Kathleen Olson rolls a record-breaker 717 High Series

A new Highest Woman’s Series Bowling Pin Trophy will soon be added to the lineup of pins on the wall at the Ely Bowling Center that hasn’t changed since 1981 when Frances Church rolled a 685. That score hadn’t been beat til Kathleen Olson of Ely rolled a 693 and then beat herself with a 717 on the last day of the Wednesday Morning League on April 20. The games were 235, 246 and 236. Kathleen has been bowling for about 25 years mainly in Ely and recently in Babbitt also. Kathleen’s husband Bob Olson is also a bowler and he is who originally got Kathleen into the sport. She threw a straight ball for many years and then Bob encouraged her to get a fingertip throwing ball which gives a little more curve to the ball and a little more pin action when it hits the pins. She has been working with that type of ball for 10 years. Now she has found another type of ball, chosen by Kerry Perushek, owner of the bowling Alley. There is a lot to the ball and also how well the lane is oiled determines how the ball reacts to the lane. Concentration is essential to make sure you hit your mark. Nowadays, bowling balls are made of different materials with reactive resins and different decors. The balls even smell nice.