Wednesday, November 30, 2011

IKAN User Profile: Aaron Parker, Florida

Aaron Parker has had a lot of fun learning to bowl and improving his game over the last couple of months.  My new friend and fellow Central Florida Quad Squad Bowler, Aaron's first game IKAN-style was a 101 on September 10th, which is a good first game.  In his second, he had a 124!  Not bad for a person who has been paralyzed as a C7 quadriplegic for the last 30 years.

But Aaron was using a house ball, and the problem with that is every time you go bowling, you have to learn how the borrowed ball is going to curve with the different positions we can set it up in (each ball is different).  So Aaron purchased a used house ball, which I think is quite smart because you can test as many as you want until you find one that works well for you.  And Aaron worked his way up to a high game of 144 -- until our latest Quad Squad outing.

On November 19th, Aaron started out with a 125, then had a 132, and then he got on a roll with a 156 -- a new personal best.  But he wasn't done!  He kept making quality shots and in game four he actually bowled a 179!  His scoresheet is HERE.

What was particularly impressive is that Aaron had only one open frame (a frame without a strike or spare) in his 179 game, and the open frame was a split.  Not only that, but just before Aaron bowled his 179, I bowled a 170, and Aaron needed to pickup his spare in the 10th frame, or he would've finished with a 169 (we Quad Squad Bowlers have a friendly competition for high score when we bowl).  I was happy to see Aaron bowl so well, even though he beat me.

Here are Aaron's profile answers:

Name: Aaron Parker
Age: 56
Location: Umatilla, Florida
Reason for Wheelchair Use: C-7 Quadriplegic
Onset or Injury Date: 7-1-81
Wheelchair Operation Method: Joy Stick
High Bowling Score: 179
Approx Bowling Average: 125
Typical Range of Scores: first 9 weeks: 100-130; last two weeks: 125-179
Bowling Frequency: Once a week
Bowling Ball(s):  Used house ball 15 lbs. 11 oz.
Quote from Aaron: "God has truly blessed us wheelchair users with good enjoyment through Bill and Claude's invention of the IKAN Bowler.  Thanks!"

Thanks Aaron -- keep up the good work!

Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 223 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
My blog: http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net