She was the one to approach him about first getting together.
But he was the one who brought her to the person who has made a difference in one of the important things in her life.
Adam Kutz and Kara Thomas were pulled together through their mutual love of bowling, talking on Facebook in March 2017 about her first trip to the USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas.
Four years later, they bowled on the same Harmon’s Pub team at that tournament in Las Vegas, finishing 22nd in the Standard Division in 2021. And they got engaged, with the Louisville couple’s wedding date set for August 2022.
This year and bowling season have been a string of successes for Kutz, 31, and Thomas, 26. The former has recorded a pair of 800 series (801, 803) in the Liberty Vending league at Eastbury Bowling Center. Thomas has put up six 700 series, including a high of 743, at Eastbury and Strike Zone. Kutz’s 803 included a 300.
“I first saw him when he was bowling in my dad’s league at Colonial in March 2017,” said Thomas, who is employed at Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health in Canton.
“I’d probably seen him before then, but that’s when I noticed him.
“I sent him a Facebook message and we started talking about Vegas and nationals since it was my first trip and he hadn’t been there before. So I started coming out and hanging out at the bowling alley with him and watching him in traveling league.”
But dating didn’t start until July of that year. First, Adam, who works as an underwriter for an Oregon hospital, had to finish college at Kent State University.
Both are products of the Stark County High School Bowling Conference, with Adam bowling and coaching at Perry and Thomas bowling at Minerva.
But it was former Team USA and current Team Puerto Rico head coach Jeri Edwards who made the difference in both of their games.
“I’ve been working with her for about 12 or 13 years. About three weeks into this season she found something in my footwork and, since then, I’ve felt much better,” said Kutz, who bowls in four leagues, including they Tycor Roofing Monday league at Eastbury and the Northeast Ohio Traveling league with Thomas. They are on the same team on Mondays.
“I kind of zigzag on my approach a little. I knew I was doing something wrong, but I just couldn’t fix it. She fixed it instantly.”
It was Kutz, who owns eight career 800 series, who convinced Thomas to begin working with Edwards two years ago.
“The biggest thing is that I’m rolling the ball a lot better, and I can see that,” said Thomas, who bowls in two leagues, but subs in others. “She worked on several things with me, but getting out of ball better was the key.”
The pair admits there is some competition when they bowl on the same nights, but neither sits back and criticizes the other’s game.
“When I watch him, I just do that — watch,” Thomas said. “I really won’t say anything unless he asks. If something is going wrong and he wants me to record him, I’ll do that if he asks.”
“I really just read and focus on the ball for her,” Kutz sad. “I watch what it does rather than what happens.”
Has Thomas had an effect on his on-lane demeanor?
“I think he has really mellowed out,” Thomas said, adding, “you don’t get as mad as you used to.”
Kutz added, “when you’re bowling well, it’s harder to get mad. But she’s had something to do with that. Whenever I’m bowling badly, I’m most likely bowling the next night anyway, so you can’t really dwell on it.”
What about the other way?
“I’ve learned a lot since high school, but the last two years I’ve learned a lot more,” Thomas said. “It’s definitely made me a better bowler. I’ve learned a lot being with him.”
Thomas also is in the unenviable position of being one of the few women in predominantly men’s leagues. There are only three in the travel league — Thomas, Taylor Sturm and Mandi Testa. Thomas and Sturm are teammates on the KS Machinery team. Thomas has bowled in travel league, with teams selected through a draft, in three of the last four years.
“It’s bit easier having another woman on the team,” said Thomas, who is averaging 205. “It’s a little more competitive and we go back and forth at each other as friends. It’s better than in previous years.”
Kutz, who is in his 10th travel league season, admits he still has one key thing to work on with his game.
“Anyone who watches me sees my head ly left on every shot. I still haven’t found a way to fix that,” said Kutz, who averages 223 in the travel league. “Hopefully, in the summer, that’s my next step. I still don’t stay down nearly as well as I should.”
Carry is the biggest obstacle for Thomas, but she admits, “I need to learn whether or not I’m playing the right angles (to the pocket).”
But first during the summer will be there wedding. Then, a return to the lanes in 2022-23.
“It’s always a contest,” Kutz laughed.
“But we always drive each other,” Thomas added.
And then they looked at each other and smiled.