By BILL SNIER
CANTON — After 47 years of leading the junior bowling program at Eastbury Bowling Center, nothing really surprises Cathy Bowen.
But three sets of players from three different families certainly did.
The Saturday morning Superman Youth League — named in honor of Bowen’s late son, Craig, who carried the nickname among junior bowlers — certainly has an oddity in its ranks for the 2026-27 fall-winter season.
There are not one, not two, but three sets of twins bowling in two divisions — bumpers and juniors.
“I never in my life had twins in this league until recently,” the 77-year-old Bowen said. “ I really never thought about it until a couple of weeks ago. With all of the bad stuff going on in the world, this is something good that is coming out of bowling.”
Each set of twins have their own stories. But one thing ties them all together — families who grew up in the sport and wanted their children and, in some cases, grandchildren to carry on the family legacy.
IN THE BUMPERS
The youngest of the three duos are 4-year-old Reattia and RoseLynn, daughters of Violet McMasters.
William Ayres, who described himself as the “father figure in their lives,” said a family tradition had these twin girls starting bumper bowling when they were just three years old.
“It’s been a family tradition and they just love it. That is, unless they are too tired sometimes,” said Ayers of the pair who bowl in the two-game league.
“They love throwing the ball and being around the other kids. They like the competition.”
Ayers said Violet along with the twins’ uncle, Chester McMasters, got the girls interested the sport.
“They’re learning all the time, and they learn quickly,” Ayres said. “They’re actually pretty good for their age and getting better all the time.
“We want to keep them in it until they decide they don’t want to do it anymore.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL DUO
The 12-year-old Huth twins — Jakson and Joshuah — participate in pickleball off the lanes and, according to their grandmother, Stacie Kent, do everything together.
“I bowled when I was a kid, my kids bowled and they are just following the tradition,” said Kent, whose son, Aaron, owns six career 300 games — giving his nephews something to shoot for in the future.
The pair are 12 years old and in sixth grade. They are being home schooled this year while living in the Plain Local School District. Kent said the pair eventually will end up at GlenOak High School.
The sons of John and Amber Huth, Kent said her daughter, Amber, is a bowler while John is not.
“We started them in bumpers at age 3 and they worked their way up,” Kent said. “They just love it. They are getting a lot better, but they are not where they need to be yet.”
Joshuah suffered a stroke when he was just 14 months ago which prevents him from participating in any contact sports, Kent said.
“They’ve been through so much. It’s been really fun for me. I just love watching my kids and grandkids bowl.”
HIGH SCHOOL BOWLERS
The final set of twins — a mixed pair — are 17-year-old Averee and Aubree Page, daughter and son of Nicole Heaton and James Page. They also have an older daughter, Ryleigh, who attends The Ohio State University, but does not bowl.
“They want to do better and better … to get the highest scores they can,” said Heaton, who has both twins now living with her. They attend St. Thomas Aquinas High School after transferring from Massillon Washington.
Averee, who played soccer “for a minute” before a broken hip ended her career on the pitch, bowled for Massillon last season and averaged 150 as a varsity starter. She now is a junior.
“When she got to Aquinas, we realized they didn’t have a bowling program. We’re trying to get one started for next season,” Heaton said.
Aquinas used to have a team in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference before the team was discontinued due to having problems recruiting players and coaches.
“We talked to the president of the school and the principal, and we’d like to get something started next year,” said Averee, who posted a signup sheet that drew 15 signatures of students interested in restarting the team.
Aubree, a sophomore, also participated in track.
“He hasn’t had any experience yet (with high school bowling), and he’s kind of back and forth whether he likes it or not,” Heaton said. “He’s bowling with one friend here and maybe when he gets to know other kids at St. Thomas, he might say he wants to do it.
“But Averee … she definitely wants to bowl her last year in high school.”
Heaton said her ex-husband is responsible for getting the twins interested. “He’s the one that got them their equipment and got them going in this,” she added of the twins, who are in their third year of bowling league play overall.
As with the other two sets of twins, again, it is families keeping a tradition alive. And it’s alive at Eastbury.
“We do a lot of things for the kids here … Halloween party, Christmas party, Christmas gifts, awards … we have sponsors that allow us to do different things each month,” Bowen said. “I also do a newsletter once a month with scores, happenings and even some recipes of mine.”
The Superman Youth League has three divisions — bumpers, preps and juniors
“You know, I’ve coached the moms, their kids and brothers and sisters through the years,” Bowen said. “I think I’m going to be little old to handle a third generation. But I want to keep doing this until I can’t walk anymore.”