By Journal Times staff | Posted: Sunday, May 10, 2009 12:00 am
He might have been a memory.
Instead, Bill Lister is a champion, not to mention a medical miracle.
A man who has endured three heart attacks since 1992 and a torn right bicep that led to a torn rotator cuff, won the Super Senior's Division of The Journal Times Match Game Tournament Bowling Championship Sunday afternoon at Castle Lanes.
Lister took the lead in the sixth and final game with his eighth 279 of the year and finished with a total of 1,422. Rounding out the six-man field were Ron Kuchenbecker (1,363), Larry Hansen (1,294), John Yazek (1,273), Clayton Venne Jr. (1,201) and Tom Kwas (1,160).
Not bad, especially considering Lister said he almost died after being stricken with his most recent heart attack while bowling Sept. 11, 2006.
"If they hadn't gotten me to All Saints when they did … 15 more minutes and I wouldn't be talking to you right now," he said.
Should Lister's championship be considered a surprise considering his medical history? Not necessarily.
Since the 62-year-old Lister returned to bowling in early November after undergoing rotator cuff surgery June 22 at Froedtert Hospital, he has been bowling as he has in his career.
"I think I am probably bowling better because I am coaching kids and making them better and I'm learning from the kids how to make my game better," said Lister, a Madison native who has lived in Caledonia since 1996. "Jumping from bronze level to silver as a coach has taught me a few things about my game that I've been able to utilize."
On the subject of teaching, Lister didn't hesitate to pass along a tip to Hansen, his first opponent Sunday. Hansen responded by edging Lister 223-222, but that didn't faze Lister in the least.
He went on to lose to Yazek 233-226 in the second match before starting to make his move. After defeating Kuchenbecker 193-159, Lister beat Kwas 206-194
before losing to Venne 214-206.
But then Lister took the overall lead for the first time with his signature performance of the day, defeating Yazek
279-172 in the positioning round.
"I took it one frame at a time and made sure I kept my eye on my target, reached out, followed through and, as in anything, I had a few lucky hits and the pins fell," Lister said. "But overall, I felt
very smooth."
The championship is Lister's fourth this year, following the City Doubles Handicap with partner Paul Herman, the Wisconsin State Seniors Singles Handicap. What does this retired Air Traffic Control Radar Maintenance man in the Air Force think of his most recent championship?
"I just went into the day, bowled the best I could and may the cards fall where they fall," said Lister, who was fourth in qualifying. "I had no expectations of winning this tournament."
The tournament continues at 6:30 p.m. today with the first of two women's finals rounds. Women's finals will also be Thursday.