By Wendy Bauder
While most young men his age are killing time in front of television and video games, Ryan Rittenhouse is practicing to be the world’s next Professional Bowler. Every afternoon Ryan spends at least 90 minutes practicing hook shots and curves, making strikes and picking up spares. It’s been this way for the past two years and the practice is paying off.
“This young man eats, sleeps and breathes bowling,” says Rex Bigelow, Ryan’s personal bowling coach. “In fact, I have to run him off the lanes after seven to nine games, just so he doesn’t hurt his arm or start throwing bad balls. Practice is paramount but throwing a bad ball because of fatigue develops bad habits.”
Rittenhouse first took a liking to the sport just a few years ago when he and his father went bowling one afternoon. Before the day was over, Ryan was signed up to bowl on a junior league with other kids his age and not long after that his parents approached Bigelow to coach Ryan with a future toward the PBA (Professional Bowlers’ Association).
In the case of young Rittenhouse, everything he’s invested in his game until now has finally paid off. On November 17, Ryan added his name to the elite group of men and women who have bowled a perfect game. The punch line is: Ryan is just twelve years old.
“I’ve come close to bowling perfect games lots of times,” said Rittenhouse. “My highest score so far has been a 299.” When asked what went through his head when the scoreboard announced a perfect 300 score, Ryan flashed a dimpled smile and said, “I was just glad to get it over with.”
If the name Bigelow rings a bell, it should. Rex Bigelow is the former coach for Wright State University’s Women’s Bowling Team and owner of Troy Bowl where Rittenhouse hones his bowling skills. He also owns Sherwood Lanes in Troy. Besides keeping an eye on Ryan’s game, Bigelow keeps many other factors in mind, like how quickly his prodigy peaks in competition and how soon he may burn out.
“Being the caliber of bowler that Ryan is, he needs to be challenged to keep his edge,” says Bigelow. “Right now he’s competing in the JTBA (Junior Tournament Bowlers’ Association) against high school juniors and seniors and college age students.”
Ryan is a seventh grader at Tippecanoe Middle School where he plays percussion in the marching band. In two years he’ll be eligible to compete with Tippecanoe’s High School Bowling Team which matches its skills against other local area teams and is a perfect segue to the College Bowling circuit.
Where does the bowling prodigy go from here? Only time and practice will tell.
Troy Bowl is the home to the practice lanes of the Tippecanoe Red Devils Bowling Team. It is located at 1530 McKaig Avenue in Troy.
