LOVELAND — There are exactly 520 reasons why a Loveland man will never forget October 2008. Starting Oct. 6, Clark Frison, 22, bowled four 300-games in a four-week onslaught of strikes and 520 toppled pins. He now has six this year.
“It’s always a special thing,” said Frison, a 2004 graduate of Loveland High School. “I mean, I can remember the first time I shot 300. I remember on the last ball I was shaking, hardly focused.
“Now, I’ve done it 16 times. I don’t have the nervousness that I used to have, but when I do it, it’s still the greatest feeling to be perfect in one game.”
Bowling a 300 is nothing new to Frison — he’s bowled 16 since he was 15 years old — but his one-month streak might even be a record in Loveland.
“Four in a month, I know has never been done in the history of bowling in Loveland, and that’s even more impressive,” said Tom Crites, a former Professional Bowlers Association pro who co-owns Sweetheart Lanes, where Frison bowls.
“If you see Clark throw a strike, it’s different than the average person throwing a strike. It’s much more powerful.”
All 16 of Frison’s career 300-games are recognized by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) because they came during league play at sanctioned bowling alleys.
Crites has been coaching Frison since he saw the young phenom bowl at Sweetheart Lanes as a 14-year-old in the youth leagues.
“I just saw that he had a really good release, especially for someone at a young age. He’s just honed those skills,” said Crites, who during his pro career earned five league titles, two PBA majors and rookie of the year honors in 1985. “He does all the work, I just offer suggestions. It’s easy to coach somebody who does what you ask them to do.”
Frison, who works at Sweetheart Lanes with Crites, also bowled one 800-series during his October tear. An 800-series is earned when a bowler scores an 800 or better in a series of three games — the number of games played in league matches. Crites said an 800-series is 10 times more difficult to achieve than a 300.
Wearing two maroon and silver rings from the USBC commemorating past 300-games, Frison credits his recent play to an elevated sense of focus.
“Mentally, I stepped up my game and started to focus a lot more,” he said. “I’ve been, I don’t want to say lucky, but kind of a little lucky.”
Frison is eyeing the chance to compete professionally in the Professional Bowlers Association like Crites did from 1985-93.
Frison is looking for sponsors so he can travel and compete in PBA-sanctioned events.
“I’d like to start out in the regional tour just so I can get experience. They have a different bowling experience and a different atmosphere for bowling,” Frison said.
Crites said he thinks Frison has what it takes to be on the pro tour, but it won’t be easy.
“The difference is experience. Guys on tour are not any better physically than Clark, but you have to get out there and get experience,” Crites said. “You’re going out there with little experience so you have to go through the school of hard knocks and still be able to keep your head.”
Frison plays with a style that fits the prototype for success in today’s game, Crites said.
“In the modern-day game, it’s about generating power on your bowling ball, which is rotation and ball speed,” he said.
Crites knows from experience how dangerous Frison is as an opponent. Crites and Frison often bowl against one another in league play.
Frison said he relishes the challenge from his coach.
“He’s my competition here,” he said. “There’s a few other bowlers here that do pretty well, but we kind of have our own little rivalry, so it makes it fun.”
