For some high school athletes, they frown upon the idea of  having their dad be a coach for their favorite sport. It isn’t the case for Washington sophomore bowler Colin Zear, who embraces having his father, Chad, be at the lanes with him, “It really means a lot because he has coached me for a long time.” Colin Zear said, “He has always been my best coach and always helps me, no matter what sport I am doing.”

Chad Zear, who got Colin into bowling in elementary school, has been assisting bowling coaches Sally Reigard and Deb Tisor with bowling techniques for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. The older Zear says Colin isn’t the only member of the family who bowls. “My wife bowls in a league, my 12-year-old son has been bowling since he was about five, and I have a three-year-old that we got into a bumper league that my wife and I got started this year,” Chad Zear said.

Chad Zear says he has become more involved in organized bowling in Washington to help show how it can be a family-oriented activity. “We are excited to try to expand things here in Washington, to make a more family effort at bowling.” Chad Zear said, “It does take time but there are so many opportunities to draw families together, that’s the way it works for us.”

As far as the numbers of kids out for bowling this season, Tisor says the number boy bowlers has increased from seven a year ago to 15 on this year’s team. “It’s the most boys’ we have had in a number of years.” Tisor says, “Usually, we have more girls than boys so this year has been kind of nice to have the reverse.”

In the first two meets of the season, Colin Zear has led Washington boys’ in scoring. He says his best 10 frames of his career came in their last meet against Keokuk, where he scored 257 points out of 300 possible in his first game.  Collin Zear says that makes him excited to get the second half of the season started. “I really would like to make it to state this year.” Zear said, “I feel the chances are there and I am going to take advantage of my opportunities.”

The Washington girls’ and boys’ bowling teams are competing against the Fairfield Trojans this afternoon at Flamingo Lanes in Fairfield. The Demon bowlers host their first home meet January 24 against the Mount Pleasant Panthers at Lebowski’s Rock n Bowl.