MONROE - Monroe junior Brad Krueger lives for bowling.
In addition to bowling a 300 earlier this year, he just missed qualifying for state in a Pepsi tournament Saturday in Janesville.
Krueger, 17, finished second in the scratch division of the Pepsi tournament. He finished with a 662 and just missed qualifying for state by eight pins.
He bowled a 181 in his first game and then rebounded.
"It's not great," Krueger said. "The only thing that hurt me is I really didn't have a line to play."
Perfection
Krueger bowled a 300 in a junior league Feb. 6 at Leisure Lanes.
"It just kind of happened," Krueger said. "I was not really hyping it up in my head. I think it didn't really sink in. I got to the 10th frame and I was like, 'I have thrown nine strikes in a row and in three more I would have a perfect game.' I knew I would be able to do it eventually. I just didn't know it would be then."
He received an e-mail from pro bowler Pete Weber who congratulated him on his accomplishment after he bowled the 300. He also will receive a diamond ring for his accomplishment.
"I have seen him bowl on TV," Krueger said. "I didn't expect an e-mail from a pro."
Krueger started bowling in fifth grade. He learned from practicing with friends and then honed his bowling skills with coach Bob Bennett.
"He is the one we go to when we are having trouble," he said of Bennett.
Krueger said through practice and bowling with older teammates he developed a hook.
Channeling emotions is one of the most challenging aspects for bowlers.
"For me it's the nerves," Krueger said. "If you start overthinking, it just goes down hill."
In the summer, Krueger practices bowling three to four and a half hours a week. During the school year, when he balances school with a job at Culvers, he said he bowls in the Junior League and Pepsi tournaments.
He is looking forward to continuing his bowling career in college. Krueger would like to get a bowling scholarship, but he knows there are not many colleges that offer scholarships for bowlers. He is considering going to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to bowl.
He is planning on getting an engineering degree, but he won't close the door on bowling.
"If I can move on and go pro or amateur, that would be cool," he said.
In addition to bowling a 300 earlier this year, he just missed qualifying for state in a Pepsi tournament Saturday in Janesville.
Krueger, 17, finished second in the scratch division of the Pepsi tournament. He finished with a 662 and just missed qualifying for state by eight pins.
He bowled a 181 in his first game and then rebounded.
"It's not great," Krueger said. "The only thing that hurt me is I really didn't have a line to play."
Perfection
Krueger bowled a 300 in a junior league Feb. 6 at Leisure Lanes.
"It just kind of happened," Krueger said. "I was not really hyping it up in my head. I think it didn't really sink in. I got to the 10th frame and I was like, 'I have thrown nine strikes in a row and in three more I would have a perfect game.' I knew I would be able to do it eventually. I just didn't know it would be then."
He received an e-mail from pro bowler Pete Weber who congratulated him on his accomplishment after he bowled the 300. He also will receive a diamond ring for his accomplishment.
"I have seen him bowl on TV," Krueger said. "I didn't expect an e-mail from a pro."
Krueger started bowling in fifth grade. He learned from practicing with friends and then honed his bowling skills with coach Bob Bennett.
"He is the one we go to when we are having trouble," he said of Bennett.
Krueger said through practice and bowling with older teammates he developed a hook.
Channeling emotions is one of the most challenging aspects for bowlers.
"For me it's the nerves," Krueger said. "If you start overthinking, it just goes down hill."
In the summer, Krueger practices bowling three to four and a half hours a week. During the school year, when he balances school with a job at Culvers, he said he bowls in the Junior League and Pepsi tournaments.
He is looking forward to continuing his bowling career in college. Krueger would like to get a bowling scholarship, but he knows there are not many colleges that offer scholarships for bowlers. He is considering going to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to bowl.
He is planning on getting an engineering degree, but he won't close the door on bowling.
"If I can move on and go pro or amateur, that would be cool," he said.
