TOLEDO, Ohio — Hayden Wahl was raised at the lanes, bowling since he can first remember.
“My mom and dad both worked at the same bowling alley so it was basically a daycare for me,” Wahl said. “I’d basically just stay there until we left and it kind of just evolved from there.”
The sophomore currently bowls for St. Francis de Sales High School, but has been competing against high schoolers from a young age.
“I also bowled in the junior all-stars travel league around Toledo since I was about 9 or 10 and I was competing with high schoolers then,” he said. “So really I’ve kind of just grown up with this sport.”
This journey has led Wahl to serve as the Knights' varsity captain in just his second year of high school.
“Hayden is willing to help his teammates, whatever it takes to make his team succeed,” said St. Francis head bowling coach Ken Konoff. “He’s a student of the game which is rare. He knows the game. So they look up to him for his knowledge at his age because he has a lot of it.”
Those talents were recently showcased on a new level when he reached a bowler’s ultimate achievement: a 300.
“It got to about the eighth or ninth frame (and) I started to take it a little more seriously," Wahl said. "I’ve gotten to the eighth or ninth before and I kind of just shook it off because I’ve gotten there so many times, so, I’m like, ‘oh, I might have a chance at this.'
“The nerves were unparalleled. I couldn’t even describe it with words. I got up in the tenth frame ... my legs were shaking, my palms were sweaty.”
And then, he finally got it.
“It was crazy. I let go of the last ball, I ran it out hoping that it was going to strike and I saw it, I turned around and everybody was there cheering for me,” Wahl said. “It was ridiculous. Nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”
It was a perfect game going into the season finale this weekend where Wahl and his team will play in the league championship.
“I’m really trying to go in with an open mindset, make sure I make just the best shots I can,” Wahl said. “And hopefully I can defend my King of the Hill title for the sixth consecutive week.”
The King of the Hill tournament is when the top three bowlers bowl one elimination game against each other. Once determined, they keep the title until the following week when the top three bowlers go against the reigning king.
Konoff looks forward to Wahl’s confidence and leadership taking him far to end a successful season. But even more so to continue a successful career with St. Francis.
“I’m excited because I know what I have,” Konoff said. “He helps make the other bowlers better. The freshmen that come in, they have someone to look up to, his work ethic. I’m excited to have him, I couldn’t ask for someone better.”