Tim Borrow Becomes The Latest Member Of The Mesa Metro Association Hall Of Fame.
He Was Inducted For Bowling Ability On October 24, 2020.
Pictured Is: Leslie Marsh And Tim Borrow.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Mesa, AZ. - - - If the 2019-20 bowling season was a normal year in Arizona. The Mesa Metro Association (MMA), would have had already held its annual meeting on May 15. But, the 2019-20 bowling season has been anything but normal in Mesa, and the rest of the United States for that matter.
Thanks to a virus called Covid-19, which started to turn up in communities across America shortly after the first of the year. It raised real chaos in the U.S. As thousands of citizens in the country became infected with the disease and some eventually passed away from it as well. Our economy took a financial hit from Covid-19, too, which also included the wide, wide world of sports. Bowling was one of those wide, wide world of sports that was affected from Covid-19.
"Bowling this year has been an effort. Even futile at times," said MMA President Mike Barrett, on how the 2020-21 season has gone for the MMA thus far. "We are really hoping that some sense of normal will return in 2021".
So, with that being said, fast forward to October 24, some five months and nine days after the originally scheduled meeting was supposed to be held. For five MMA bowlers, it was a day in which they thought would never get here, but they are glad it had finally arrived.
"I was pleasantly surprised. I received an email from MMA Manager Leslie Marsh, that I was going to be inducted into the MMA Hall of Fame," said MMA Member Tim Borrow, who was elected into the hall of fame for bowling ability this year. "I very much appreciate having my bowling accomplishments being recognized."
Other MMA members who were recognized for their accomplishments on the lanes this year where: 11 and Under Boy and Girl Bowlers of the Year Josh Sawyer and Bryn Widows. And 12 and Older Boy and Girl Bowlers of the Year Nick Berhorst and Stacey Lamb. The meeting itself, took place at the American Legion Post #26 in Mesa.
Getting elected into a bowling associations hall of fame, is not something that is just passed down to you. You have to earn your stripes on the lanes, and hope that someone will notice the accomplishments you achieved as a bowler. You then, have to take the time out to fill out an application. And hope the local associations board votes to approve the nomination. In this case, Tim got lucky that someone he bowled with in league noticed his achievements.
"Yes, I knew," said Tim, on being nominated by now fellow HOF Don Caron. "I bowled on the same team with Don for a couple of years in the Bob Brown Classic League (the league bowls on Friday morning at Bowlero Mesa). "He had asked me if I would be interested in filling out the paperwork. Again, I very much feel gratified to have my bowling accomplishments recognized."
Bowling in Arizona was shut down on March 16, and did not begin to reopen in the valley until May 15. When bowling did reopen in the valley on May 15, it had to follow guidelines set by the CDC.
"We pretty much stayed home, took the precautions when we did go out. We did need to take a trip back to Michigan for my mother-in-laws funeral, but, took the same precautions traveling cross country," said Tim, on how he has been dealing with Covid-19. "It was interesting to see how each hotel/business was offering protections. With all that has gone on this year , it was a bright spot for the end of the year for me and my wife. (being inducted into the MMA Hall)".
The Bob Brown Classic League, was one of those leagues that was shut down two weeks early at the end of the 2020 season. Because of Covid-19.
"I think is was. Most of us haven't gone thru a pandemic like this before and didn't, or still don't, know ramifications of the COVID. Now that we are back bowling, I think most people are taking this seriously and wearing masks when in groups," said Tim, of Arizona shutting down bowling when it did. "I was having an up and down year before the shut down, with back issues and a tendon problem with my arm. So, for me, to be shut down was a good thing."
Tim and his wife Marsha, moved to Arizona from Davison, MI., (just outside of Flint), in December of 2005. He had a cousin who lived in Arizona, and who introduced him to Tom Boyle and Paul Mossuto in the Metro 880 league, which still bowls on Thursday nights at Bowlero Mesa as well. Tim subbed for their team a few times in 2005, and became a full-time team member in 2006. According to Bowl. com, Tim had averaged 209 for 30 games during his first year in the league.
If Tim was worried about having the numbers needed to get into the MMA hall, he didn't need to. He has rolled six 800 series, 200 700 series, 16 300 games, and four 299's during his career.
"I guess I hadn't really thought about them in respect to the hall of fame, until Don mentioned it," he said, of the numbers he posted during his career to get nominated for the hall. "I think the most memorable score was the back-to-back 300 games, that I rolled in the Metro 880 on April 9, 2015. (he finished with a 834 series). "My wife, Marsha, was there bowling in a women's league. So, she was able to witness it. And the rest of the bowlers who were behind the bowlers circle cheering me on, meant a lot to me, too".
He has averaged 200 or better for the past 20 years also. His highest average of 226 for 105 games, came during the 2008-09 season. When he bowled in the Construction A Men's League at Bowlero Gilbert.
"It has meant a lot to be inducted into the MMA hall. I don't think it will change my perspective of bowling when going into a bowling alley moving forward," he says, of his perspective of the sport. Now that he is a member of the MMA Hall: "I think it will just mean a lot to be included with all of the previous inductees. To be honest, no, I don't feel I have the numbers needed to be considered for the Arizona St. Hall of Fame. I feel I would need to bowl and have good results in more tournaments to be considered."
He does not have a magic formula, on why he has been able to consistently average 200 or better for the last 20 years in leagues either.
"I guess for me, I've always made it a challenge to keep my average up there year after year," he says, on being able to average 200 or higher every year. "I've always been pretty consistent and accurate, plus I have had my fair share of luck."
Tim worked in engineering for various manufacturing companies most of his adult working life. Except for the first two years he lived in Arizona, he designed and sold kitchens for Home Depot. He retired in December 2017 from a manufacturing company in Phoenix, APSM Systems. Since retiring, he admits it has helped him become more competitive on the lanes. And it has enabled him to bowl in a couple of senior leagues in the valley.
"I've bowled in leagues since I was 17, and have bowled continuously since then. I did have a handful of 300 games, and a couple of 800 series in Michigan," he said, of his early years. During the 1998-99 season, for example, he averaged 203 for 90 games in the Fisher II League at Nightingale Lanes in Flint. "I did not roll my first 300 game until I was 44. I guess I was a slow starter. But, I always carried a pretty good average, and could get a strike when we needed to have one."
If there was one big difference he noticed from bowling in leagues in Arizona, compared to bowling in leagues in Michigan. It would be this:
"Bowling out here is a little different, as there is bowling available year round," he said, of the climate change. "The Flint area did not have a lot of summer leagues available, because nobody really wanted to be inside when the weather was nice outside."
Every bowler needs a support group to lean on, when the going gets tough on the lanes. For Tim, it is a no brainer on who he turns to when it comes to support.
"I usually look to Marsha," he said, of his support group. "She has seen me bowl in leagues and tournaments. When something does not look right and I'm struggling on the lanes, she knows what to say to pick me up. Besides Tom and Paul, when I first moved out here. I also bowl with a good group of guys including Mike DeCarlo and Steve Steele. They also know what to say when it comes to making adjustments on the lanes."
When it comes to getting the best piece of advice he got in bowling, he didn't have to go very far to get this either.
"Again, it was from Marsha," he said, of the advice he got. "That advice was: 'just bowl and quit thinking so much.'"
In order for him to reach his next goal in bowling, that being elected to the Arizona State Hall of Fame. He feels he just needs to stay healthy, and continue to enjoy going to the bowling center to bowl. That being either a practice session, or league play.
"Being elected into the MMA hall of fame, was something I was really not expecting to happen and its a very big accomplishment," he said, of his enshrinement. "I think I would just like to be able to continue to bowl and still enjoy it."
So, don't be surprised if he does not reach his next plateau in bowling. Sometime in the not to distant future.
Other Accomplishments From MMA Bowlers In 2019-20
*300 Games
Michael Bailey, 3. Johnathan Ferrell, 2. Steven Gerken, 2. Steve Jones, 2. Bryan Mitchell, 2. Chris Mueller, 2. Chris Weyrauch, 2.
*800 Series
Danny Lowis, 846. Justin Pulter, 843. Dan Quilt, 837. Aaron Scott, 835. Will Nedry, 834.
*High Averages Youth
Hunter Mayes, 228. Max Premeau, 207. Madison Holman, 199. Justin Thompson, 199. Joshua Vossler, 194.
*High Average Female
Savahna Porter, 212. Christina Niles, 209. Kimberly Brinkley, 206. Traci Boyle, 206. Jill Griego, 206
*High Average Male
Seth Greinermiller, 236. Michael Bailey, 235. William Nedry, 234. Mike Ramsey, 234. Devyn Scotford, 234.
*Source 2019 - 2020 Mesa Metro Association Yearbook.
State Of Arizona Bowling News - November 5, 2020.