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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, April 3, 2008 |
Anamosa’s pin prodigy
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — Some of the most amazing athletic talent Anamosa has produced in the long and sports-rich history of the school has been seen over the last half decade.
First-team all-state stars like Austin Hinz (football), Molli Hopfensperger (basketball), Lucie Lueken (basketball), Wes Morning (baseball), Kelsey Worcester (soccer) and Colten Kelly (basketball) have graced fields and courts here and have put the Raider sports programs on the map athletically.
Add another name to that mind-boggling list in yet another sport.
Kalib Seeley.
While Anamosa High School has no sanctioned team in his particular sport of choice, it doesn’t lessen the fact Seeley is, has been and will continue to be an Anamosa bowling prodigy.
Seeley has basically grown up inside the cozy comforts of the Anamosa Bowling Center (ABC) where his father Dave owned the lanes for almost two decades. Seeley’s brother Brett took over ownership of the alley in 1998 allowing Seeley the continued freedom to bowl almost any time he’s wanted, nurturing his love for the game.
“I can remember as a kid sitting on Santa’s lap and asking for a bowling ball for Christmas,” said Seeley who toed the lanes for the first time as a mere two-year-old. “I pretty much haven’t stopped since. I love this game. It’s something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. The only way I stop bowling is if someone drags me off the lanes. I just loving competing at this sport. It’s like nothing else.”
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Born to bowl
Anamosa senior Kalib Seeley has been putting up astronomical bowling numbers since he first stepped foot onto the Anamosa Bowling Center lanes at the age of two and not only does he show no signs of slowing down, but his game continues to get better and better. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
While Seeley has had nearly unlimited access to the ABC lanes, some natural talent has also helped him along.
As a mere five-year-old, Seeley rolled a 140 game. At the age of six he was averaging a 120 and even boasted a mind-boggling 429 series. By the age of 11 Seeley was averaging a 160 every time he took to the lanes and at the tender age of 14, shot a blistering 683 series
“I don’t know about that natural ability stuff,” he said. “I guess just being around the bowling alley like I have all my life has made me naturally more comfortable on the lanes. But I have bowled a lot of games and I think it’s that experience that has helped me become the bowler I am today more than any one other thing.”
The bowler Seeley is today rivals any Anamosa has ever seen at his young age.
“I’ve been around this sport all my life, and I’ve never seen any kid put up numbers at such an early age like Kalib has on a regular basis going back to when he was just a little guy to now as a high school senior,” said Seeley’s father Dave, who bought the ABC back in 1981 until he sold the alley to his son Brett 17 years later, who runs the establishment now with his wife Tammy. “I knew when he was about 10 years old that Kalib had a real knack for the game of bowling. It seemed no matter how many times I’d bring him with me down to the alley, he would never get sick of the game. He always wanted more, and I guess that’s another reason he’s the bowler he is today.”
As a mere infant, Seeley’s father used to bring him to the alley in the morning before allowing him on the lanes to strike at pins for the afternoon.
“Kalib may not admit it, but he does have a lot of natural ability,” said Dave. “His interest level, even as a toddler, was so high. That’s just not something you see very often out of someone that age. Normally they go from doing one thing to doing another thing a few minutes later with very little attention span. Not Kalib. He knew he loved bowling and did it as long as I’d let him. I would literally have to pull him off the lanes to go home.”
Seeley also credits step-brother Brian Meyer with teaching him how to hook the ball into the pocket at a young age.
“That’s something I’ve never forgotten,” he said. “He worked with me and was patient. He’s a very knowledgeable bowler too and someone a lot of people want to talk to when it comes to not only learning the game, but improving at it too.”
Seeley’s dedication to the sport has paid off as today, as a mere 17-year-old, he continually boasts some of the alley’s top scores.
“I have a long ways to go to get to the level of some of the other guys who bowl here,” said Seeley who now sports a whopping 205 average, one of the best at the ABC and one that continues to grow week by week. “Maybe someday I can come close to being the bowler my brother Brett is. He has been my idol growing up. I love bowling with him and I always learn so much just being around him. When it comes to bowling, he has been my best friend from day one.”
Seeley already has an amazing 798 series under his belt and sports a top game score of 289.
“Only three guys have ever topped 800 here, and I’d like to someday be one of them,” he said. “I came close that one time. I’ve had a lot of 700 series’ and would also really like to get that 300 perfect game someday too.”
Seeley has bowled 10 straight strikes twice and has rolled nine straight strikes five times in his career.
A career in bowling is also something Seeley is considering.
“I have a dream of someday being on the PBA tour,” said Seeley who will be attending the University of Northern Iowa in the fall majoring in Business Administration. “That might be a stretch, but it’s something I’ve at least thought about. If not that, I can see myself owning a bowling alley someday. No matter what happens though, bowling will always be a part of my life.” |
Midland girls off and running at annual Big East Conference Indoor
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
MOUNT VERNON— While the weather outside was more suited for skiing, the Midland girls track team felt quite comfortable inside the confines of the Cornell College indoor facility in Mount Vernon Thursday, March 27, competing at the annual Big East Conference Indoor meet.
Paige Paulsen led the Eagle girls placing in three events overall coming in third in the 55 meter dash as well as the 200 meter dash with times of 7.65 and 29.23, respectively. She also scored a sixth-place finish in the long jump soaring 14’ 2”.
Caitlin Bisinger posted the top individual Eagle performance placing second in the 1500 meter run crossing the finish line in 6:01.27 while Tiffany Vacek was third in the 300 meter dash tallying a time of 48.99.
Amy Burmeister flew fifth in the long jump after her 14’5” effort and helped the 4x200 team with Vacek, Charli Arnell and Paulsen to a sixth-place showing after tallying a time of 2:01.65.
The Midland girls placed sixth overall at the 11-team meet. |
Flying indoors
Midland’s Paige Paulsen (left) waits for the baton as teammate Amy Burmeister gets set for the handoff during the 4x200 race at the Big East Conference Indoor meet in Mount Vernon Thursday, March 27. The team placed sixth in the event. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Ready for another incredible run
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
MOUNT VERNON— A year ago, the Olin boys track team made some serious noise not only on the local stage with their record-setting 4x100 and 4x200 teams, but at the state level as well.
The Lions were back in action for the first time since participating on the Blue Track in Des Moines last May, taking part at the Big East Conference Indoor meet on the Cornell College campus in Mount Vernon Thursday, March 27, and once again, showed their track and field dominance.
“We had some very impressive performances,” said longtime Olin boys track coach Rich Ginn. “Dan Inglis gave us a great effort in the high jump and Jordan Cress made that event a nice 1-2 punch for us. Mason Smith is off to a great start running again and we have some other kids who could really step up and be a force this year for us too.”
Inglis was sensational winning the Big East Indoor high jump championship soaring to a personal-best 6’ 3”, easily topped the rest of the conference field.
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In the running
Olin’s Nathan Sawyer takes off with the baton after receiving it from teammate Colton Laetare (left) during 4x200 action at the Big East Conference Indoor meet held on the Cornell College campus in Mount Vernon Thursday, March 27. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Inglis’ teammate Cress claimed the runner-up spot in the high jump after flying for the bar set at 5’ 10” completing the Lions’ dominance in the event.
“Jordan had six-feet cleared but just hit the bar with his leg coming down,” said Ginn. “He’s really got a lot of upside with his jumping ability just being a freshman.”
Smith ran a personal-best 6.50 clocking winning the 55 meter dash prelim and went on to place second overall in the finals tallying a time of 6.62.
Smith also scored points for the Lions in the 200 meter dash after crossing the finish line with a time of 24.56.
“Mason ran very well against some stiff competition,” said Ginn. “Preston-East Central’s Jordan Cornilsen shattered conference indoor records in the 200 and 400 meter dash events. It’s tough going against a superstar, but Mason was up for the challenge.”
Olin’s 4x200 team of Colton Laetare, Nathan Sawyer, Inglis and Smith finished third overall tallying a time of 1:42.34.
The Lion boys placed seventh overall at the indoor 11-team meet won by Northeast. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
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