Georgia bowler overcomes obstacles, enjoys USBC Open Championships
June 28, 2010
RENO, Nev. - When Cal Hutchison of Boston, Ga., was born, his doctors didn't give him much of a chance to lead a productive life, but he defied the odds and has even become an avid bowler.
The 29-year-old recently made his sixth appearance at the USBC Open Championships, which was an exciting and emotional experience for him and his father, Robert.
It is always special for Robert to see his son succeed at the sport he loves, and after thinking that it would never be possible for him to play sports, every day he watches him bowl is a blessing.
"I videotaped him walking down Center Aisle, and I just started to cry," Robert Hutchison Sr. said. "I watched him complete high school and he loves to bowl, which were things we thought he might not be able to do. There are no words to describe it."
As a newborn, Hutchison was diagnosed with neonatal meningitis, a form of meningitis that affects an individual during the early stages of development. Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which are the layers of material that surround the brain. In his case, he had something similar to a stroke as a newborn that left him unable to use his right arm.
When Hutchison was 9 years old, his father decided to take him and his sister, Holli, to a bowling center just to pass the time on a rainy summer afternoon. From the moment he stepped into the center, he was hooked on bowling. He spent the rest of that summer at Rose Bowl in Thomasville, Ga.
Hutchison still loves the sport just as much as he did 20 years ago, and he enjoys the opportunity to compete at the Open Championships.
"I love bowling," said Cal Hutchison, who works at Jac's Bowling Lanes in Valdosta, Ga. "I practice when I get off work on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bowling is a very challenging sport, and it's different. I would like to one day bowl a 300 game, too."
When Hutchison got involved with youth bowling, he went to a bowling seminar conducted by Rick Oelkers and began learning the basics of the game. Another important person in his life is Gaylon Spears, who also worked with him when he was young.
In 1999, Hutchison competed in the Special Olympics World Games in Durham, N.C., and won two gold medals and one silver medal.
"Rick has helped me improve a lot," Cal Hutchison said. "He taught me a lot and has been very helpful. I enjoyed winning the gold medals, and my dad keeps them in his office."
Spears also remembers coaching Hutchison and notes that he was a joy to coach.
"Cal is a very friendly human being and knows no strangers," said Spears, who is the general manager of Bowling Solutions Pro Shop in Rock Hill, S.C. "He was a very coachable young man and would mimic everything you would show him. His simple ideas of bowling and the ability not to feel pressure in competition really makes him difficult to beat on the lanes, not to mention his sense of humor."
Hutchison also has experience bowling in various other tournaments and has faired well against his competition.
"I recall in a scratch tournament several years ago, he qualified for match play," Spears said. "There were a handful of regional PBA members, including myself, in this tournament and he actually beat a couple of us. I believe he shot a 260 plus to my 240 plus. He took it in stride as if he thought it was supposed to be that way."
When Cal is not working or competing, he likes to watch his favorite hometown sports teams play.
"I like baseball and football," Cal Hutchison said. "I watch the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons all the time. I really like Jason Heyward. He is pretty good."
As for the Open Championships, there is no place that Cal would rather be year after year than enjoying his time on the tournament lanes with his family and friends.
"I still get excited every time I come here," Cal Hutchison said. "I really like the tournament, and I also like the Stadium."
This year marked Hutchison's third visit to the Stadium, where he posted his career-high all-events total of 1,544 in 2004. This year, he shot 543 in singles, 514 in team and 435 in doubles for 1,492.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
The 29-year-old recently made his sixth appearance at the USBC Open Championships, which was an exciting and emotional experience for him and his father, Robert.
It is always special for Robert to see his son succeed at the sport he loves, and after thinking that it would never be possible for him to play sports, every day he watches him bowl is a blessing.
"I videotaped him walking down Center Aisle, and I just started to cry," Robert Hutchison Sr. said. "I watched him complete high school and he loves to bowl, which were things we thought he might not be able to do. There are no words to describe it."
As a newborn, Hutchison was diagnosed with neonatal meningitis, a form of meningitis that affects an individual during the early stages of development. Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which are the layers of material that surround the brain. In his case, he had something similar to a stroke as a newborn that left him unable to use his right arm.
When Hutchison was 9 years old, his father decided to take him and his sister, Holli, to a bowling center just to pass the time on a rainy summer afternoon. From the moment he stepped into the center, he was hooked on bowling. He spent the rest of that summer at Rose Bowl in Thomasville, Ga.
Hutchison still loves the sport just as much as he did 20 years ago, and he enjoys the opportunity to compete at the Open Championships.
"I love bowling," said Cal Hutchison, who works at Jac's Bowling Lanes in Valdosta, Ga. "I practice when I get off work on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bowling is a very challenging sport, and it's different. I would like to one day bowl a 300 game, too."
When Hutchison got involved with youth bowling, he went to a bowling seminar conducted by Rick Oelkers and began learning the basics of the game. Another important person in his life is Gaylon Spears, who also worked with him when he was young.
In 1999, Hutchison competed in the Special Olympics World Games in Durham, N.C., and won two gold medals and one silver medal.
"Rick has helped me improve a lot," Cal Hutchison said. "He taught me a lot and has been very helpful. I enjoyed winning the gold medals, and my dad keeps them in his office."
Spears also remembers coaching Hutchison and notes that he was a joy to coach.
"Cal is a very friendly human being and knows no strangers," said Spears, who is the general manager of Bowling Solutions Pro Shop in Rock Hill, S.C. "He was a very coachable young man and would mimic everything you would show him. His simple ideas of bowling and the ability not to feel pressure in competition really makes him difficult to beat on the lanes, not to mention his sense of humor."
Hutchison also has experience bowling in various other tournaments and has faired well against his competition.
"I recall in a scratch tournament several years ago, he qualified for match play," Spears said. "There were a handful of regional PBA members, including myself, in this tournament and he actually beat a couple of us. I believe he shot a 260 plus to my 240 plus. He took it in stride as if he thought it was supposed to be that way."
When Cal is not working or competing, he likes to watch his favorite hometown sports teams play.
"I like baseball and football," Cal Hutchison said. "I watch the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons all the time. I really like Jason Heyward. He is pretty good."
As for the Open Championships, there is no place that Cal would rather be year after year than enjoying his time on the tournament lanes with his family and friends.
"I still get excited every time I come here," Cal Hutchison said. "I really like the tournament, and I also like the Stadium."
This year marked Hutchison's third visit to the Stadium, where he posted his career-high all-events total of 1,544 in 2004. This year, he shot 543 in singles, 514 in team and 435 in doubles for 1,492.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.