Pictured Is: Drew Renter, Of Las Vegas, Right. And His Cousin, Fred Simpson, Also Of Las Vegas, Left. Photo Courtesy Of Drew Renter.
Editors Note: Ever since anyone could remember, it has always been a good time to be a member of the Southern Nevada bowling community. With top bowling leagues to bowl in, and top tournaments to participate in on the weekends. But now, more than ever, it is a good time to be a professional sports fan in the City of Las Vegas as well.
When the NHL awarded the desert with an expansion franchise in 2017, ( the Golden Knights), professional sports was here to stay. Since then, (the Oakland Raiders in January 2020), and now the Oakland A's in the near future. Have and will call Las Vegas home.
For Drew Renter, of Las Vegas, bowling and professional sports have always been a favorite pastime of his. And now, he does not have to travel very far to see a sporting event in person either. We were his doubles partner at the 119th Open Championships this year in Reno, NV. Below is his story on what it is like to bowl, and have professional sports in Sin City.
The tenpinexpress.com. At the OC in Reno, NV. June 17-18, 2023.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Reno, NV. - - - There is nothing better that Drew Renter, of Las Vegas, enjoys doing every day. Then the following: Working in a high-profile position for Clark County. Trying to get better at the game of bowling, every time the opportunity presents itself. And cheering on Sin Cities professional sports teams. Those being the: Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), Las Vegas Golden Knights (NHL), the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL). And in the foreseeable future, the Las Vegas A's (MLB.).
It has always been a great time to be a member of the Southern Nevada USBC, and be an avid bowler in the bowling community. But, ever since Las Vegas was granted an NHL expansion franchise in 2017, professional sports have become part of the Vegas Valley's landscape. T Mobile Arena, and Allegiant Stadium are directly across from each other on I-15. The new baseball stadium site tentatively will be on the south end of the strip. On the existing location of Balley's Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort.
"Because we're finally a sports city! WNBA and Stanley Cup Champs baby! We also have the Raiders. Love them or hate them, they're still the biggest game in town! The Aviators and Lights are up the street, and the A's and hopefully NBA will be here soon," he said, of what it's like to now be a professional sports fan in the city. "Let us not forget that Superbowl 58 will be here next year at Allegiant Stadium. There is a Formula 1 race and Nas Car races twice a year. NCAA championships, National Finals Rodeo, NBA Summer League and G League. Yes, it's a wonderful time to be a professional sports fan in Vegas."
He says he is just a chill dude, who was born and raised in Oakland, Ca. So, he believes that all of the sports changes that have taken place in Sin City. Are mana from heaven. When the Raiders came to town in January 2020, it was just icing on the cake for him. He hopes the next move will be the NBA finally putting an expansion franchise in the desert.
"When I first moved here, I never thought we'd get any teams with legal gambling looming. However, the betting apps helped dispel those concerns, and in stepped the WNBA and NHL to test the waters," he said, of the franchises coming to the city. "I believe that we will eventually be awarded an NBA expansion franchise along with Seattle. I think both markets can support the teams, and if it makes dollars, it makes sense! It is amazing! I'm a season ticket holder for the Raiders. I can't say that I've ever been a hockey fan, although I went to college at Saint Cloud State in Minnesota. While I was there in the mid 80's, Herb Brooks was our hockey coach. Because I played football, I saw him often in the athletic center."
Hopefully, the Knights changed his mind now about hockey as well. Vegas won the Stanley Cup this past year, by beating the Florida Panthers 4 games to 1. Herb Brooks, of course, was the coach of Team USA, and the 'Miracle On Ice' squad. That defeated the Soviet Union 4-3, on February 22, 1980.
During his first year at Saint Cloud, the Huskies posted a record of 5-6. In his second year they went 7-4 and did not make the playoffs either year. They were a Division II school that played in the North Central Conference. Back then, North/South Dakota State, the University of North/South Dakota, and Northern Colorado were all in St. Cloud's conference. They were considered the best Division II conference at the time, with North Dakota State leading the pack. All of the aforementioned universities would eventually become FCS programs.
"I was a wide receiver at Saint Cloud for 2 years in 1986-87. Prior to receiving a full scholarship from Saint Cloud, I was a Halfback/Slot Receiver for College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, from 1984-85. My 2-year stats for Saint Cloud, as much as I can remember, was approximately 30 receptions with an average of 14.3 or so yards per catch and 3 touchdowns," he said, of his two years at St. Cloud. "The football program at Saint Cloud was recently removed, but my yards-per-catch average was in the official records book until about 2-3 years prior to football no longer being one of the university sports. My claim to fame at COD was that I scored a touchdown about every four times that I touched the ball! My proudest moment at Saint Cloud was my father being able to see me play at Nicholls State in Louisiana, near where he was born and raised. We didn't win the game, but it was the only game he was able to attend while I was at Saint Cloud. I also did well enough to be noticed by the Saints!"
Recieving a tryout from a professional sports team, is the main goal of every college athlete.
"I received a pro-day workout from the New Orleans Saints, and when they realized that I did not weigh my listed 175 lbs. (I weighed 155, maybe...)," he said, of getting a tryout with the New Orleans Saints. "And after the try out, the Saints told him: Kid you're waaaay too small..."
The most famous football players from Saint Cloud were, Todd Bouman, Keith Nord, and Mike Lambrecht.
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And now back to bowling.
Drew just bowled in his fourth Open Championship on June 17-18, at the National Bowling Stadium (NBS), in Reno, NV. If you have never been to Reno, or have never bowled at the NBS. You owe it to yourself to do it at least once during your bowling career. What you see is, is what you get. 78 lanes of awesomeness. What makes Reno a great place to visit, is that the NBS is about a mile, from the hotels that are close by it.
Bowlers from Vegas love it, when the Open is in town. Or in Reno. That is because it is only a four-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown. While it is a two-day trip for those of us who live in Arizona. Arizona Bowlers are not restricted to how much equipment they can bring with them either. The only thing that really tests your bowling ability and knowledge, is the pattern that the USBC puts out for the OC. It is also an honor taking part in a march out to your assigned pair of lanes before your squad gets underway.
"Bowling with bowlers from other areas shows that we all deal with the same issues and successes (we were his doubles partner). The only things that change are the names, places and faces," he said, of bowling in the Open. "I've bowled in four opens. Not having to travel is probably the best advantage anybody can have, because I can bring at least nine bowling balls. I can also go to the center and watch others bowl."
Watching others bowl prior to your squad time, can definitely help. But it was also very interesting watching others trying to navigate through the pattern that was put out this year. He says his first Open will be his most memorable one.
The best piece of advise he has gotten when it has come to bowling. Was always make sure to pick up your spares. And boy did that ever hold true in this years open in Reno.
"I think my best performance was 630 or 40 something, when my average was probably 180 or so. I'll always remember that I cashed in my first open!," he said, of bowling in the OC.
He has also had success on the lanes outside of the Open. Most notably, of course, was shooting his first 300 game.
"My most memorable memories were: shooting 290, with my first ball being a gutter, and shooting my first 300 at Wild Fire lanes," he said of his first sanctioned 300 game. (Wildfire Lanes is located in Wildfire Casino in Henderson). What I would like to accomplish most, is shooting a 800. I've shot 780 something several times, but I just can't get over that hump! When I'm on my game, I think that I can compete with the best. Now when I say on my game, I mean that I'm practicing and bowling as much as my schedule allows. If I don't do that, I may be able to compete in less challenging shots. But on the more difficult shots, I'd probably need a little more luck. LOL."
By being an athlete all of his life, it has helped him stay competitive in sports. Especially bowling. When he first moved to the Vegas Valley in 2006, he only carried a 170 average. And during the last 17 years it has gotten as high as 224. He also feels he has gotten to where he is today by being patient and never giving up.
"I am very competitive! I have been an athlete all of my life, and I don't enjoy losing. That being said, as I've matured. I can say that I deal with it better. I love when I'm taken lightly," he said, of his tenacity. "Here in Vegas, I feel that there are more bowlers with a better technical approach to the game. Just think, several PBA bowlers have recently called Vegas home, as well as the population growing in general. You have great talent from all over the country who have moved to the Vegas Valley."
He has only bowled leagues in two other markets, and he had only bowled one tournament before he moved to Las Vegas. However, he feels leagues in the Bay Area were much more competitive. Not saying that the bowlers were overall better, but they were more willing to put their money where their talents were.
He is in total agreement that bowling in leagues in Las Vegas, is a great experience that everyone should experience once. It also helps that depending on where you live in the Valley, you won't have to travel very far to find a bowling center to bowl in. Among some of the bowling centers that the bowling community has to choose from are: Gold Coast, Sun Coast, The Orleans, Red Rock Lanes, Santa Fe Station, and South Point.
"My favorite centers in town are Southpoint and Santa Fe. Southpoint tends to have a consistent shot out, and most of the top bowlers bowl in leagues there. Santa Fe seems to have a league shot that forces me out of my comfort zone, which is playing with less angles," he says of his bowling experiences. "Southpoint feeds my ego, and Santa Fe prepares me more for the weekends! I have never bowled at the Show Boat, because it closed in (2004), before I moved here. I think it was demolished after I arrived though. I think it was a great loss, because bowlers still talk about leagues and tournaments there."
It is the travel time that bowlers have to make, to get to the bowling centers in the city. That makes the bowling experience here worthwhile.
"It's a great experience. I've only ever bowled in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, and we had to travel miles to compete. In Las Vegas, I have five bowling alleys within 15 miles of my house," he said, of bowling in leagues in Las Vegas. "And I think a total of 13, if you include the "entertainment" facilities. Like Brooklyn Bowl and Round 1. It's also nice having the Bowling Plaza at Southpoint Casino."
What makes it more interesting bowling in a casino setting, rather than a standard one. Are the amenities outside of bowling it has to offer as well.
"Bowling in a casino setting gives you options for other things to do. Obviously, the amenities will just be better," he said, of the casino experience. "Also, if you're traveling in to a tournament, your lodging is available on the same property as the bowling center."
He is an Operations Manager for Clark County Business Licensing. He manages: enforcement, film permits, special event permits. And: cannabis, gaming, and regulated licensing.
"The responsibility of maintaining the health, safety and welfare of Clark County residents is great," he said, of his job. "Unbeknownst to most, Las Vegas is one of the most heavily regulated areas in the country."
It was three years ago, that we were dealing with Covid-19. Taking care of ourselves, and making sure we didn't get Covid-19 either. Staying healthy, took precedence over everything else.
"Right before Covid changed our lives, I was in a car accident. At the time, I was averaging 219 at Texas Station (RIP)," he said, of how he dealt with Covid 19. "The accident put me out of commission for close to a year, and I still haven't returned to myself. I feel that I am progressing. To increase my game over the next 3 years, I'd need more practice."
But like being a true athlete. Being resilient will help make sure he reaches his goal.
Las Vegas Bowling News July 10, 2023.