Bowling: Dan Kirchner posts 2 perfect games after 10 years

Dan Kirchner, 57, is one of those bowlers who is easy to talk to (I beg forgiveness from the preposition police). This affable right-hander recently posted two perfect games three weeks apart after about 10 years had passed from his first two. His first were at the former Madison Plaza Lanes.

He posted one at Hanover Lanes in his Wednesday night trio league, and then the league was off because of a major snowstorm. He came back a week later and bowled another perfecto. Overall he has been bowling well, having posted 223-247-266 at press time.

Dan is an 18-year veteran of the sport. He got his start at Plaza with his wife, Robin, in a mixed league. He admits to being “very competitive,” having driven a race car for six years and having played baseball and softball as well. So he got out of bowling for a while and a series of incidents brought him back.

“A friend had a sudden heart attack and died. I was very upset, so the next day when I told my wife what happened, I decided to go to Madison Plaza Lanes and beat up on some pins. Dave Krivak was there and said that I bowled well and would I want to bowl in a league. I told him ‘No, I’m a fireman.’

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"But Dave said they could really use me on their team, and so I bowled with them. We bowled five on a team, then four. The center changed, and many of my bowling friends went to leagues at Hanover Lanes. I went to watch Dave one night and was told that Jeff Geffken needed someone on his team, so I joined. Somehow Hanover matches up with me and my competitiveness.

“My highest average (at Hanover) was 223, and I had more 700s there than I did at Madison.” He also credits friend Krivak and Andrew Stevens with honing his skills. Then he laughed about his third perfect game.

“It came out of the blue. I wasn’t bowling that great. In fact my last three shots (after nine strikes) were terrible. Then two weeks later, when I shot my fourth, someone came up to me and said ‘Didn’t you just bowl a 300?’ Someone who watched my latest one said that all 12 shots were right there.”

And now for the punch line. Dan told his friends that it’s about time he got a new bowling ball because his other one was getting old. Then he posted the two perfect games, both with “an old Mo Rich Leverage ball.”

He dedicated his latest achievements to “My late father-in-law, Walter ‘Wally’ Becker. He passed two years ago. He was always asking me about bowling. I had known him for seven years before getting married, and now I’ve been married for 30 years.” His goal is to post an 800, having come close with 789.

Dan retired from the Millburn Fire Department and is employed by Dobbs Auto Body in Springfield. He had held two jobs for more than 20 years. He and Robin live in Springfield and have two daughters, Ashley, 27 and Danielle, 25.

Calendar

Today: The final rounds of the USBC Bowling Masters Tournament at 1 p.m., live from Syracuse, New York.

 May 6: Morris County USBC WBA Queens and Princess Tournament. The entry form can be found in local centers as well as at morriscountywba.com under “tournaments.”

May 5, 6, and 12: The Inaugural Hudson Lanes Youth Doubles tournament at Hudson Lanes in Jersey City. Squad times are 1 and 3 p.m. There will be scratch and handicap divisions. Entry fee is $60 per team ($30 per bowler) with an optional $15 per bowler for optional singles, handicap and scratch. Walk-ins will be permitted. For entry forms or additional information email Claire Hurley at funbowlingcoach@aol.com, call 201-455-5899  or contact Jason Winch at Jason@dirupobowling.com. A complete form is found on the DiRupo Bowling Facebook page under “files” which lists all of the tournaments and bowling camps.

May 19: Morris County USBC WBA final meeting, fun tournament and lunch at Rockaway Lanes. This is always a fun time, featuring the business meeting at 10 a.m.  An added “perc” is that the lunch is free for association members. Entries close May 11. Details and the reservation form are at morriscountywba.com. This will be the final meeting of the women’s association before the newly merged BA and WBA take over county events and meetings. I am looking forward to it!

Send in your news, tournament announcements and results, and anything about bowling to joaness2@yahoo.com or call the bowling hotline at 570-242-470