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Sports

Bowling With The Best

Professional bowlers lend their time to teaching

Bowl with the Pro's was held at Bowl Long Island in Patchogue this past weekend, as an opportunity for bowlers of any age and level to come together and learn from professional competitive bowlers. 

Event coordinator Laurie Romano explained that this is a Next Level bowling event, which is a company that aims to connect bowling centers along with product and equipment companies in order to benefit the bowling community. 

Norm Duke, one of the professional bowlers present is a partial owner of Next Level.  "This is my chance to give back to the game which has given me so much.  There is nothing so fulfilling as giving knowledge back," said Duke.

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His sentiments were echoed by professional bowler Rhino Page.  "To be able to talk about what we do and make this real for the kids is great.  Seeing them start to strike and smile makes me really happy," said Page.

The day was split into two halves.  In the morning session, the professional bowlers were assigned stations, in order to organize the participants.  Each participant got grouped off, and rotated through the sections.  They learned basic mechanics, how to bowl successfully on various professional oil patterns, and little tricks of the trade from the professional.  "It's a great way to get more practice," said Bowl Long Island employee David Sulzer.  "This is a good way for everyone to get more experience," said Sulzer.

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After lunch, a Challenge Tournament took place, where the professionals faced off against one another with a team of selected participants. 

"This is very rewarding for everyone who has a passion for bowling," said parent and spectator Jim Hecker.  "It's so interesting to hear their perspectives," said Hecker.

The events were very organized, and it was clear that everyone involved was having fun.   "This is an exciting experience for me, and especially for my daughter Taylor,"said co-owner of Bowl Long Island Rob Eggert.  "The staff has been great; Next Level does a great job.  I think everyone is having a good time."

Chris Keller who owns Bowl Long Island with Eggert shared that, "As a bowler who grew up learning from professionals and being at events like this it is a pleasure and a privilege to host an event for customers that are loyal to the center."  He added that the Junior Scholarship League members were given free entry into the event, and it is his hope that the events will eventually be exclusively geared towards them.  All other participants paid an admission cost of $50 for adults, $40 for Juniors (under age 19), and $10 for spectators.

Bowl Long Island provided lunch to the participants, and raffled off prizes throughout the afternoon.   

"I didn't have this growing up," said professional bowler Mike Fagan.  "For these bowlers to have events like this is a big head start.  I hope they have fun doing this, because I sure do."

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