterman - 205
Cedar Crest - Ed Martin - 216
Eagles - Ed Martin/Dave Turner/Ross Pearson - 184

1992-93 Season
Don Lowry Lanes East - Ed Martin - 197
Don Lowry Lanes West - Jon Dieterman - 204
Cedar Crest - Ed Martin - 215
Eagles - Ed Martin – 185

1993-94 Season
Don Lowry Lanes East - Jack Bender - 198
Don Lowry Lanes West - Jon Dieterman - 207
Cedar Crest - Larry Richards - 210
Eagles - Ed Martin - 194

1994-95 Season
Don Lowry Lanes East - Bryan Ramberger - 208
Don Lowry Lanes West - Bob Burge- 210
Cedar Crest - Trent Marner - 214
Eagles - Ed Martin - 186

Women's High Averages

Here are the women's high averages for each season during this time span.

1990-91 - Jeri Flowers - 181
1991-92 - Kathy Exmeyer - 187
1992-93 - Kathy Exmeyer - 194
1993-94 - Sandy Shuck - 189
1994-95 - Colleen Holaday - 185

Summary

That completes this installment of Bowling History. In about a month, look for the final article of the season taking you through the next five-year span concluding with the current 1999-2000 season.