Owens rolls sizzling 825 series on ‘home’ lanes
By Steve Williams
Alex Owens has pretty much grown up at Fountain Lanes. His papaw, David Spiva Sr., is the reason behind that, as he is the longtime manager at the bowling lanes on Broadway in North Knoxville.
The 15-year-old Owens has become an outstanding bowler through the years and on Sept. 21 bowled an 825 series, which is believed to be the highest series ever posted by a Knoxville youngster.
Bowling in a Sunday Youth League, Alex rolled games of 258, 288 and 279. And the day before, he had a 290 game in a Saturday morning Youth League. His fantastic series was bowled on lanes 34 and 35. His previous high series was 793.
“Just staying consistent with my shots and keeping a good mental game,” he said was the key. And after it was over, he said, “I felt amazing.”
Owens, who pointed out that he’s ambidextrous and a two-handed bowler, is a sophomore at Halls High but is allowed to bowl on the Gibbs team by the TSSAA because Halls doesn’t have a bowling program.
Alex said he currently is averaging 220 and hopes to go to the professional ranks someday, “but I’m mainly aiming for college at the moment, then build an education and get a better job.”
Owens mentioned that he knew Devin Littlejohn, who bowled at Tennessee Wesleyan College after becoming the TSSAA state individual champion when he bowled for Hardin Valley Academy a few years ago.
“Devin is out of college and about to be in the PBA next year as a rookie,” said Alex. “Me and him have been really good friends. We used to cross paths and beat each other every once in a while.”
Gibbs Coach Rick Honeycutt said: “Alex was raised at the bowling alley. I remember him laying in the floor and playing with hot wheel cars when I would come in and bowl. He’s probably the best bowler in the district for sure and maybe the region.” Owens replied: “That’s a pretty serious title. I don’t know about that one.”
Alex finished in 15th place at the TSSAA state tournament last year as a freshman, added the Gibbs coach. “He ranked the highest among the five freshmen at the state.”
Alex said his father had not been in his life, “but the person I kind of see as a father figure is Bill Majority. He stepped in as a coach and guided my life in the right direction and he’s been there for most of my life.
“I’m giving the credit to him because he’s been there a lot and he coached me. I think he deserves that credit.”
This past July, Alex bowled in a Junior Gold National Tournament in Wisconsin and finished 213th out of 759 bowlers. He plans to compete again in that tournament next summer in Minnesota.
Coincidentally, Alex’s papaw, who has eight 300 games in his career, rolled an 824 series in 1992 – just one pin short of his grandson’s 825.
SMITH MAKES A VISIT: Gibbs grad Malyiah Smith, now a freshman at Carson-Newman University, returned to Fountain Lanes on Oct. 15 to see her former high school bowling coach and teammates and she gave Coach Honeycutt a big hug.
Smith stood out as a bowler and softball player at Gibbs and reached the state tourney in both sports. She has been taking part in fall practice at shortstop – and said C-N only recruited one shortstop.
BOWLING UPDATE: In the boys’ games last Wednesday, Powell defeated Career Magnet 20-7, L&N STEM rolled past Central 24-3, Gibbs beat Bearden 25-2 and Carter versus South-Doyle was postponed.
The Carter boys are 5-0, while Gibbs and Powell are 4-1. CMA and L&N follow at 4-2 and 3-2, respectively. The Carter girls are 4-0.
