By BILL SNIER
PERRY TWP. — Mark Boron has a simple request for his high school bowling teams.
He refers to it as “the college philosophy.”
“Whenever our kids are asked about their scores, they are never to give their individual scores,” the 63-year-old Perry Township retiree said. “They are to give the team score only.
“That’s how I operate, and that’s what colleges are looking for. If you don’t go by that, you’re not going to get an offer. It’s about team.”
Boron, who has served as Perry High School’s junior varsity boys coach for the past two seasons, was recently named the Panthers’ head boys coach. Don Sprout resigned after one season at the helm.
“Don just did a great job. He was very patient and every kid got better,” said Boron, who led Perry’s JVs to cuts in a pair of varsity events last season, including one runner-up finish. “He was really good with the kids.
“What we want to do is continue to build the program and get to the younger kids. We want to get them in the bowling alley so they have experience before trying out for the varsity program. We have kids coming in using alley balls, alley shoes and throwing back-up balls. We want to start them out in sixth grade instead of ninth grade.”
Boron has an impressive individual résume, with 42 career 300 games and 17 800 series while also bowling in Professional Bowlers Association events for 10 years, including some national stops.
“I’ve got the experience to show them where to play. I used to hook the ball, so if someone needs to play inside, I can show them,” Boron said. “And, if they need to play outside, I can show them that, too.”
Perry also has added Tony Confalone as a boys assistant coach, with longtime coach Joe Altimore III continuing to run the girls team and overseeing the overall program.
Boron coached junior football with Confalone in the past.
“We’ve known each other for more than 25 years. He has coaching experience and is great with the kids,” Boron said. “He helped me when I first started coaching football. I knew nothing, but we sat and went over things and I had a blast.
“He’s a great guy and I couldn’t ask for a better choice.”
Boron also pointed to the success of the girls program, which made its eighth state appearance in the last nine seasons in March.
“One thing I learned from Joe is patience. You can want these kids to perform so badly at a high level, but you have to start at the bottom,” Boron said. “OK, you’re a 120 bowler, but we can make you a 170 bowler. But you want it to happen in a minute and a half.
“It takes patience.”
Boron also has officiated in basketball and umpired softball in the past.
“These parents raise great kids,” Boron said. “They have to realize that we are bigger fans of their kids than they are. There is no doubt that we want them to succeed at a high level. They have to be patient; they are going to get there.”
When asked his coaching philosophy, Boron summed it up in two words.
Have fun.
“These kids put a lot of pressure on themselves, but we try to teach them to have fun,” Boron said. “When you’re bowling on a difficult oil pattern and you’re nervous, it’s not a good combination. When you’re having fun and the coaches are patient, good things happen.”
The Panthers lose just two seniors — Nick Harman and Nick Goebeler — from this year’s district squad.
“I like coaching kids and I like seeing them improve. I’ve been helping adults and kids with their games all my life,” Boron said. “Our kids are going to be strong this year.
“They did well at sectionals, but they got a bit nervous at districts. When they had a good time, they performed well.”
Boron will step away from helping Jim Mitchell with the senior tournament series that began last year. Forrest Friley will be assisting in his place.
“I’m in this for the long haul,” Boron said. “I’m very dedicated to this.”
It all begins with Perry’s summer camps at AMF Hall of Fame.
“I only live three minutes from the lanes, so I’m going to be stopping in and watching,” Boron said. “Our goal always is state.”
LAKE POSTS POSITION
Following the resignation of longtime coach Patrick King, Lake is seeking a new varsity bowling coach.
Application information is available online at:
For information, contact athletic director Brock Cline at: