PINING FOR PINS Forrest

LOCAL

PINING FOR PINS

STOCKTON LOCAL JOINS THE PROFESSIONAL BOWLING ASSOCIATION

BY ANGELA RUDOLPH

The clattering of pins against an oiled lane. The gentle woosh of shoes being sprayed and passed across a counter. Rows of colorful balls sparkling along aisles waiting to be picked up and thrown. Bowling is not only a diverting pastime enjoyed by many, it is also an incredibly intricate sport.

Forrest Kritzer is a local Stockton semi-pro bowler in the Western Regional Professional Bowling Association (PBA). He was first introduced to the competitive side of bowling by his older brother, Louis, who unfortunately passed away in 2012. Without Louis, Forrest never would have landed in the sport, finding his footing after his brother took him to his first competition when he was just 11 years old. His passion was ignited that day and he’s been an avid bowler ever since.

Forrest says he grew up during an opportune time in Stockton’s history to become a competitive bowler. He participated in the youth competitive league at Pacific Avenue Bowl. “Many have remarked that our youth generation, from the time I was 12-15, was the best that the center has ever had,” says Forrest. “I was lucky enough to play against some of the best youth competition. Competing against the best is the ideal way to improve.”

As the owner of his own trucking company, Forrest is working hard to get things in order so that he can take a few years to fully dedicate himself to bowling and become a National PBA bowler. For now, he enjoys his regional PBA competitions, and often bowls with his wife, Brittany, who he met while competing in local tournaments. You can even watch the husband-wife duo occasionally play each other on Forrest’s YouTube channel, with their threeyear-old son, Beau, along for the ride.

If you ask others what they are most impressed with in terms of Forrest’s bowling career, they’d likely discuss his notable nineteen 300+ scoring games, but Forrest is most proud of finishing in the top 8 in a PBA regional tournament. The PBA offers the highest competitive level of scratch bowling and that’s exactly what Forrest desires most. Once he becomes a National PBA bowler, Forrest will be traveling all over the United States, representing Stockton and competing against the best.