It’s been a long road back for Perry Township’s John Poling.
After suffering a crushed right heel during an accident in 2013, the 36-year-old right-hander admitted his bowling game has suffered.
“I was babying the ball for a long time and I developed a lot of bad habits,” said Poling, who owns and operates Poling Painting. “I just didn’t feel like dealing with them because I just liked bowling.”
But beginning in April, Poling’s daughter Kiele, a freshman on Perry HIgh School’s bowling team, began working with former PBA player Ron Bell. Poling decided it was time to also work with Bell on his own game.
“I just feel like now I’m actually becoming better. I can see the progression,” Poling said.
It showed in late November in the the Poling Painting All-Star Doubles at Stonehedge Family Fun Center in Akron, a league that Poling sponsors and serves as its president.
He put together games of 227, 300 and 280 for an 807 series — his first United States Bowling Congress-sanctioned 800 series and 300 game. He does have seven total 800s and 12 300 games..
“I actually will get four rings out of this one,” said Poling, adding the league also is sanctioned by The National Bowling Association (TNBA).
There was nothing spectacular about Game 1, with Poling throwing the last three strikes entering the 10th frame before leaving a 10-pin on his first ball — and missing the spare.
But then came the 300 in Game 2.
“It was honestly a weird night. I didn’t feel like I was struggling at all,” said Poling, who bowls in two leagues and subs regularly in the Northeast Ohio Traveling League.
“It just came down to carry. I had it in the second game.”
In Game 3, Poling left a 2-8 spare in the second frame, converted, and then struck out for his 280 and career milestone. But it didn’t come without drama.
“In the sixth frame, I struck by hitting the 3-pin dead-on,” Poling said. “I don’t really know what happened, but pins just came off the wall and took things out forward.”
Poling was not keeping track of his numbers along the way.
“I didn’t even realize I had 300 to tell you the truth,” Poling added. “I think I moved three boards left all night. I really wasn’t looking at the scoreboard.”
Poling used a 5-year-old Track Kinetic Ruby for his honor scores.
“The funny thing is, I hated that ball. But I changed all my spans and everything before the season started and that was the test ball,” Poling said. “I didn’t have my other balls for about two weeks, so that’s all I had to throw.
“I ended up falling in love with it and it just matches up well.”
Poling had one other motivation for achieving his first sanctioned 300-800.
“I had to get that honor score,” Poling added, “before my daughter gets one.”