By Steve Metsch
Desmond Zuro has loved bowling since the first time he sent a ball toward the pins at Bowlero Lyons on 47th Street.
Six years later, the Lyons resident is one of the best high school bowlers in the state.
A sophomore at Morton West High School, Zuro placed 19th of 180 bowlers in the IHSA state bowling championship held Jan. 26 and 27 at St. Clair Bowl in downstate O’Fallon.
His success was recognized by Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty during the Feb. 6 village board meeting.
Getty presented Zuro, 15, with a Standing Tall Award, a wooden replica of the Lyons water tower.
“There are only probably 20 of these in existence. We don’t just give these out to anybody. But you being a young, up-and-coming athlete, I wanted to make sure we give you proper recognition,” Getty said.
Zuro smiled as Getty handed him the award.
“It was very exciting and a lot of fun. I hope I go next year as well,” Zuro said.
In 12 games, he knocked down 2,559 pins to average 213, an impressive feat for a bowler of any age let alone one relatively new to the sport.
Zuro’s best score was 278.
Charlie Hunt, of Hononegah High School in Rockton, won the individual title with 2,767 pins to help his team place ninth. Salem High School was the team champ.
At state, all 180 bowlers bowl six games the first day. Much like the pro golfers tour, the top half – 90 in this case – advance to the final round and bowl six gamers the second day.
Zuro would’ve loved to have the entire Morton West team competing.
“Being there as an individual and not with my team was less fun, I guess, because with a team you get to cheer as a team,” he said.
“All the other teams were super loud. And I was there as an individual. Quiet,” Zuro said.
Bowling appeals to him because he gets to play against himself as well as with his team.
“Once you get a 300, you get to go for the high series,” he said.
He bowled his first 300 game at Rolling Lanes, 6301 Joliet Road, Countryside, last fall.
Zuro uses two hands to bowl using a 15-pound ball.
He does not insert his thumb into the ball, rather just his middle and ring fingers. His left hand is on the other side to help guide the ball down the lane.
Zuro was in grade school when he first bowled at Bowlero, 7700 W. 47th St., Lyons, the longtime bowling alley formerly called Forest Lanes.
This was Zuro’s second year on the Morton West bowling team.
It’s possible, he said, to earn a bowling scholarship at a college. But his first goal is to win state.
The Morton West team practices after school Monday through Friday at Town Hall Bowl, 5205 W. 25th St., Cicero, he said.
Parents Brad Zuro and Indira Dibiase, along with sisters Lola Zuro and Zoe Zuro, attended the board meeting
Brad introduced his children to bowling.
“It’s been great watching him all season. It’s exciting,” Brad said. “I certainly don’t give him any advice now.”