By BILL SNIER
CANTON — It’s a different feeling for the 2026-27 fall-winter bowling season for Michael Thewes.
The 36-year-old Canton left-hander prepared for the season the same way he has in the past — not bowling during the summer months.
“I really did the same thing I always do … take the summer off and then, about two or three weeks before the Akron Open, I throw three games,” said Thewes, a Detroit Diesel employee who also operates a video game art side business. “That’s my warmup for the season and it has worked so far.”
It started at the Akron Open the last weekend in August at Station 300 when he teamed with Tony Carson and Chris Steele to share the trio event title. Then, he reached the Round of 64 to cash in the singles main event.
Then last week during the Northeast Ohio Travel League’s appearance at Spins Bowl Kent in Kent, the 2023 John Klonowski Memorial Singles champion had games of 259, 267 and 300 for the first 800 of the NEOTL season Oct. 1 with 826.
He has had 300s (he now has 28) and 800 series (he now is at 18 with a high of 868) before. But this one felt different.
After claiming the 2025-26 NEOTO team title with the Storm trio of Jeff Mowls and Tony Workman, Mowls decided to leave the league after being a longtime captain. Thewes was selected to take his place — his first time as a captain in the league.
“I think my mindset has kind of changed, even though it rally didn’t happen immediately,” said Thewes, who was averaging 232 on the Mr B Pluming team with Nate Davis and Workman heading into Thursday’s action.
“In the back of my mind … t’s there. It feels like I’m being held to a higher standard as a captain representing the league.”
Throwing his Radical Guru Oracle bowling ball all three games, Thewes stayed clean all night. He used the eight board as his target and made “maybe a two-board move” all night.
“Usually, I don’t bowl real well there although I have had one 300,” Thewes said. “The approaches seem to always give me trouble. Anytime I bowl there, I just can’t seem to slide because they are so tacky.
“We were at the low end that night and I was able to slide better. When I am able to side, I usually have a decent night there.”
Thewes started the night with the front six strikes. He finished throwing the last 17 in a row over the last two games.
“All the shots in Game 3 were solid,” said Thewes, who also shot 780 on Monday during league play at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, which hosted the NEOTL on Thursday. “I knew I needed a mark in the 10th frame to get the 800. Honestly I was more concerned about getting the 800 than the 300.
“It’s absolutely been a good start.”
A new mindset with a solid start spells early success for Thewes — with a long way to go.