Area bowlers have great showing at state meet

COLFAX — Competing in leagues at the Viking Bowl isn’t the only place where bowlers from the Colfax area can showcase their talents as many of them discovered this past winter. The Wisconsin State Bowling Association Tournament, held in Fond du Lac throughout many weekends saw plenty of local bowlers finish with some high scores while bringing home cash prizes in the process.

 “Our local bowlers brought home over $10,000 in prize money this year,” Pat Lindgren, coordinator for the group said. “We had men and women place very high against the best bowlers in the state.”

With over 2000 teams in several divisions competing, a team representing the Viking Bowl took first out of 194 in the 950 and Under Handicapped Division. Ashley Demuth, Billy Ferry, Dawne Hanson, Michelle Rihn and Casey Rihn were on that team and all but Hanson were competing for the first time at the state level. They earned $5000 for their hard work. The team of Pat Lindgren, Tim Demuth, Tom C. Knutson, Ron Lemler and James Ebert placed 31st in the tournament.

Over 10,000 individual bowlers competed in the tournament which was broken up into divisions according to handicaps. Knutson finished second in his division in the All Events which combines a singles, doubles and team score from the tournament. Other bowlers placing in the All Events were: Lance Reckin and Michelle Rihn (tie, 21), Ferry (29), Dan Boda and Hanson (tie, 91), Kevin Helland (125), Wally Jenson (173), Tim Demuth (261), Craig Plaszcz (236), Randy Lemler (346) and Mark Kasakaitas (585).

The doubles team of Kevin Helland and Dan Boda was pretty successful too as they took third in the 350 and Under Handicapped division while Knutson and Tim Demuth were 22nd in the 351-390 and Under division. Also placing were Larry  and Craig Plaszcz (32), Casey and Michelle Rihn (118), Pat Lindgren and Ferry (125), Breck Mckee and Jesse Coates (210), Amanda Lindgren and Jeff Patterson (228), and Dave Boda and Kasakaitas (294).

Reckin scored high again, this time in the singles portion of the tournament with a fourth place while Tim Demuth finished 33rd. Others placing in singles were: Dave Boda (66), Rich Jensen (66), Craig Plaszcz (162), Knutson (188), Helland (246), Amanda Lindgren (301), Jensen (385), Michelle Rihn (385), Hanson (450), Ferry (490), and Nate Swartz (538).