Bowling prodigy is on a roll
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch freshman Kevin Hindman wants to see his high school form a bowling team.
Who can blame him?
Hindman, 15, is leading the Butler County USBC Youth Association this season with a 206 average. He bowled his first career 700 series — a 703 — last Saturday at Family Bowlaway.
And he only bowls once a week.
"I'll do (youth) tournaments when they come up, but besides that, Saturday is the day I bowl," Hindman said.
Now in his 11th year of organized youth bowling, Hindman is only in his third season with the Butler County USBC organization. He bowled previously in leagues at Plaza Lanes in Natrona Heights and Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell.
"They have more scholarship money available in Butler's program, so I went up there," Hindman said. "The coaching at Family (Bowlaway) is phenomenal. They made a difference in my game immediately."
Hindman's average was in the 160s when he first joined the Butler County USBC youth program. He was third among county youths with a 188 average last year.
He bought a new ball this year — a roto-grip cell — and his game took off.
"He began the year averaging over 200 and he's maintained it all along," youth coach Rhonda Schnitzki said. "Kevin is simply a phenomenal bowler. He has the personality and the technique for this sport.
"Nothing bothers him on the lanes. He doesn't need to have perfect quiet. He knows how to focus. He may only officially bowl once a week, but call him right now and ask him to go bowling — he'll be reaching for his shoes."
Hindman rolled a 690 series earlier this season before finally getting his 700. It was the first 700 series by a youth bowler at Family Bowlaway in two years.
Neil Morris of Prospect, who bowls at Sherwood Lanes, is second among county youths with a 195 average. Family Bowlaway's youth program has 165 bowlers while the Butler County USBC Youth Association has 450 members.
Hindman's parents, Jim and Michelle Hindman, have been longtime league bowlers and still participate in a mixed league on Saturday nights.
"They asked me if I wanted to try bowling when I was little. I never stopped," Hindman said.
His long-range goals include getting a scholarship to bowl in college and possibly to turn pro.
"That's why he wants Knoch to start a bowling team," his mother said of a potential bowling scholarship. "We're going to talk to the board and see if we can generate interest."
Hindman has yet to bowl a perfect game. He's gotten as many as 10 strikes in a row to begin a game and his career-high game is 289.
"He is not your average teenager," Schnitzki said. "Kevin is well-mannered and he's more like an adult than a child. H's not cocky at all when he does well.
"In fact, he likes to help other kids in our association with their game. Kids who he has helped have beaten him out for scholarship only in tournaments. ... It's tough for Kevin in those events because he doesn't get any kind of handicap. But he participates anyway."
Hindman said his father, who carries a 180 average, has helped teach him the game over the years.
"Our youth coaches have helped me with a lot of little miscellaneous stuff, like slowing down on my approach and keeping my arm straight," he said. "I'm very surprised with how my game's taken off and I feel like I can do better."
