The Fall 2024 season reaches its thrilling conclusion, with Squid Row finally, and we do mean finally, clinching this season's championship title! It's a triumph for the team that should have locked this up two weeks ago, making the extended wait a bit exasperating and a little embarrassing for the squid squad. Next week, we'll gather at our usual time to name award winners, distribute prize money, and enjoy a 9-pin-tap fun night. But first, let's dive into the events of this stagnated finale, which, despite no shifts in the standings, delivered plenty of drama due to the fact that every game was close and every single game across all three matchups was decided by the last 1-2 rollers in the 10th frame! Furthermore, once the last pair of lanes darkened, came the realization that 5 of the 6 teams ended the season with winning records. Along the way, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (128) and series (376) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor claimed the men’s high game (248) and series (688). Read on for all the juicy details!
Finale, Finally!
Yoink!
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!
Gobble Gobbowl
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.
Second Place is Tasting Tangy
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.
Dustin the Win(d)
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!
Week 11 RoboRecap
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 Halloween Episode: Murders on the Lanes
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, bowlers began to vanish...
Bottoms Up
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!
Split Happens
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!
Did you hear the parking lot is closed?
How Scoot imagines bowling went down
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.
Topsy-Turvy
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 ink-noculated 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! (And also check out your bingo results!)
Dol-Fin-Tastic!
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!
Moonlight Sonatabowl
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!
Debatably Good Bowling
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.
GoodKnight!
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!
It was a Dark and Stormy Frame
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!
Squidiculously Dolphinished
In a nail-biting finale fit for the history books, the Spring 2024 league bowling season has crowned its ultimate victor: Squid Row -- a fact that we have actually already known since week 14. But we aren't quite finished yet -- next week we will meet at our usual time to name all the award winners and hand out prize money, followed by 9-pin-tap fun night. The final week saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. One bowler roll a new personal best game. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (149) and series (393) for the woman. As for the men, Kent Harms snagged this week's high game with a 254, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor with a 626. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Season #50 is Nearly Over!
We're closing in on the conclusion of our 50th bowling season, with only two weeks left to go (and only one that counts). While the standings remained as sturdy as a stubborn 10-pin that refused to fall despite rocking to the limits of the laws of physics, the battle on the lanes was anything but predictable. Except, predictably, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (159) and series (422) for the women. Not as predictable, Seth Gunderson earned this week's high game (258) and series (633) for the men that some might eye with a bit of an asterisk due to being pre-bowled but it was all on the up and up. Meanwhile, Tournament of Champions is officially down to its final eight bowlers, who each win extra cash and will face each other next week competing for two even bigger cash prizes! Oh, and lest we forget, somebody (not Seth) achieved a new personal best game and series. Read on to find out who!
Squidlocked!
The 14th week of bowling rolled in with all the intensity of a well-oiled lane oiling machine, and while the standings seemed stagnant, the post-bowling scores revealed seismic shifts beneath the surface. Cue the fanfare and confetti, because on this auspicious occasion, Squid Row has officially clinched the championship! Can we also get a round of applause for JoAnne Barber, who dazzled the woman with a high game of 137 and a series of 366? And let's not forget the gents, with Dustin Schmeltz nabbing the high game at 247 and Matthew Taylor securing the high series with a whopping 623! Now, onto the dramatic recount of the lanes!
Keep Out Of Harms’ Way
In the thunderous lanes of the thirteenth week of Spring 2024, the air was electric with anticipation as the beasts of the lanes clashed. Leading the charge was none other than the legendary Kent Harms, whose name alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of his opponents. As the pins trembled in fear, Harms unleashed his unparalleled skill, claiming both the high game (257) and series (683) of the week -- both new personal bests, rewriting the annals of bowling history with each thunderous roll of the ball. In fact his series is also the new league high series for the season.
