By Tom Rohrer
Going into their approach at the bottom of the lane, Thurston County bowlers Caleb Hathaway and Sydney Robertson focus on their surroundings.
Little thought is given to the outcome of their “roll.” Instead, their attention lies on positioning and technique.
“It’s just you out there so I have to rely on myself,” said Robertson, a 17-year-old senior at Timberline High School. “Every movement is calculated and at the same time instinctive. It’s hard to explain.”
“When I’m comfortable, I’m confident,” said Hathaway, who graduated from Capital High School in June of 2013. “To get in that mindset, I find my spot on the lane and just get away from everyone. I play my game and I don’t let anyone get in my head.”
The approach from the two bowlers appears to be working, as both Robertson and Hathaway came away victorious at the Youth Match Game Tournament held in Olympia the first weekend in March.
Hosted by the Thurston County USBC at Aztec Lanes, Westside Lanes, and Tumwater Lanes, the tournament featured 21 of the best male and female youth bowlers in the area.
Hathaway won the event for the second consecutive year, while Robertson’s victory was her first individual tournament championship in 13 years of competition.
Robertson rolled a total of 1109, giving her the slight edge over second place finisher Alex Putzier of Black Hills, who rolled a 1061. Hathaway’s victory came in dominant fashion as his score of 1213 put him comfortably ahead of Ryan DeFazio’s score of 1089.
A win is a win, regardless of the margin of victory, and it comes to no surprise that both bowlers have similar feelings when reflecting on their victories.
“I was third place after qualifying but after I got the lead Sunday I never looked back,” said Hathaway, who works at Westside Lanes in Olympia. “I’m a pretty humble guy, so I’m chalking it up as another victory but I was in a slump the last month or so. When I won the South Sound Junior Masters (on Feb. 23), I just got in a groove.”
“It was my first time winning by myself, so it was a very surreal feeling,” Robertson said. “The whole time I was bowling, I didn’t pay any attention to who was winning or losing. I went there to bowl like I always bowl and that was enough.”
The foundation for Robertson and Hathaway’s victories was created long ago on the lanes across Thurston County.
Robertson’s father, Drew, has been bowling for fifty years and began taking Sydney to Aztec Lanes when she turned four. Soon after she became involved in youth tournaments and league play and eventually became a four year member of the Timberline High School varsity bowling team.
“It all started at Aztec Lanes doing a Saturday bowling league,” Robertson said. “(Bowling), it’s just always been a part of my life. I can’t imagine not playing.”
Though he now shares the same passion as Robertson, Hathaway’s love for bowling took time to develop.
“My buddy on my baseball team asked me to fill in a spot on his team in third grade. To tell you the truth, I hated (bowling) and I would pout every time I went,” Hathaway said. “Now, I can’t get enough of it.”
Following his victory in Olympia, Hathaway traveled to Kelso last weekend for the Western Sectional tournament of the Washington State USBC Youth Pepsi Championship. Competing in the Under-20 division, Hathaway bowled a 1240 over the course of the tournament to finish tied for 11th place. The performance earned Hathaway a spot in the USBC state championship, which will be held at Pacific Lutheran University May 17-18.
“I want to compete at the youth level the rest of the year and make the transition to adult competition the next year,” said Hathaway, who was an assistant coach for the inaugural Capital High School girls bowling team this last winter. “I hope to get to regionals someday, get a ball sponsor and eventually get to the World Series of Bowling.”
Like Hathaway, Robertson’s bowling career is far from over. After graduating from Timberline in June, Robertson will attend Washington State University, where she plans on joining former THS teammate Kelsi Mayther on the university’s club team.
Until then, Robertson will compete in her once a week league play and is likely to be selected for the state all-star team in April. Joining her every step of the way is her father, as the two share a lifelong bond through the sport.
“Every tournament, practice or league game I go to, my dad always gives me a pep talk before,” said Robertson, who led Timberline to a second place finish at the WIAA State meet in February. “It really boosts my confidence in my ability. Then when we get there, he gives me space, lets me bowl. He’s the perfect instructor and friend for the sport.”
The only bowler in his family, Hathaway takes on a coaching roll similar to Drew during his extensive time at Westside Lanes.
“If I see someone struggling or looking for help, I will give them pointers, techniques, whatever they want,” he said. “It’s important bowlers learn the proper way as soon as they possibly can and I enjoy it because it gets more people involved in the sport.”
After hundreds of practices, league matches and tournaments over the course of the last decade, Robertson and Hathaway know their time in the sport isn’t ending soon.
“It’s a game where anyone can be good or great at it, but it all depends on how much work you put into it,” said Robertson, whose average sits between 170-180. “No one can be born a great bowler. Everyone starts in the same place and I think I enjoy that mutual respect between bowlers. We all know we’ve worked hard to get to this point.”
“I’m an easy going guy, but I’m competitive,” noted Hathaway, a 219 average bowler. “Bowling is easy going, but it’s still very competitive. Everyone who bowls around here, we’re friends but we want to beat each other. That’s what makes bowling different than other sports. You have competition, but there is that friendly atmosphere around it that really makes it fun.”
For more information on the Thurston County USBC, visit http://tcusbc.blogspot.com/
