HAMMOND | Maintaining success isn't always easy.
That fact was on display in Sunday's second day of the Times Classic co-sponsored by Pepsi at Olympia Lanes.
In the past few weeks, Mike Wieser has recorded an 834 (after handicap) series and a 300 game. He was about as hot as anyone coming into the tournament.
But Wieser only managed to roll a 658 in his first attempt to qualify for the Class SA semifinals.
"I just had no carry today," Wieser said. "It's all upstairs. It's my head, just pushing too much instead of going out there and executing."
After bowling three games in his Sunday doubles league, the 62-year-old Wieser stuck around for another four in the 11:30 a.m. squad. He said the extra work had more to do with his poor day than any strategy issues.
"I don't strategize," Wieser said. "When you get this old, you don't strategize. You just take what the alleys give you."
Toward the other end of the bowling center was Al Geller, who posted the highest individual game score with a 299 in his opening round.
"In practice the shot worked and it was still there when we started," Geller said. "I stole (a strike) in the fifth (frame) and I knuckled on in the 12th."
Geller left the two pin in the last frame to just miss a perfect game. From there, he rolled a 188 followed by a 193.
"The lanes changed and got tighter and tighter," Geller said.
He nearly saved his day with a 255 in the final game to finish with a 701 series, which Geller expects to be close to the SA semifinal cutoff. He said he'll probably be back to try to improve that score.
Lake Shore Bowling Association hall of famer Herman Jones III decided to come to Olympia Lanes after a 16-hour shift at U.S. Steel.
"I bowled like crap. You name it, I did it wrong," Jones said. "It was a great shot. I just didn't play it right."
Jones day went so badly that by the fourth game, he was bantering playfully with friends watching and joking about $1 bets to hit specific shots.
"I was awful. I can live with that," Jones said.
He didn't even keep track of his series score but vowed to return.
"Oh, I'll be back," Jones said. "I'll have another ball in the bag, a different attitude and some sleep."
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