Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI)

April 16, 2008, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Practice makes near perfect for local bowler

Neillsville bowler Greg Eddy (in left photo) readies himself to roll a few strikes at Strike Times Lanes.  Eddy bowled a 290 by rolling 11 consecutive strikes last year.  Eddy’s name and accomplishment sit atop lane eight (right photo).  (Photos courtesy of Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

By Peter Spicer

After years of practice, Neillsville bowler Greg Eddy landed his name above lane eight at Strike Time Lanes with a near-perfect bowling performance.  

Eddy bowled a 290 May 1, 2007.  He picked up a spare to start the game and followed with 11 consecutive strikes.

“I can’t believe I did it,” said Eddy after the performance.

The bowling alley then added his name and score above lane eight to commemorate Eddy’s performance.

Eddy, who bowls from a wheelchair and battles cerebral palsy, began bowling with his family at an early age and then participated with the Special Olympics, where he won medals: five gold, three silver, and three bronze.

Eddy, 39, rolls his bowling ball down a ramp, which runs from his chair to the floor.  Eddy’s father, Dennis Eddy, and family friend, “Bishop” Kolano, designed and fabricated the ramp that attaches to his wheelchair.

Eddy adjusts the ball’s direction from his ramp to hit the pins.  To perfect his throws, Eddy tested many bowling balls with different weight blocks and speeds.

Eddy’s grandfather, Frank Zank, still bowls regularly at age 89 and helped Eddy improve his game.

Although he enjoyed his time with Special Olympics, Eddy challenged himself to bowl exclusively at Strike Time Lanes over the past 15 years.

Tuesday Afternoon League secretary Virginia Luchterhand and other league members invited Eddy to join the league.

Eddy jumped at the chance to bowl with the league and teamed with his mother, Donna Eddy, to compete against five other teams.

Eddy went to work on the lanes, averaging a 165.  He warmed up by rolling a 258 and a 172 before scoring a 290 that day.

“We are very proud of Greg and very happy that the league members and Scott and Cathy Haines of Strike Time Lanes are willing to let Greg participate,” said Donna Eddy.  “We are very lucky to have such a great bowling center in our community.  And, as some friends kindly remind us, Greg definitely has all the bragging rights in this family of bowlers.”