October 30, 2015 at 2:31 p.m.
Rhinelander bowler takes top spot in youth tournament
Rhinelander bowler takes top spot in youth tournament
By By Cory Dellenbach-
"It's a lot more than just putting your fingers in the ball and walking up and throwing it down the lane," says Mike Bourcier, bowling coach for Rhinelander's middle- and high school-level club teams. "It's a science, there's physics and geometry. Just like any other sport, you have to have good form, have to have timing. Everything has to be in line for it to work."
It all worked for Schneider at the Jason Elliott Memorial Youth Tournament on Oct. 17 when the Rhinelander eighth-grader took first in the handicap division.
"It was tough," Schneider said of the day-long tournament. "I had a blister by the time I got to the 10th frame of my last game. I was tired too."
Schneider won the first round of the tournament at Dale's Weston Lanes in Wausau, rolling games of 195, 170 and 175 for a 540 series. The next three rounds were all single games. He finished third in the Round 2 with a 171, second in Round 3 with a 189 and then rolled a 183 in the final round to take first.
"It was exciting," Schneider said. "I've been in that tournament for three years. My first year I got fourth, second year I got second and now this year I took first. It was a lot of fun."
Bourcier has seen Schneider become more consistent and become a spare shooter.
"He was executing his spares pretty good and then threw the strikes too," Bourcier said of Schneider's performance at the tournament. "He had good form and everything was working for him. It was really good seeing him do so well."
Schneider, 13, started bowling in the junior league at Hodag Lanes five years ago and then joined the middle school team when he got to sixth grade.
"My first year I didn't know anything at all and threw a straight ball all the time," Schneider said. "Over the years I've gotten better and my coach has taught me to curve my ball and then it gets in the pocket better."
Two other Rhinelander bowlers also placed at the tournament. Mackenzie Bourcier placed fourth in the girls' scratch division and Jacob Wagler took eighth in the handicap division.
Schneider said he plans to take part in other tournaments as the season goes along, but doesn't know which ones yet.
"I'll probably be going to more, but have to find out where they are first," he said.
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