Guest Author - Gary King

I received a message from Lynne Chapman, BellaOnline's Christian Living Editor. That message came at my request with information about Lynne's father, Vernon Waite.

Vernon J. Waite of Angola, Indiana, was surprised when he was invited to bowl in the ABC Senior Championships in Reno, Nevada on May 2nd and 3rd, 2005. Recently he won a tournament in Logansport, Indiana, persevered throught the statewide roll off and the next thing he knew, he was Senior Champion of Indiana.

Vernon says, "I never dreamed I would get this far--at this age especially! As an old man I got an invitation to bowl in the ABC tournament in Reno, Nevada."

Vernon will be turning 87 on May 22nd of this year. He has spent much of his life around bowling. Serving as a pinsetter as a youngster and taking up bowling as a teenager, climbing upstairs to a bowling alley located over a bookstore. As an adult in his business as carpenter, he even built a bowling alley.

After bowling with the Moose bowling league for thirty years, Vernon decided to take a break from the sport. He spent 15 to 20 years playing pool and ran the traveling pool league for the VFW before returning to bowling with the Moose bowling league.

Vernon has seen some changes in the sport in his lifetime but when asked what he thought about the merging of the WIBC with ABC, he says it's all right with him. "You're on your own anyway."

Vernon, who says that he always bowls better in competition, gives these tips:
"It's interesting to see that each alley is different. You find your spot and determine delivery. Figure out what works on the alley and go from there."
In Reno, Vernon will be using an Ebonite, 12-pound ball. "In my younger days, I used a 16-pound ball. My highest game ever was 247. In those days it was easy to get a 600 series."

What does Vernon like most about the game? "Competition and good friends. You always get a 'high-five' for a good delivery."

Vernon Waite has been a great example of enthusiasm and positive mental attitude to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He shows us all that youth is in his attitude. He has always been and continues to be active and excited about life. That's what makes him a winner, all the way around.

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I have been to the Senior National Championships myself. The first year I competed in my age group (55 to 60), I won the all-events for my age group and became the Iowa State Senior Champion in that age group. That is the ONLY way you can participate in the Senior National Championships. You have to win the all-events (singles and doubles) in your age group.

Congratulations to Vernon and good bowling.