Harkins tosses 728 in return from knee surgery
Russ Harkins is one of the elite bowling talents in St. George area bowling and has been since throwing an eye-popping 764 series with 28 strikes in his first-ever league outing within days of moving to St. George from California in January 2019.
And in his first full season, 2019-20, he won the coveted high-average title with a 223 and finished the following season with a 225.
Fast forward to today, and he merits a headline after throwing an electrifying 728 series that featured a 10-bagger in a 277 along with games of 247, 204 and 25 total strikes.
Yes, he's rolled a zillion 700s in a standout career, but this 728 felt special and was likely the most gratifying of all because it marked the end of 18 months of sheer frustration from not being able to bowl because of a knee injury.
Something else making it memorable is the fact it came exactly three months to the day after knee replacement surgery. And that's the perfect segue into mentioning Harkins is quick to credit Dr. Robert Andruss and physical therapists Dave and Katrina for their exceptional work leading to his timely and successful return to the lanes.
Not surprisingly, his jaw-dropping resume on bowl.com will blow you away with milestone achievements like a pair of 800s, nine 300 games and a career-high 226 average.
Harkins was a two-sport athlete in high school playing both basketball and soccer, after which he served four years in the United States Marine Corps.
On his bucket list is a return trip to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial along and cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean.
In other pin action, Shawn Wonder's (728-246) latest scoring output should raise his 198 average, and in youth bowling, Cole Telford, a junior at Desert Hills High School pounded Sunset Lanes with 22 strikes in a 719 series on games of 254, 244 and 221.
Meanwhile, Mo Davis (699-254) continues doing impressive work and good deeds both on, and away from the lanes, Cory Choate parlayed 25 strikes, a clean 256 along with a 227 and 200 for a scrumptious 683 set, and Kyle Clark (681-245) served up another strong effort.
Jorge Grajeda (667-233) delivered his best performance in a month, Larry Rumple averaged 219 between good scores at Dixie (660-257) and Sunset (655-234), Gage Petersohn (626-246) is a Utah tech student who had a good week, Jacob Martinez (612--219) bagged another 600, and Fred Foerster (601-224) scratched out a 600.
Lew Agius (727) led single game scoring with his umpteenth 700, Scott Brosier (607) popped a 256. Chance Evans (617) fired 8 strikes in a clean 257, and Jeff Brown gets his first ink for a 241.
Jack Rasberry, Bobby Dixon, Ire Jeremiah, and Rob Carrier posted games of 233, 215, 203 and 202, respectively.
In women's action, Margie O'Neill set the scoring pace with a 642 set including a clean 245, 20 strikes, and marks on 13-of-14 non-split spare shots, while Bryeann Barckley also tossed 18 strikes including a 5-bagger in a 208 en route to a stellar 633, and Ann Rasmusen likely raised a 190 average with a 631 series.
Kara Kopf-Rasberry (576-204) put up some good scores, Donna Jo Judson (561-198) seems poised for even higher scores, and Tina Cruz KO'd 536 sticks, and Merann Hageman (531-199) did good work.
And Sue Brooks, the secretary extraordinaire of the Elks & Friends League posted a 520, and the inspirational bowler Angie Choate rolled a 505 series with only one open in a 190 game. She's feeling her best in years, and on a recent ice fishing trip to northern Utah, she caught the biggest fish. Cory and Nick, sorry about that!
In single game play, Ashley Thomas (616) chucked a 254 gem, Stephanie Miller (543) uncorked a 232, Marge Jenson rolled a 201, and Amy Darragh also smacked a 201.
Additionally, Joanne Fowler merits ink for rolling a rare 185 all-spare game, and in the Dixie Funtimers Senior League, Linda Handke delivered a 184 all-spare game.
Oh, bay-bee!
Joan Chappell received a 125 Game Award for a 145 ... Meretta Johnson picked up the 6-7-8-10 split ... Janet Parker converted the 6-7-10.
High senior scores
Eric Goldfarb 648-253; Dave Myers 635-214; Larry Rumple 630-234; Dennis Craft 627-226; Norm Ritchie 617-222; Manny Hartmann 612-226; Stan Rasmussen 612-258; Dave Anderson 600-210;; Adam Sedgwick 214; Al Schedin 212; Jerry Bundy 211; Will Hutchinson 205; Jeff Anderson 202; Paul Yssel 202; John Verchota 202; Barry Wooten 201; Bob Lehnen 200; Margie O'Neill 587-211; Susan Hill 562-214; LaRue Dansie 540-215; Connie Bess 528; Ann Rasmusen 528; Janet Parker 526; Lyn Mariluch 524-208; Linda Handke 518-210; Debbie Lehnen 512; Candy Myers spared the 4-10 split.
High scores
John Potter 708-258; Dalton Smith 699-255; Bill Legan 696-268; Keith Reynolds 675-269; Ben Stang 670-241; Russ Harkins 660-249; Kaiden Klingonsmith 657-243; Bill Stauffer 656-249; Matt Hill 653-238; Brendan Thomas 648-234; Mike Hallenbeck 648-242; Tor Lowry 646-241; Dave Myers 645-234; Brayden Brooks 643-234; Iloa Otuafi 634-257; Skyler Moss 633-242; Chuck Irvine 632-225; Bard Hancock 628-221; Blaine Hartley 628-214; Tyler Thomas 628-228; Joseph Graham 626-245; Nick Mace 626-245; Michael Garcia 528-243; Al Oliveira IV 621-222; Patrick Webster 620-246; Jim Bice 620-237; Mason Bedford 618-237; Dennis Craft 617-225; Jake Heaton 616-239; Bruce Breager 615-225; Wil Mariluch 615-220; Troy Olaveson 610-219; Doyle Mouser 609-213; Todd Thomas 605-222; Jacob Martinez 60-4-212; Shane Wilson 604-228; Rick Lesko 603-225; Jerry Bundy 597-219; Lindsay May 246; Ron Floriani 244; Scott Bahrke 244; Jackie Syddall 243; Jeff Brown 241; Chris Scott 236; Justin Seegmiller 230; Jeremy Turlington 229; Brayden Chapman 228; Bruce Arnold 226; Jacob Bouck 226; Nick Stone 226; Trent Nay 225; JC Barrow 221; Kyle Kidman 221; Matt Polatis 220; Marcus Allen 219; Tyler Mickelson 218; Bob Lehnen; David Lee 217; Herb Ridge 215; Justin Hammond 215; Vic Reading 214; Wayne Hoppal 213; Allen Cope 211; Allen Johnson 211; Dave Castro 211; Devin Werner 211; Jim Brooks 211; Max Stayrook 210; Paul Yssel 209; David Palmer 208; Chris Ray 206; Robert Dickey 205; Mark Cruz 204; Tonga Nio; 204; Derek Wallace 203; Irie Jeremiah 203; Jay Ankeny 201; Rob Carrier 202; Tim Brandt 202; Dave Conklin 201; Wes Wells 201; Brekkon Boulter 200; James Henderson 200; Randy Halverson 200; Autumn 592-208; Susan Hill 586-228; Renee Swall 572-198; Dawn Thomas 566-202; Donna Jo Judson 561-198; Sherri Snarr 561-198;Karen Balicki 559-209; Diana Stauffer 558-201; Anne Brosier 553-204; Tina Wilson 551-201; Marcy Thompson 546; Diana Scharf-542-196; PJ Redhouse 542-205; Annette Chugg 531-196; Lisa Moss 531-191; Kallie Kee 524; Hailey Bundy 520; Diana Swart 520-212; Yvette Swart 520; Lizzy David 517-193; Bronwyn Mount 515-194; Debbie Lehnen 504.
Willie Theis covers league bowling in St. George for The Spectrum & Daily News.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Russ Harkins rolls big number, marking return from knee surgery
