Dickerson finds his groove

At 19, Doug Dickerson took a break from bowling to serve in the U.S. Army. But when he returned to the lanes 10 years later, it didn't take him long to get rolling again.

Since his comeback in 1999, the 33-year-old Dickerson has cashed in on 11 of the 15 tournaments he's entered.

In the 2002 Greater Ozarks Open, he placed in the top 100 out of more than 6,000 males in singles and 13th out of more 3,000 in doubles. He continued his success in March of 2003, when he placed 56th in the Missouri State Championship Tournament in Imperial. The event, which marked Dickerson's first state competition, featured more than 1,600 bowlers.

This past December, he traveled to Cahokia, Ill., for the Professional Bowling Association Midwest Regional Knittig's Bowl Christmas Tournament, where he faced some of bowling's all-time best. Dickerson, who bowled a total of 22 games in the three-day event, advanced to the semifinal round and finished 22nd of nearly 100 entries.

"I made it further than I expected," he said, "and I learned a lot about what it takes to compete at this level. I was excited because I had done well in the tournament, but I was also exhausted after all those games."

Dickerson, who serves as the director of the Cape Girardeau District Bowling Association, knows the amount of time spent in the lanes has played a role in his success. He bowls at least twice a week, and his 218 average in the Sunday Nite Newcomers League in Jackson ranks second. He also sets aside time to bowl with his wife, Heather, and his sons, Daniel and Bryce.

After several close calls, he finally bowling his first 300 game in November. Dickerson considers that perfection gmae his biggest accomplishment.

"I'm pretty proud of the 300," he said. "Some people strive for years and never do that."

Dickerson admitted that the last frame of his unforgettable game was nerve-racking, but his past competitive experience pulled him through.

"Competition just runs in the blood," said Dickerson, who credits much of his success to his teenage experience in high-power rifle competitions. "I had to have good concentration to be able to shoot the rifle well and I learned to be very aware of the surroundings. Those competitions were very mental, and it's been a big benefit to my bowling."

Dickerson plans to keep playing in the PBA at the regional level, but knows with two young children, a spot in the national tour is nearly impossible. Either way, he's determined that his competitive nature will bring him to the top.

"I just like to compete," he said. "I'm by far not the best at it yet, but hopefully someday I will be the best at it down here. I need to keep pushing myself."