I started bowling when I was 4 years old. My father believed that I must be right handed, as everyone else in the family who bowled (which included my mother and older brother) was right handed. After a full game of 3 counts and less, my father decided to let me try with my left hand, and I've been bowling that way for 29 years since.

I started bowling in youth leagues when I was 6; I learned how to bowl with Columbia white dots and yellow dots. My high average in youth leagues was 185 my senior year, when I also had the good fortune of winning $1,000 in scholarship tournaments. I came in first at one scholarship tournament at Westover Air Force base in Chicopee, MA for $500, and I came in second at the Coca-Cola state finals at Westgate Lanes in Brockton, MA for another $500.

I had the good fortune of bowling for UMass Lowell for four years in college (1989-1993), which gave me the opportunity to travel up and down the east coast and mid-west bowling in a series of tournaments and conference matches. I won the ACUI Division I finals my junior year of college, being one of only 2 people in the finals to average over 200 for the 10 game block (210) at Northampton Bowl (Northampton, MA). This qualified me for the national championship held in Toledo, Ohio at the same time as the Masters. I lost heavily to a gentleman on the pro tour named Chris Barnes . . .

Most embarrassing moment?

My most embarrassing moment bowling probably occurred in the classic league held at Playaway Lanes about 8 years ago. I had one game where I finished with 6 out of the last 7 strikes in a row for a 250 game . . . that would have been a 260 game had I not thrown a gutter in the 12th frame.

Most frustrating moment?

What frustrates me most is to start a game with the first 8 or 9 strikes only to leave a single pin, costing me a 300 game (which I've yet to see in my career).  I've had nights where I've thrown 16 or 17 strikes in a row, just not in one game.  This past summer alone, I shot three 279 games and a 280, with a single pin costing me that elusive 300 every time.  Oh well.  Good things come to those who wait, right?

Proudest moments?

One of my proudest moments in bowling was missing the team van that was headed to a conference match in Newburgh, NY in the fall of 1990.  I ended up having to drive 3-1/2 hours by myself, only to beat the team bus by 45 minutes and throw my career high game (290), and average 225 for the conference match.

Another proud moment was watching fellow Factor X teammate Mike Caouette compete in the ACUI state finals the year after I won the tournament.  Mike threw his first sanctioned 300 game in the first game of the tournament on the same pair I bowled on the year before, and like myself, ended up winning the title.

Goals

My goals are to remain a solid 210+ average bowler, to concentrate on making each and every shot in each and every frame count, and to finally earn my 300 and 800 rings.