Since Covid-19 Has Shut Down The Game Of Bowling In Arizona On March 16. Dylan Taylor, Of Scottsdale, Reflected On His 16 Year Career.
The Desire To Get Better In The Game, Is His Key To Being Successful. He Has 26 300 Games, And 14 800 Series To His Credit.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Pictured Is: Dylan Taylor OF Scottsdale.
Scottsdale, AZ. - - - In his young bowling career, Dylan Taylor, of Scottsdale, has managed to accomplish the following in the game of bowling.
He has rolled 26 perfect games in the valley. With his first one being rolled at Brunswick Via Linda Lanes, now Bowlero Via Linda Lanes, on August 15, 2010. And his most recent coming on February 8, 2020 at Bowlero Kyrene Lanes. He has rolled 14 800 series, and earned the 11-in-a-row award 11 times as well.
As far as tournaments are concerned he has placed third out of 1,000 entries at a National ABT (Amateur Bowlers Tour) tournament in February 2019 in Las Vegas. And he is the defending Division A singles champion from the Metro Phoenix Open Championships in 2019 also. He shot an 801 series in singles to do it, and needed to strike out in the 10th frame of the third game to win the title. 2019 also saw him place in the top 10 of the New Mexico Open. The New Mexico Open is held annually in Rio Rancho, and always draws a stacked field.
"This year has been somewhat slow thus far (compared to last year which was my easiest and most successful and fun ever)," he said, of how the 2019-20 season is going thus far. During a recent interview at Bowlero Via Linda Lanes in Scottsdale. "But, the year is young and there is still plenty of time left. Last year will be tough to beat, but here is to trying."
However, something got in his way this year that he didn't even see coming. And has made the 2020 campaign even more challenging for him.
"Its been really crazy," he said, of the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the game of bowling on March 16. "But, I am hanging in there. I'm still working, which is all I can really ask for right now. Not being able to bowl has really been rough."
But, of all the things that he has accomplished in bowling thus far. Nothing can compare to the honor that he was awarded recently from the Strike Force Tour in Arizona.
"Anybody who knew Lynn could not miss the fiery, competitive attitude that he brought to the lanes. I personally knew Lynn for over 10 years dating back to the old Strike Force Tour (circa the resurrection of the club by Craig Spencer in (2012) and was actually one of the first individuals that got me into tournament bowling," said Taylor, of the annual 'Lynn Arthur Sportsmanship Award' that is awarded to SFT members, that displayed the sportsmanship that Lynn did. "Lynn was never someone who you wanted to bowl a heads-up match against for a title, as most betting men would have pushed all of their chips in his favor. This means a lot to me as I believe that Lynn's attitude from competing against him when much younger helped shaped the competitive profile that I possess today and the respect that I have gained from my peers."
Even though the SFT was not resurrected until 2012. It did not actually have its first tournament until March 2013 at AMF Tempe Lanes in Tempe. It was Lynn Arthur who won the very first SFT event. He would go on to win a handful of SFT titles, and was named the SFT Player of the Year in 2016. There were four nominees for the award at the end of the 2019 season. Among them were: Charlie Price and Ron Gonzales. There were 60 votes cast for the award winner, and Taylor collected the majority of the votes.
"I have been a regular of the SFT, competing almost since its inception in 2013. Personally, I believe that Lynn left a legacy of being one of, if not the persevering individuals to ever compete in the club," said Taylor, of the legacy that Lynn instilled in the club. "Lynn always gave 150 percent in tournaments and never gave up until the very last ball when his squad was over. I strongly believe that his attitude towards competition shaped the competitive culture that these tournaments strongly possess today. There is no doubt that Lynn would have been extremely thrilled of the award named after him. Anybody that knew him well in tournaments would know that he probably would have performed one of his famous jumping moves at the pins.".
For those of you that don't know what the SFT is, it is a weekly bowling club in the valley that travels to a different bowling center every week. One week it could be at AMF McRay in Chandler, and the following week it could be at AMF Union Hills. The club offers three divisions: 185 + above, 184-171, and 170 and below. The club also offers a different sport pattern to bowl on each week as well.
"I won my first title in June of 2013 and my 10th and most recent last September. Besides coming two weeks before my 21st birthday (the money is long gone), it was (and still is) a great feeling knowing that you performed the best out of everybody on that given day," said Taylor, of his success in the SFT. "Personally, it is a satisfying feeling (particularly for a higher average bowler as myself), to win one of these tournaments. As they are handicapped and require a great deal of tenacity and a solid mental game to come out on top. Winning an SFT tournament as a 200 + average bowler requires you to be mentally sharp and astute to faster adjustments than the rest of the field. Which I believe poses a great challenge that I thoroughly enjoy. In general I believe the SFT was so successful in 2012 as it is now. It provides a fair playing environment on fair lane conditions with a very solid payout."
Taylor's first tournament win was actually a youth scholarship tournament at Brunswick Via Linda Lanes when he was 15. He received a small scholarship prize of $500. 12 years or so later, he was in contention of winning a $50,000 prize in a NAT event.
"Whether then or recently," he admits. "I believe that it does become easier to generate the confidence to feel like I can win a tournament, as having more tournament experience and/or wins than another competitor tends to put you in a more favorable position. Regardless, the nerves are still always there and more often than not, becomes a war within yourself to calm down your emotions and keep everything in check."
Taylor, was really Taylor made to be a bowler. He has been bowling in leagues in the valley for 16 years. He first league as a youth bowler was in 2004-05 when he was a member of the Saturday Giga #2 league at Via Linda. He only averaged 122-60 games his first year. The first year he averaged 200 in a league came during the 2007-08 season. He averaged 208-44 games in the Junior All-Stars also at Via Linda. But, according to Bowl.com, the highest average he posted thus far came during the 2016-17 season. He finished with a 239 average for 102 games in the Midweek Men By Virtue League at AMF Union Hills.
"I have been bowling in Phoenix as long as I have been in bowling, for 16 years now. I think the most major change that has happened in the last several years and is really setting the colloquial bar for bowling is the prevalence of both two-handed players and really talented young players," he says, of his 16 years in bowling. "Bowling is undergoing a massive evolutionary change right now, and one that all bowlers need to embrace as the norm. While I clearly lack the power that the majority of younger bowlers possess today. I am so admired by how they have transformed this game."
Like other sports, changes will always occur in the game of bowling, too. But, Taylor is ready to learn how to adapt to these changes.
"I have only lived through one generation of equipment (reactive resin - I was not bowling nor alive in the days of urethane). So, I really never needed to adapt to the equipment per say," he said, of experiencing changes in the game. "However, as my bowling style has changed through out the years, this has required me to adapt in a way. Specifically, as I have become a better player through out the years. I have learned the tricks of surface adjustment and certain types of layouts to try and further educate myself over the game."
But, while he is ready to adapt to the changes that bowling throws at him. He also has a plan on where he would like to see his game be in the next five years as well.
"I think really just still being competitive and mainly just having fun. Bowling is not a career for me, but rather just a way to have fun. Be competitive, meet new people and possibly win some money which just adds to the fun," Taylor says, of his future in bowling. "I would like to try and develop a bit more power in my game in the next few years, but with my career path being the way I want it to go. It might be difficult to find the time needed to make such a commitment. Either way, I will most definitely still be bowling and competing in the next five years and I am looking forward to it all."
As far as seeing where he wants to see the game of bowling be in the next five years - it is very simple. See bowling as a sport in the 2024 Olympics. And like others who bowl and who have bowled before him, there is one thing he would like to accomplish in the game that he hasn't yet.
"One thing that I would like to accomplish in bowling would probably be winning a state championship of any kind. I was really close last year in all-events coming just short of the winner, Greg LaPointe, who happened to be my doubles partner," he said, of a goal he has not reached yet. "But, I felt really good about my performance nonetheless. To me, a solid performance in the city and state events sets yourself apart from the competition and puts you in contention for hall of fame consideration. So, these are the events that I take more seriously. There is no doubt that I will be able to accomplish this sooner rather than later. Many times, it just comes down to getting the breaks that you need."
Every bowler has someone who has helped them out the most in their bowling career. For Taylor, it was Tony Maresca, formerly of AA Action Bowling Supply. Now Bowling Dynaimcs.
"He was very instrumental in providing me with the drive and motivation to keep me practicing to get better," Taylor said, of Maresca. "I tended to give up rather easily when I was younger, so he had always pushed me to stay in there no matter what. When I am not bowling, I work as an accountant for Arizona Public Service. While it can be stressful at times (especially this time of year), it is quite rewarding at the end. I am fortunate that my employer offers a very fair work/life balance that enables me to compete on the weekends and take time off for tournaments when I travel."
So, the next obvious question that was put to him was: how often do you have the opportunity to purchase new equipment.
"I generally buy 1-2 new bowling balls every January before the TAT National tournament in February. My style of play (being a low-rev, high ball speed player) is very conducive to higher-end asymmetrical equipment which seems to generate new releases at the beginning of each year," he said," of his purchases. "As one of my largest tournaments is every February, I always pull the trigger in January to buy and give myself enough time to practice. As for layouts, I am not as particular on this as I am matching up ball surface to cover, but do prefer stacked layouts with longer pin distances whenever possible."
When it comes to having bowled 26 perfect games now, and being able to average 200 on a consistent basis. He has a therory on how he has been able to accomplish this as well.
"My goal has always been to have as many perfect games as my age, and the only way that you can really do that is through persistent dedication and practice to the game. The countless hours of practice that I have put into my game for the last 10-12 years has enabled me to compete at the level that I have throughout these years," he said, of his success. "With this being said, the more that one applies themselves to the game, the easier that achievements such as these become. I have not bowled 26 perfect games by accident."
Now having 16 years invested in the game of bowling. He says it is always fun to look back at where he started from. To where he is today.
"It is quite fun to look back at where I started, averaging 122 in 2004, to today where bowling 122 would make me want to crawl in the corner. I have devoted countless hours to my self-development in the game that has paid dividends for me in the last few years," he said, of the last 16 years. "I am a very hard-working, disciplined person by nature, so I suppose working hard on my bowling just came naturally for me. Looking back at everything, I would never give up the friends and accomplishments that I have gained for anything."
And that my friends, is why he is Taylor made for bowling.
Arizona Bowling News - April 28, 2020