Pictured: Laura And Jonathan Ferrell, Phoenix, AZ. Photo Courtesy Jonathan Ferrell.
Bowling Was The Steady Hand That Helped Jonathan Ferrell Get Through Three Personal Set Backs.
His Accomplishments Include: Bowling A 299 In The Open Championships At South Point In 2019.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Phoenix, AZ. - - - To those of us who have gotten to know Jonathan Ferrell of Phoenix, AZ. over the last few years, during the last two in particular, you know he is one who doesn't ask for much. Unless he feels he absolutely has, to.
This is one of those instances where he feels he has to, and the tenpinexpress.com listened.
During his last two trips to bowl in tournaments in Las Vegas, 'Sin City' has been very good to him. During competition in the team event at the USBC Open Championships, (which was held at South Point last year), he rolled a 299 game, and became one of the few who were able to roll an honor score during the course of the Open Championships. Then to top this achievement off, he paid a return visit to Vegas this month to bowl in the ABT Nationals. Then again, he found success at South Point, as he finished seventh out of a field of 483 bowlers.
"When I go into a league or a tournament, I have a tentative plan of action. This may be based on what I already know, or have been told," he said, during a recent interview at the new B3 Performance and Training Center of Tempe. "I'm always ready to abandon that plan, if what I am doing isn't working."
He bowled his 299 during the second game of the team event last May. In the team event, his team, Strike Zone Pro Shop, rolled a 3,102 team series. His team finished 58th in the team event out of 3,740 of them that were entered. Ferrell rolled a 613 series. His teammates were Archie Temp, Kyle Abbas, Jeremy McElliot, and Cedrick Bell.
"It was the second game of the team event that I bowled the 299," he said, of falling one pin shy of perfection. "Laura, my wife, was there to see me shoot it. I remember I was very nervous on the 12th ball. I wasn't even sure if I would make it to the foul line. My teammates were very happy for me."
He added a 560 set in doubles, and a 553 series in singles, for an all-events total of 1,726. This was his 10th time bowling at South Point.
"I really like it there," he said of bowling at South Point. "The lanes and approaches are so clean. It just always looks like a brand new center."
One of the things he did notice during his last trip to Vegas, was the safety procedures that were put in place by tournament directors, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"My recent trip to Vegas was Very different. We had to wear masks during the tournament, and it was quite uncomfortable," he said, of the safety measures that were put in place. "There were no spectators allowed in the stadium, even during the finals. Despite all of this, I really thought I was going to make the top four. I almost did. Maybe next time. I am really happy I did as well as I did. My legs have been giving me some problems lately. The next day it hurt quite a bit to walk."
He feels his last experience at South Point in the ABT Tournament, compared to the Open Championships last year, are very different in comparison for a variety of reasons.
"The ABT tournament," he said. "Was a singles event. I think I will always remember my 299 at South Point at the Nationals more than my seventh place finish in the ABT. If for no other reason, it will be because there were actually other bowlers/spectators there to SEE IT!!!."
Ferrell, 53, grew up in Orange County, California. He started to bowl in 1975 at the age of eight. He says he was too small for football, and too short for basketball. Bowling was a sport though, where he felt he didn't require the height or size to become competitive in the game.
"I was always the first one at the alley. I became pretty good in a short amount of time," he said, of how he would describe himself to those who met him for the first time. "When I was 12, the Junior Director put me with the 16 year olds. I love bowling today as much as I did when I was eight. I bowl tournaments every chance I get. I bowl Strike Force Tour and ABT on a regular basis."
He has accomplished a lot in the game of bowling the last 45 years, those accomplishments being: 13 perfect games, and three 800 series. He has has had to deal with a few set backs long the way. But, it has always been the game of bowling and the support he has gotten from his wife Laura that have helped him get through the set- backs in his life that he experienced.
"I got clean and sober in 1986 at the age of 18. Without being sober, I would have nothing good in my life. At age 19, on New Year's Eve, I was hit head on by a drunk driver. I broke both my legs, and was told by doctors I would never walk again. My first thought was about bowling. I began walking on my own again five months later, and started bowling again the next month," he said, of one of his two set backs he had to deal with. "I guess doctors don't know everything. I moved to Arizona in 1995 and I love it here. I have been married to my wonderful wife, Laura, for six years now."
He feels getting clean and sober in 1986, at the age of 18 was the wake up call he needed to turn his life around, to become successful in whatever he chose to do.
"My biggest wake up call in my teens had to be my getting clean and sober. My dad and Stepmom, Jack & Mary Beth, helped get me into an adolescent drug rehabilitation center," he remembers, of taking the first step. "After about four weeks of looking at my life, I realized how much trouble I was in. I also knew I had no idea how to fix the mess I had created. The treatment center showed me what to do."
And indeed it did. One of the first positive things he did after recovering from the adolescent drug and rehabilitation center was:
"I got my degree from the University of California at Irvine. My degree is in Social Ecology, which is Law, Psychology and Ecology," he said, of his life changing moment. "I graduated with Honors in 1991. I started on my Master's degree in Social Work, but then made the decision to start my own delivery service. I'm very happy I made that decision. I love what I do."
It was clear sailing for him, for the next 27 years. Until another life changing experience set his personal life back again. But, it was the game of bowling that was the one steady hand that helped him cope with and emerge from the worst of his three personal set backs.
"On January 1, 2018, we lost our son Dylan. He took his own life. He had depression and anxiety and didn't tell anybody. He was only 21. It still feels like a bad dream," he said, of this horrible set back. "He is and will always be one of my favorite people on this planet. And, I think about him every single day. My bowling family has been extremely supportive. My mom had some serious medical problems about three years ago, so she has come to live with us. Laura and I take care of her as best as we can. I believe in being kind to everyone. If someone gives me a good reason not to be kind to them, I just move on to someone else. I do my best to be grateful and optimistic. Life seems to be a lot easier and more enjoyable that way."
After what he has been through personally, Jonathan feels he still needs a challenge such as bowling. This helps him forget about things for a while and he works on improving his skills in the game.
"Bowling has been a great way for me to challenge myself against the lane conditions as well as other bowlers. For me, tournaments have become the best way to test my ability, and to figure out the lanes and see how far I can go in an event," he said, of trying not to psyche himself out on the lanes. "In the past, I was just happy to qualify. Now I want to win everything I bowl in.That's the new goal. Strike Force Tour puts out Sport Patterns every tournament. This increases the challenge dramatically. There are some really good bowlers in Arizona.They usually beat me, but it helps me to want to get better."
He also says the game is very much a mental sport, which takes a lot of intense focus and concentration.
"I also have to be relaxed. For me, that can be a difficult balance to achieve. During any set of games, lots of things are changing. The lanes are changing, which doesn't always mean drying out," he said, of the mental aspect of bowling. "I need to know when to change balls, and when and where to move. And even watch other bowlers that seem to have the lanes figured out before me."
While bowling in the valley, Ferrell has bowled in one league for 20 years. That being, the Metro 880 League which bowls on Thursday night at Bowlero Mesa. According to Bowl.Com, he has averaged 200 or better in the league every year since his first season there during the 1999-00 season. His highest average in the league came during the 2013-14 season, where he averaged 230 for 102 games.
"I have bowled in the Metro 880 league for the last 20+ years. I have had MANY different teammates during this time," he said, of his experiences in this league. He rolled his most recent 800 there on January 10, 2019. And his most recent 300 game there on August 27, 2019. "It has been a very competitive handicap league at Bowlero Mesa. I’ve met lots of amazingly nice bowlers and have had some great times."
Among those who helped him to become successful in bowling along the way are: Mike and Brandi Calderon of B3. Bobby Homacek of B3. Michael Haugen Jr, Cortez Schenck, and Ron and Karl Simonis.
He feels that when bowling ball manufactures first came out with the more aggressive bowling balls (starting with reactive resin). It caused scores and averages to increase dramatically.
"I think the one thing that has helped to balance this out is Sport and Challenge Patterns. I think bowling will always be challenging and bowlers will keep adapting and improving. On some PBA finals, they will put a different pattern on each lane. Maybe soon, they won't even tell the pros which pattern is on each lane. Who knows?," he said, of the evolution of bowling. "I think bowling is a sport that anyone can participate and have fun in.
"To become a good bowler takes a lot of work. To become a great bowler takes years of practice," he added. "Lots of help from others, and maybe even one or two declarations of quitting bowling for good. This could be followed by more practice and a night of league bowling. On an easy house shot (for a great confidence builder and self-esteem booster)."
Ferrell, who is self employed, as stated earlier, owns In A Heartbeat Delivery Service in Phoenix. A business he has owned for the last 24 years in the valley.
"I've continued to work six days a week, even while the COVID-19 pandemic has been going on. I have remained healthy and safe so far. I have not shaken anybody's hand since early march. For me, it has been: no hand slaps, high fives, or fist bumps during bowling," he said, of dealing with COVID-19. "I have not had to shut down my business at all during the pandemic. I now wear a mask every time I get out of my car."
His goals for the next five years are still to be working and bowling. He says he loves competing in the game, and would love to win a few more tournaments along the way.
"I have a really great life. I'm very fortunate to still be alive and walking around. I do my best to remind myself of that every day," he said, on where he has been in the past. And, where he would like to be in the future. "In order to still be working and bowling the next five years, I need to be clean and sober, first and foremost. I also need to take care of myself: mentally, physically, and spiritually. Mind, body, and spirit. I need to pay attention to my body's messages when its telling me to take it easy. All in all, I'm doing pretty good for a guy that's 5'6" on a good day. Grateful people are happy people. And those that aren't....aren't."
We couldn't agree with you more.
State Of Arizona Bowling News - July 14, 2020