Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Anne Rigor Terrence Dowling shoots for the pins and takes a few down. All of the bowling students go through a couple of rounds per class, aiming to improve upon their scores.

Skittle-colored, 8-plus pound balls are the weapon of choice in the Student Union's underground war zone. Even without complete silence in the lower-level alley, students can still hear a pin drop in their 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. bowling class.

"I was horrible before," said Matt Cole, an intermediate bowler and a senior television, radio and film major.

"He sucked," David Huynh, a classmate, interrupted.

"Before this game, my high score was 205," Cole continued.

He then burst his ball down the lane to finish his last frame and ended up with a score of 236.

Jane Osterhaus, instructor for all beginner, intermediate and advanced bowling classes, said the highest score she'd seen this semester from a student is 246.

Osterhaus said the intermediate and advanced bowlers shared the lanes during their combined class and that advanced students scored an average of 180 to 200. A perfect game for Spartans and bowlers in general is a score of 300.

"I'm in advanced," said Dominic Dizon, a junior business major, "because there was no space left in intermediate."

Dizon, who said his high score was 215, said he was a part of a Filipino bowling league at Mission Lanes in Milpitas before joining the class but that he learned a couple of new techniques.

"I learned better footwork," Dizon said about how to properly move before rolling the ball. "I didn't know about that whole four-step and six-step approach."

One student arrived to class early and slid across the metaphorical dance floor time and time again, perfecting his four-step-then-slide combination, looking like Michael Jackson's anti-self with his reverse moonwalk.

Dizon said the first part of the semester was dedicated to three-member team battles and that students could choose their own teams.

"Whichever teams beats its average by the most points wins," Dizon said.

"Now it's individual, so whoever's average is highest is the winner," Dizon said. "You're basically competing against yourself."

There were about 30 men and 10 women in class Tuesday.

Dizon said there was a one-time $40 fee to get in the class, but it includes a membership card that could get students discounts on games outside of class.

Osterhaus said the advanced students have to best their bowling averages on test day and that the intermediates would have to complete a written test.

"There's more pressure on the advanced players because everyone's watching," she said.

Cole said the difference between this class and going to a bowling alley was the practice sessions.

"We can mess around without worrying about paying," Cole said.

Sunny Malatesta, an intermediate bowler and a communications studies senior who mentioned that her high score was 164, said Osterhaus taught her a different way to throw the ball.

"I'm more consistent now," Malatesta said.

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