After last week’s tentacular setback, most people and cephalopods assumed this would be the week Squid Row would finally clinch the championship. But a surprising twist partially instigated by Bowls Deep kept the championship just out of reach once again. JoAnne Barber lit up the lanes with a fierce 154 game and a 401 series for the woman, while Nick Kinney’s 232 game and 608 series crowned him king of the men’s leaderboard. The Tournament of Champions is now down to its final eight bowlers, who will clash next week for glory and cash prizes. But first, let’s dive into this week’s battles!

The crisp autumn air was filled with anticipation, as the annual Thanksgiving bowling tournament commenced. The ancient alleys, lit by flickering torchlight, witnessed heroic feats and heart-wrenching defeats. The pins, much like the freshly harvested corn, stood ready to be knocked down, and the teams came prepared to write history in the annals of the game. One pilgrim set a new personal best series. JoAnne Barber picked up this week’s high game (144) and series (390) for the woman, while Dustin Schmeltz earned this week’s high game (232) and series (578) for the men.

The thirteenth week of Fall 2024 turned out to be a rollercoaster of triumph and heartbreak, where strikes lit up the lanes and gutter balls cast long shadows. One bowler achieved a career-defining moment, and the competition saw seismic shifts in the standings. JoAnne Barber captured the woman’s high game (143) and series (384), while Dennis Walling stole the spotlight for the men with a blazing high game (223) and series (580). And while we were all distracted Scootytang — a team that had been in dead last only five ago — has been quietly creeping up the standings and tonight reclaimed a second-place position.

It seems only fitting that about midway through the evening “Dust In the Wind” by Kansas played on the overhead sound system, considering that by the time the dust all settled Dustin Schmeltz landed this week’s high series, swept all the weekly awards, and won his Tournament division too. Meanwhile AJ Hofmann left jaws and balls dropping with his 235 high game as two pairs of teams swapped places in the standings. Let’s dive into the pulse-pounding action!

A sparsely-attended eleventh week of Fall 2024 saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series. Seth Gunderson snagged this week’s high game with a 212, and high series was earned by Ben Spencer with a 577. Scooter is too depressed and horrified to do a proper writeup this week, and if he did it would just be a rehash of the November 9, 2016 recap. So read on here for the current stats, then go read that one to see some cute pictures to get your mind off current events.

The haunting Halloween week of Fall 2024 brought a chill over the league as bowlers took to the lanes under a shadow of suspense. JoAnne Barber braved the eerie tension, snagging this week’s high game (134) and series (369) for the woman, while Aaron Barber claimed the men’s high game with a hair-raising 240 and Seth Gunderson’s wicked high series of 623 was nothing short of legendary. But amid the celebrations, bowlers whispered of a masked figure prowling the alley. One by one, they began to vanish…

The ninth week of Fall 2024 saw some flips happen in the bottom portion of the standings. JoAnne Barber dazzled with this week’s high game (138) and series (405) for the woman, keeping the non-existent competition on their non-existent toes. Meanwhile, for the men, Seth Gunderson brought the heat with a stellar 247 high game, and Matthew Taylor dominated with a high series of 626. Read on for all the flipping details, and check of your bingo results too!

We are now halfway through the Fall 2024 season, and an electrifying eighth week brought no changes to the standings—but the drama on the lanes was palpable! Tension ran high as two matches ended in split results, and one battle saw a staggering number of actual splits, keeping bowlers on edge. JoAnne Barber delivered this week’s top game (152) and series (409) for the women, while Ben Spencer dominated for the men with a high game of 228 and a commanding 614 series. The excitement didn’t stop there—read on for all the details and check out your bingo results too!

A seventh week of Fall 2024 bowling that seemed destined for mundane mediocrity was anything but ordinary, and since Scoot wasn’t there to see what actually happened he’s letting BowlingBot run free with its imagination for this recap. The air crackled with tension, tension that began out on the street where bowlers brawled and threatened each other over limited parking spaces. As the pent-up hostilities spilled onto the lanes, the standings stubbornly refused to shift. Still, Matthew Taylor’s thunderous 248 game and 651 series was a bright spot, marking his reign over the night. Yet, the real drama unfolded beneath the surface, as each team clawed for dominance in a battle of strikes and spares. Read on for the thrilling, albeit somewhat chaotic, details!

The sixth week of Fall 2024 brought intense competition, dramatic comebacks, and heart-wrenching defeats, as the league standings experienced a seismic shift. With the exception of Squid Row, seemingly inknoculated against any ill-effects from a major loss, every team experienced a large swing in the standings. Three teams surged forward, fueled by fiery determination, while two others found themselves slipping down the ranks, unable to fend off their rivals. Personal records fell, excitement soared, and the emotional highs and lows of league bowling were on full display. JoAnne Barber’s high game of 128 and series of 340 secured her the top spot for the woman, while Matthew Taylor’s powerhouse performance earned him a high game of 252 and series of 624 for the men. But that was only the beginning—let’s dive into the thrilling details!

The fifth week of Fall 2024 was filled with triumphs and drama as two teams ascended the standings, while three others faced tough setbacks. JoAnne Barber soared to the top for the woman with the week’s high game of 124 and an impressive 363 series, while AJ Hofmann reigned supreme for the men, crushing a 234 high game and a stunning 607 series. But the biggest story may just be what unfolded on lanes 5 & 6. Read on for the full scoop, and also check out your bingo results!

The fourth week of Fall 2024 brought more than just shifting tides in the standings—it carried the weight of dreams realized and dashed, all beneath a bright full moon that watched over the lanes. As the pins fell, so did hopes, while others soared higher than ever before. JoAnne Barber claimed this week’s high game (151) and series (393) for the woman, while Aaron Barber delivered this week’s high game (227) and series (610) for the men, their performances shining under the lunar glow. Meanwhile, the games themselves were partially eclipsed by the arrival of the Tournament of Champions, igniting 13 weeks of head-to-head bowling drama. But that was just the beginning of the night’s tale. Read on for the gripping details, and be sire to check your Bingo results too!

The third week of Fall 2024 rolled in with anticipation, as one team soared to new heights and another tumbled down the standings. JoAnne Barber made waves with this week’s high game (126) and series (347) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor took center stage for the men with a high game (238) and series (614). Meanwhile, the Tournament of Champions divisions are locked and loaded, ready to bring head-to-head showdowns next week! Let’s dive into the play-by-play drama of this week’s matchups.

The second week of Fall 2024 unfolded with tension and excitement, as one team ascended the ranks while another plummeted. JoAnne Barber dazzled with this week’s high game (127) and series (360) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor dominated for the men with a high game (255) and series (570). But the big story tonight was both a new personal best game and series by Nicholas Knight that played a huge role in his team crushing their competition. Dive into the details to experience the full thrill of the action, and be sure to check out this week’s Bingo results too!

The Fall 2024 season has kicked off with a thunderous start, as six determined teams enter the 16-week battle for the elusive, imaginary championship trophy. With a massive electrical storm outside and electrical issues of our own inside killing the scoreboards just 30 minutes into bowling, the atmosphere was charged as one bowler shattered their personal best game. Meanwhile JoAnne Barber stormed the lanes to claim this week’s high game (113) and series (335) for the woman, while Aaron Barber unleashed a whirlwind performance, taking the men’s high game (200) and series (561). And Bingo was dominated this week by Seth and Buck. Dive into the drama as the pins fell like a flash flood and Lane 1 issues slowed things down like the Royals lightning delay!

Welcome to the Fall 2024 bowling season! We start bowling 2 weeks from tonight, on August 27, same location and same time as usual.

There is still time to submit roster changes, but for the time being all six teams seem to be the same as last time with two exceptions: Ray Scott is sitting this season out, and Nick Kinney is replacing Michael Gordon. Please get team names and any other roster changes to us by this weekend, and if anyone else wants to bowl who did not bowl last season, let Scoot or AJ know ASAP so we can find you a spot! (Reminder: Scoot is out of town most of next week so please try to finalize things by this weekend.)