I have a story to tell.

This story is not about me or about showing how far I’ve come, although, honestly, that story is pretty cool, too.

This story is for other bowlers who are finding joy and confidence and, most importantly, calm through bowling.

You see, I am a proud adult on the autism spectrum and a lifelong bowler. I bowled in high school. I bowled in college. I am a recent graduate in communications and broadcasting. And I am an advocate. 

This is an opportunity for me to use those communication skills to shine a much-needed spotlight on an underrepresented part of the bowling community: autistic bowlers. Many people don’t realize that this quiet but great group of athletes exists in our game, athletes who not only love the game, but in many cases excel at it. I want to help the bowling world see this community not just as participants but as athletes who deserve recognition, opportunity and a chance to shine.

There are kids out there who are just starting to learn to bowl and love that sound of the pins, like I did. There are teenage autistic bowlers who really like how bowling makes them feel calm, like I did. And there are adult bowlers like me, who think that bowling is more than just a game. It is the thing that makes them feel like they belong. 

My personal journey began at Wood Dale Bowl in Wood Dale, Illinois, when I was six years old. My mom took me and a friend there one day just to burn off some energy, and I had a lot of it back then. Having an energetic son with autism and ADHD, who could not talk very well, wasn’t easy for my parents. They were always looking for activities to get me into. I’m sure they thought I would bowl for a bit and quickly move onto another activity, but something clicked right away. I had so much fun that I kept asking my mom to take me back.

I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. Bowling runs in my family. My grandpa was a bowler, and so was my dad. My parents decided to put me in the Bumper Buddies bowling program. I didn’t know how to bowl the right way yet, but they thought if they put me in a weekly league I could learn something and have fun at the same time. I threw the ball so hard that the pins would fly everywhere. People would say, “He doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he sure can know down the pins!” I didn’t have any technique, but I already loved the feeling of bowling.

When I was about 10, I moved up to a junior league at Wood Dale. That’s when I started to learn some real skills — how to line up my shot, control, and eventually hook the ball. The more I practiced, the better I got. I started collecting free game coupons, summer passes, anything that would allow me to bowl more. 

Bowling gave me focus and confidence that I didn’t always have in my life because of my autism. Bowling made me feel good.

That’s also around the time I met my first mentor, Donny Campo. Donny was already in high school and bowled in the junior league. He knew I was looking for a spot on a team and his team had an opening. Despite the age difference, he saw something in me. I learned so much from him and he still coaches me and bowls with me to this day.

In 2017, I joined the bowling team at Fenton High School. I was in special education at the time, and I wasn’t sure how I’d do on the team. Naturally, I was really surprised and proud of myself when I made varsity my very first year — and remained on varsity for all four years. I loved being part of the team, and I worked to get better. The coach, Adam Peterson, had some experience working with special needs kids, so it was easy to talk to him. He had seen me bowl when I was in middle school.

“The one thing I learned was to be clearer when giving instructions,” Coach Peterson recalls. “And one thing that stood out about you, Matt, was how much extra time you put into your game, practicing on weekends and during the summer. And whenever you hit a new high score or picked up a tough spare, you got so excited. Your joy on the lanes left a lasting impression on me.

“Coaching you reminded me that everyone learns differently, and that bowling really is a sport for everyone. I tell other coaches, ‘Be patient, flexible and open-minded.’ I also believe some training could be helpful for coaches without experience in special education.”

During high school, I also got a chance to help other kids. Even though I wasn’t in the Special Olympics, I volunteered with a Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) youth-bowling program. I had enough experience by then to be able to help younger kids with physical and learning disabilities. In many cases, it was as simple as showing them how to put on their shoes, how to pick out a ball and, of course, how to roll it down the lane. I think I worked well with them because I understood them and never judged them. I just wanted them to have fun and feel successful, just like I did when I was their age.

When I graduated from high school, college was not really on my mind. I thought I would just get a job and keep bowling in leagues. But my coach suggested I try out for a college team, so I did and, incredibly, got a scholarship at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, not far from my home. That’s when everything changed.

For starters, that’s when Donny Campo became a true mentor. 

“I’ve known you since your youth bowling days,” Donny remembers. “But I didn’t start mentoring you until your freshman year in college. You were the first athlete with autism I’d ever coached, and it challenged me to grow as a mentor.”
Donny said that one of the biggest hurdles with me was helping develop muscle memory and get outside my comfort zone. He knew I was a drummer, so he tried to connect my footwork and rhythm of music to improve timing and help me understand the flow of the game.

“It was so cool to see you progress as much as you did,” he says. “Your targeting became more accurate. You learned how to make adjustments on the lanes.”

I’ll never forget bowling my first 200 game not long after learning how to throw a hook. I also shot my first 300 and contributed to both the JV1 and JV2 teams.

“Coaching you has taught me patience and has made me think differently about how to teach the sport. I really believe that bowlers with autism can achieve great things — even reach the PBA Tour.”

My first year was sometimes difficult because I was the only bowler with autism competing on the team. But I always accepted help from my teammates and coach, and I never gave up. I had so much fun and learned so much on that team. And I’m so proud to say I was a collegiate bowler. I’m proud of everything I accomplished there.

A lot of my success at Judson was also because of our head coach, Vince Biondo. He liked that I even started practicing with the college team during the summer before I started at Judson. And, like my other coaches and mentors, he had never worked with someone with autism before. But, also like the others, Coach Biondo quickly realized that keeping things simple was the key.

“I took things one step at a time to help figure out what worked best for you,” Coach Biondo said. “Just giving you tips in a clear, organized way helped the most. We just kept going over the basics, and that worked. Coaching you reminded me how important it is to keep things simple. That helped me become a better coach overall.

“You also reminded me that loving the game and having fun is just as important as getting better. Watching you improve and hit new milestones were the best moments. You made such steady progress over the years, and I could see you becoming more mature and responsible — not just as a bowler, but as a person.”

Bowling has helped me become the person I am today. I’ve competed in leagues and tournaments for 15 years. Junior leagues, high school competitions, collegiate bowling. I’ve bowled all over the country — Las Vegas, Reno, Baton Rouge and all over Illinois. I even bowled in the Pro Bowlers Association LBC National Championships and Open Championships. Competing at that level makes me feel like my hard work is paying off. And it is so cool to sometimes be bowling alongside the pros.

Personally, bowling is my release. Whenever I’m sad or anxious, I go bowling and it cools me down. It helps me chill out when I need it. 

I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I’ve learned from them. I know there is so much more to learn, and I keep trying every day to learn the patterns and new techniques.
Most importantly, bowling can help athletes with autism. Doctors, therapists and even coaches think that bowling is a great sport for people with autism. Occupational therapists say it helps with coordination and how to move your body. It also helps with focus and routines, because it’s a game of repetition.

Bowling even helps with social skills. I know it’s helped me with all these things. It has helped me physically, mentally and socially. It helped me believe in myself and gave me a sense of community. It has given me the confidence that I always needed. When I go bowling, I know I’m going to fit it and that makes me feel good.

Bowling is likely the same for other autistic athletes as it is for me. It provides the place where I feel part of something. I’m always comfortable in a bowling center and have made a lot of friends through the game. The routine of the game is comforting. And people accept me when I’m bowling and don’t judge me, even though they might not always understand me. 

I wanted to share this story because I know there are other bowlers out there with autism who need bowling the way I did and still do. Bowlers like Trey Brand of Oklahoma, who I had read about because he learned the two-handed bowling style like Jason Belmonte.

“I love bowling because it is something I can do without having to rely on others,” Trey said. “It’s just me. And it makes me feel good.”

Jon Harmon is a Special Olympics bowler that I communicate with on social media, and he said, “My disabilities would never stop me from bowling because my concentration, focus, belief and faith are stronger than ever.”

And I’ve known and bowled with Ian Carter and Emmett Spain, two of my best friends for many years, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. Ian has bowled league with me, and Emmett has bowled with the Special Olympics. 

There are many more bowlers like us who love the game and who benefit from its challenge and community.

My dream is to be on the PBA Tour someday. That would take my confidence and pride to another level. I want to win championships, compete at the highest level I can and even make money doing what I love.

I want to be an autistic bowler on the PBA because I want to inspire other people with autism or disabilities, and maybe even teach younger kids on the spectrum to ball and inspire a next generation.