Anonymous Bowlers Survey
Welcome to the 1st Quarterly Anonymous Chicago Bowling Player Poll. We have anonymously polled 15 Bowlers from the Chicagoland area 15 questions before the kickoff of the 2025 Waveland Winter League. As is always the case, not every player answered every question. But this first ever poll means there are more opinions and insights than ever.
Welcome to the 1st Quarterly Anonymous Chicago Bowling Player Poll. We have anonymously polled 15 Bowlers from the Chicagoland area 15 questions before the kickoff of the 2025 Waveland Winter League. As is always the case, not every player answered every question. But this first ever poll means there are more opinions and insights than ever.
Starting with the best bowling in Chicago:
We have a fairly even split between Waveland and Diversey with an angry Timber fan to boot.
Diversey Voters quotes:
“Personalities, bartenders, Justin <3”
“Best oil pattern, best bar, best people”
“Cheaper beer, better bowlers, and older women”
Waveland Voters quotes:
“Proximity to my home. I can drive drunk and not feel bad about it “
“While I think Diversey has the better overall atmosphere and is undeniably the better place to watch a sports game with TVs above the lanes, but Waveland has (at least to me) slightly wider and better oiled lanes. Alley Dogs is solid too”
“All the employees are high”
Our Timber Voter:
“Real wood, cash only, no families”
Favorite place to play shows a different split with Diversey still taking a slim majority but a couple Fireside votes.
Best Team Captain
Moving to the actual teams, we start with the vague title of Team Captain. The emotional heartbeat of the team, who people look to in times of crisis (and usually the person who registers with the league), the team captain has never been more important. Glory and shame are on the table for the Captain and we see that in the results below:
Breandan McClure, affectionately known as the General, has led his team in back to back championships and received the lionshare of the votes as a result. With a knack for team building, including a shrewd pick up of Free Agent Kenny last offseason, McClure has Bowls Deep primed for a strong run next season. Matt Torntory who has captained good, if up and down teams, also has a few votes for his steadfast hand. Alec Avitia garnered zero votes after having to reincorporate his team for the 2nd time in 2 years. Lifes not easy for upstarts at The Waveland.
Breandan McClure Voters
“He recruited The Kid”
“He prioritizes winning and has created a culture of pure killers on the lanes”
“Makes great decisions with team first mentality”
Matt Torntory Voters
“3x champ and cy young winner”
“ the og captain”
“The Tornado has been consistently great and routinely clutch, plus has been a huge ambassador for Zynfadels - especially for the first championship I was involved in that was hotly contested and very controversial with Matt having to go to bat for us against a very angry second place team. True captain and future HoF”
Which current captain, aside from your own, would you want to play for:
The next question is a little kinder to all the captains. With the caveat you couldn't vote for your current captain here is the breakdown:
From the results I think you can conclude huge loyalty from The Generals team having dropped 4 votes from the previous question. Assuming all 4 had to shift there vote to another Captain thats not their own. Matthew Torntory shows out a little better with 5 votes showing solid faith in his ability to lead a team. Last is Alec Avidia who garnered 2 votes and will look to grow his reputation next season.
Tom Casey MVP Voting:
Tom Casey MVP voting was a runaway success for Matt Dahle, who had the lowest handicap in the Waveland November 2024 League by 6 pins. Consistent as they come and with a hot hand, we’ll see if a new Dynasty can form with the steady leadership of Breandan McClure and Matt Dahle leading Bowls Deep in the next league.
Coming up in 2nd in voting with 2 votes is Logan Ruby, overshadowed by Matt Dahle on Bowls Deep, he had the 3rd lowest handicap in the league just edged by his brother Wes Ruby and aforementioned Matt Dahle. Coming up the rear is a 4 way tie with 1 vote each for Sam Biesecker, Michael Richards, Alec Avitia and Chris Lawson. Watch these dark horses in next league play.
Matt Dahle Voter:
“Had the best handicap. That is the only criteria for the award”
“Epitome of consistency, Cy young, champion”
“The Kid has been electric for the last few years but really solidified his Cy Young this season by leading Bowls Deep to another championship. I was astounded when Bowls Deep didn’t put him in for the final game. You don’t bench 2010 LeBron James in the last five minutes of Game 7, but it worked out”
Logan Ruby
“Came in with much longer odds than any of the other MVP candidates. Increasingly got better as the season went on and of course won a ring”
Sam Biesecker:
“Vast improvement”
Michael Richards:
“He’s the best”
And one for the Zamboni:
“You spelled Tom Casey wrong you dumb fuck”
Glue Guy of the Year:
Glue Guy of the Year, an idea straight out of Evan Harts head, had a lot of love to spread around. Logan Ruby wins it in the end, between high end play and a team first attitude, Logan is the complete package and a rock on Bowls Deep. It’s a 3 way tie for 2nd with Chris Lawson, Alec Dodds and Wes Ruby. Chris Lawson and Wes Ruby keep the energy up and steady for the Zynfadels, we’ll see if that can get them over the hump next time. Unfortunately Alec Dodds will be stepping away from the lanes with new familial responsibility so there will be a glue guy vacuum headed into next season.
Logan Ruby:
“Nothing brings people together like going oppo”
“Logan Ruby for always keeping the team focused”
“Calming presence on his team”
Chris Lawson:
“Super clutch”
“Similar to Matt Dahle with his consistency, Chris has one of the best looking shots in the league that always seems to be hitting where he wants it. I’ve always said to the guys that his throw would be like Preset 3 in a bowling video game, which would be like the default two handed option”
Alec Dodds:
“It’s like having your dad on the team.”
Wes Ruby
“Seems to be the glue for not only his own team but for the pin boys as a whole”
Glue Guy of the Year:
Joe Bryza, who started a mini-controversy by almost blowing the Championship for Bowls Deep with an early congratulatory handshake, still seems to have his reputation in high regard around the league. A prized bowler who is returning to Bowls Deep after some interest in Free Agency, would be 1 of the 3 most wanted Bowlers in the league. Josh Lozano did make it to Free Agency and is on the upstart 2 Fingered Fanatics, is ready to make a name for himself and the rest of the league is behind him. Last but not least is Wes Ruby, a stalwart of Waveland from the beginning and one the best bowlers in the league, still has a sterling reputation in Chicago Bowling, if you remember he came in 2nd in our Glue Guy of the Year voting as well, a true double threat.
Joe Bryza Voters:
“morale guy”
“Got a big head juice ain’t worth the squeeze big boy”
Josh Lozano Voters:
“Grinding”
“For the energy he would bring”
Wes Ruby Voters:
“Would love to see Wes and Logan on the same squad. The media would run wild with it”
Who do you NOT want to bowl against in the 10th frame for the Championship:
Voting hasnt been this lopsided since the Tom Casey MVP Award voting but the league is scared of Wes Ruby and his 10th frame antics. Like Aaron Rodgers down against the Bears in the 4th quarter, everyone can feel it coming with the game on the line and Wes Ruby coming off a 9th frame strike. Glue Guy of the year or not, watch out for the Ol’ Rubes. Michael Momot makes his first appearance in the survey with 2 votes. An alley rat, Momot has seen more 10th frames than anyone over the past year and is hoping that work pays off with his new Waveland team this upcoming season.
Wes Ruby Quotes:
“Proven clutch”
“Ice in his veins”
Michael Momot Quote:
“Not only because he’s a genuinely great bowler who can lock in, but he knows how to trash talk really well and rattle you. That’d be tough in a championship game”
Most Overrated Player:
We’ve got two horses out front for Most Overrated Chicagoland Player, in 1st place with 6 votes is Michael Momot. A wide discrepancy here between his high rating in Clutch 10 Frame situations and these results right here. With Mo’s 2 Fingered Fanatics picking up a hot free agent in Oren, theyll have some momentum going into next season. But what will it take for Michael Momot to quiet the doubters?
In 2nd place is Matt Torntore, scoring high on some of the earlier leadership questions hasn't translated into a love for his game. After nearly doubling his handicap since his Cy Young season in last year's Winter Waveland league of 28 (53 Handicap most recently), some are beginning to murmur if he is just a complementary piece on this Zynfadels team. While others take big issue with his pants, he has maybe gotten a little too big for his britches. A return to form from the Tornado would go a long way in preventing Bowls Deep from achieving an unprecedented 3peat.
Michael Momot Voter Quotes:
“should be scratch by now”
“Momot, on and off. If I try i can beat him in a 5 series”
“Michael Momot should be way better for how much he bowls and talks about bowling”
Matthew Torntore Voter Quotes:
“Ugly ass pants”
“Matt Torntore. His pants are trash.”
“Can’t believe he has a girlfriend with those pants. No wonder the other Matt shows up to bowling so much”
Other voters commented on Michael Richards form: “Michael Richard’s because he somehow bowled a 250 with his atrocious form.”
Most Underrated Player:
Last but not least is our MUP Voting with a two way tie at the top for Joe Bryza and Kenny. Joe Bryza, an integral piece of a strong Bowls Deep team, was tied for 5th best handicap last season. Loved by his teammates and the beer wench at the far end of the alley, Joe Bones is looking for his 3rd championship in as many tries. Maturity is the next growth area in his game.
Kenny had only picked up a single vote in any category before storming to the front for MUP. Finishing last season with a strong handicap of 44, good for 4th in the league, Kenny won't be underrated for long with another performance like that. Looking back in the Outlets Archives of bowling scores this seems to be the first bowling league Kenny has participated in.
Joe Bryza Voter Quotes:
“Joe Bryza just because we know his potential”
“He’s got a lot of flak recently for one bad toss after an early congratulations handshake in a game they still won but the fans might forget that he had a 205 earlier and has been a really high scorer the whole season. Fully deserved his first championship and has now established himself in the league. Won’t be underrated soon if he even is at all now”
Kenny Voter Quotes:
“Kenny.”
“Kenny Phillips”
That's the end of our anonymous players survey. Here are some comments left at the end going into next season, which should be one for the record books:
“Maybe find an alley we can smoke cigarettes in while we bowl”
“Zynfadels champions again in 2025 inshallah”
“There’s really only ONE true dynasty in the league. There are 2 teams with 3 championships but , one of the teams is unrecognizable with all the members that have come and left since its inception. If you replace all 39 boards of a bowling lane, is it still the same Lane??……”
“It's incredible how Zynfadels has been able to maintain a standard and win as many championships as they have with all the pieces they've had to replace. That's a great culture over there. Just trying to be the best versions of themselves any given Thursday”