Pictured Is: Masen Hirsch, center. With his parents. Mom Amber left, and Dad Brian. Photo Courtesy Of B3.
Editors Note: At the age of 13, Masen Hirsch, has the junior bowling world taken by storm. Atleast in the State of Wisconsin. And hopefully, within the next few years, he can take his success locally to the national level. He started bowling in 2017, and has built up quite a resume already.
In the junior bowling programs in Wisconsin, he has accomplished the following: He is a 7 X Pepsi Youth Champion. A 5 X Kenosha KUSBC Youth City Champion. Wisconsin WYBT Rookie of the Year. 2 X WYBT Champion. 3 X Gabe Savaglio Youth/Adult Scholarship Champion. 3rd Annual Parry/Marescalco Jr. Open Champion.
When he started bowling junior leagues during the 2017-18 season at Sheridan Lanes, he only averaged 82 for 28 games in the Guppies league. At the end of the 2024-25 season, he has recorded his highest average to date. A 145 for 72 games in the Dudes league also at Sheridan. And 157 for 33 games in the Masters of Summer league at Castle Lanes.
If the name Hirsch sounds familiar to those in the West Valley, it should. Masen's dad, Brian, lived in Phoenix for 30 years, and they now call Salem, WI home. Salem is located in Kenosha County, near the Illinois border.
Brian got his start in bowling by working at Fair Lanes and AMF bowling centers in Phoenix, before going into the hotel industry. Brian says, he always wanted to work in bowling at its highest level. He is currently does merchandising work for a living. But he is also still a contractor for the USBC and the PBA.
Compiled BY
Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
1. Q. What and where was your first experience walking into a bowling center and throwing a ball for the first time.
A I was maybe three or four years old the first time I bowled, and it was at Let It Roll Bowl as my mom worked there.
2. Q. After experiencing bowling for the first time, did you get hooked on the game right away. Or did it take you a while to get hooked into the game.
A. Since my mom, dad, and brothers all bowled, I always wanted to do it too.
3. Q. What was your first positive accomplishment in bowling? That got you hooked into the game for good.
A. I would have to say throwing my first strike and I was so proud of myself.
4.Q. When did you start bowling junior leagues. What was it like throwing your first strike and bowling your first 200 game. When and where did you get your first 200 game.
A. I started in 2017 at Sheridan Lanes in the Guppies league. I felt so proud of myself because I worked hard and my first and second 200 games were back-to-back in a tournament.
5.Q. How long have you been bowling junior leagues now. What is it about the competition level that is making you thrive in in junior bowling.
A. I started in 2017, so I have been bowling for nine years. Bowling with better bowlers brings out my focus and bowling on sport patterns have really helped my concentration on the lanes.
6.Q. Growing up in a bowling family, what is the topic of discussion like, when you are all together.
A. When I am at league or a tournament, mom and dad want me to just go out there and have fun. That doesn't mean that dad and I don't bump heads sometimes.
7.Q. How do you all, encourage each other to bowl well and stick with the game.
A. My parents want me to have fun and I love that they are behind me all the time at events. When we are out of town, we try to go somewhere fun or try to meet up with other families to go to dinner.
8.Q. Where did you inherit your talent from. How do your parents keep you focused on the goals you want to achieve.
A. Being left-handed, I would have to say my Uncle Erik, but dad is the one that helps me with what ball to throw and where to play on the lanes.
9.Q. What are some of the early goals you have achieved, and what are the goals that you are working on that you want to achieve.
A. When I joined the Wisconsin Youth Bowlers Tour, I wanted to win a tournament and in my first season I did and earned Rookie of the Year (This was the second season of the tour so I became the first ever RoY for the handicap division and currently have two titles on that tour.) I also wanted to win a city title, and I did and now currently have five. The goal we are currently working on is winning a national tournament even though I have a second and third at the USBC Youth Open and I would like to win an Eagle.
10.Q.What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far. How does that accomplishment keep you focused to accomplish bigger things.
A. I would say being the first ever Rookie of the Year on the WYBT and cashing at Junior Gold in Green Bay last year for my first time is pretty cool. With these accomplishments behind me proves that I have what it takes to take on anything.
11.Q. If you don't bowl well in a tournament or league, how do you pick yourself up to do better the next time.
A.I've learned to move past a bad shot and if I have a bad league/tournament, we just move onto the next one. Sometimes I just need a few minutes to myself to relax.
12.Q. At your young age, who has given you the best piece of advice, that has stuck with you thus far. Has the advice helped.
A. Dad told me that bad shots will happen and to move on and never give up. I try to give hi fives to everyone on the pair to keep them in a good mood.
13 Q. What is it like bowling in Wisconsin, and have you ever experienced bowling in Phoenix.
A. Wisconsin bowling is different as we have all the seasons, so in the winter the lanes don't hook as much as they do in the Spring/Summer. We went back home a few years ago and I bowled the JBT Doubles with my brother Corbin.
14.Q.What is it like being left-handed, and are you surprised that you got as good as you did. As fast as you did.
A. It's cool because there aren't many and so the oil doesn't go away as fast. Not surprised because I have a few great people helping me with my game. Dad, Coach Dan Mordini, and Matt Poetker who drills all my stuff at Pinpoint Pro Shop.
15.Q.Junior bowling has a lot going for it these days. How do you decide what events you are going to bowl. Do the scholarship funds push you harder to succeed even more. There are a lot of youth events these days, but I just love being on the lanes and throwing a ball. If I do well and it's a trophy or scholarship that's great but I always try to push myself at each event I bowl.
16.Q. What are your favorite events to bowl in outside of Wisconsin. What is it like to bowl on the national stage. What is the best you have done.
A. I really enjoy bowling the Youth Open and Junior Gold events. I am very excited to bowl these events as they look and feel like professional events. My best national finish is 2nd Place Team in the U12 division and 3rd Place All Events in the U10 division.
17.Q. How do you get rewarded for what you accomplish in bowling. What are your future goals in the game. What will it take to get there?
A. If I am bowling an event that has a cut and if I did well, I'm rewarded by still bowling. My current goal is to bowl more 200 games and have a stronger spare game and to get there will take some time on the lanes.
18.Q.What is it like when you bowl in a national event. How many junior golds have you bowled, and best finish. What is it like, having a national bowlers watch you.
A.I feel special and like a pro. I only bowled in one Junior Gold and that was last year in Green Bay and I did cash and finished in 66th place in the U12 division.
19.Q.How many junior titles do you have. What has been your most memorable one for you right now.
A. I currently have 19 youth titles and the most memorable one would be my Rookie of the Year as that was more about the whole season rather than one event.
20.Q. What is it like when you bowl in a national event. How many junior golds have you bowled, and best finish. What is it like, having a national bowlers watch you.
A.I feel special and like a pro. I only bowled in one Junior Gold and that was last year in Green Bay and I did cash and finished in 66th place in the U12 division.
21.Q.What is it like to have your dad guide you in the right direction, as far as your bowling career. How does help you stay focused.
A. It feels great having my dad behind me and knowing I can ask him anything. Having my Mom and Dad there always keeps me calm and that way I can stay focused on my Bowling.
22.Q.Who is your favorite pro bowler. What is your favorite bowling ball. And favorite place to bowl in.
A. I really like Packy Hanrahan. I really like the Storm Lightning Blackout. My favorite center is my home center Sheridan Lanes as they have supported us since we moved out here.
23.Q.Do you want to work in bowling when you get older. If so, what would you like to do. Do you currently have any endorsement deals.
A. I help out when I can putting house balls away at Sheridan Lanes so I am sure that I will work there in a few years. I am part of the Future Stars with I Am Bowling.
24.Q. What will this article mean to you. Do your teachers and classmates know that you bowl. How cool is that to you, when they ask.
A. This is cool when I can tell my story and journey at a young age and inspire younger kids. Yes, everyone at school knows I bowl as I was on the Middle School team last year. It's cool when my teachers ask me about bowling and I tell them how I did and they tell me they can only get a 70 game.