By BILL SNIER
snieronbowling.com
AKRON —As secretary-treasurer of two Summit County-based senior traveling leagues, Jim Mitchell knew his options were limited as more and more older bowlers expressed interest in joining.
“I went to our league bowlers and asked them to give me some ideas,” Mitchell said. “But rumors started out there that we were trying to bring in only superstars. I’ve got a pretty good reputation and I just confronted people … don’t accuse me of doing anything underhanded.
“My goal is to make our league the best possible senior traveling league in Ohio.”
So change will be coming for the 2024-25 fall-winter season.
While the Monday Tri-County Senior Travel League will remain the same, change will be coming to the Wednesday Senior All-Star Traveling League.
“There is a lot going on,” Mitchell said, adding the two leagues now will have standardized rules:
- League fees will be $20, with sponsor fees standing at $100;
- Starting times for both leagues will be at 11 a.m., with four-man teams and either five- or six-bowler rosters; and
- Age limits in both leagues will be 55 and older, with women permitted.
Now, we come to the big change for the Wednesday league — going to two divisions due to the volume of teams.
While the Monday league was at 18 teams a year ago, the Wednesday league now has gone from 24 to 28 teams at this point — outgrowing certain bowing centers.
“The Wednesday league is so phenomenal … we have over 20 hall of famers in that league,” Mitchell said. “The league average last year was 193, and with 96 players over 24 teams, that’s high.
“There are a lot of teams that have no chance, and handicap didn’t seem to balance it out. We want to have a competitive balance, and we don’t want to drop people who have been in this league for 30 years. So, we came up with the two-division aspect.”
The Wednesday league will be split into Gold and Silver divisions, with the top four averages on each team determining placement — the top half in league averages being in the Gold division, and the lower half in Silver. Teams will compete only against their own division.
“Another reason is the houses we bowl in. We have one that has just 16 lanes and three others with 24. Under those circ*mstances, we can’t add teams, and we feel we owe it to them to stay,” said Mitchell, who added “people are knocking on my door wanting to get in.”
The four smaller centers — North Woods, Kent, Clutch and Apollo 3 — will each host either the gold or silver divisions; two centers per day (both divisions bowling on the same day). The larger centers — Spins Bowl Akron, Spins Bowl Kent, Park Centre, Roseland, Station 300 and potentially Charger — will host the entire league when they are scheduled. This will allow the Wednesday league, which will travel to four counties this season, to grow to a maximum of 32 teams. The Monday league will remain at 18 or possibly less, Mitchell added.
“Senior bowling is growing at a competitive level. We had outstanding bowling programs when I was at the University of Akron and with other leagues in this area, like the Budweiser and Stark County Miller Lite league in the 1980s,” Mitchell said. “But these people are now in their mid-50s and they still want to compete at a high level. We have to make room for them.”
Despite the majority of the league’s players being in their 60s and 70s, the mean average still was high. The Monday league’s mean average was around 183.
At the time of this interview, the split team average was at 770 for four bowlers in the two Wednesday divisions.
Although the Wednesday league will utilize two centers every four weeks, when the entire league bowls at one center, scheduling will alternate pairs between Gold and Sliver division matchups.
“We know people want to maintain that camaraderie that they have built up over the years … they want to bowl with or near certain people,” Mitchell said. “This should help that.”
The Wednesday league rolloff will include four teams — the half winners from both the Silver and Gold divisions. The winners will not bowl for an overall title.
“It will affect the prize fund … it has to,” Mitchell said, adding money will be split among the two divisions equally. “But, in the long run, we think it will benefit the lower-average players.”
Mitchell admits he will be taking on added responsibilities. Although he will bowl full-time Mondays, he will become the fifth man on his Wednesday team.
“It opens me up to be able to do more things,” Mitchell said. “I may have to go between houses when we split up in the schedule.”
The divisions will remain the same throughout the season; there will be no re-rating after the first half.
“For our first year of doing this, we want to take the time to evaluate it over a season,” Mitchell said.
Also to be determined is how side action — jackpots, brackets, etc. — will be handled with the league at two centers on the same day.
Mitchell hopes to have items ironed out when the leagues hold their meetings. The Monday league will meet at noon Aug. 19 at Station 300 Akron; Wednesday will meet at noon Aug. 14, also at Station 300.
Monday league play will begin Aug. 26 at North Woods Lanes in Macedonia, with Wednesday beginning either Aug. 21 or 31 at Spins Bowl Akron,, depending on a league vote.
Teams or individuals still interested in participating in either league should contact Mitchell via email at: jimmitchell324@gmail.com or via phone at 951-551-6327.
“I think we can make this work,” Mitchell added. “I think we have the right person in charge. We’re willing to take the chance to grow.”
TOURNAMENTS TO CONTINUE
Mitchell and Mark Boron conducted two senior tournaments a year ago at Park Centre Lanes in North Canton. Despite the league changes and Boron being forced to back away due to becoming the boys bowling coach at Perry High School, Mitchell plans for them to continue.
“We have to do it, and we still want to do it,” Mitchell said. “But we probably will be limited to just two per half.”
The Friday events were successful last season. Mitchell hopes to add new formats, possibly trio, four-person team and singles to doubles events. Forrest Friley will be assisting in place of Boron. He still plans to utilize Park Centre, if possible.
More will be announced later.
