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Sports

Local Resident Competes in PBA

NHP resident Thomas Brodowski is an achieved Professional Bowlers Association competitor.

Election Day 1960 was the first time New Hyde Park resident Thomas Brodowski picked up a bowling ball and the moment he discovered his passion for the game.

“I would walk past a bowling center leaving grammar school,” said Brodowski. “A couple of us went bowling that day and I took a liking to it.”

About two years later, Brodowski started bowling in junior leagues and excelled at the sport. He continued to bowl throughout high school at Alexander Hamilton in Elmsford, NY. Now at 60 years old, he has become a notable bowler with talent.

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Brodowski was born and raised in Brooklyn. He moved to New Hyde Park in 1989 after his divorce to be closer to his two children, Gina, 26, and Thomas, 29. After working 30 years for the NYC Transit, he retired, allowing him to become a more competitive bowler.

After turning 50, Brodowski joined the Grand Master Bowling Club, a senior league with tournaments across Long Island, achieving a number of victories. He took his talent further by becoming a member of the Professional Bowlers Association five years ago, which allows him to bowl in senior tournaments along the east coast.

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His most memorable victory occurred in Bay Shore, when he won his first professional tournament in 2010 competing against bowlers of all ages.

“At 58 yrs old I was beating up on the 20 and 30 year olds,” he said.

In the last year, Brodowski has competed on the PBA Senior National Tour, featuring in 11 events around the country from Florida to California. “Hall of Famers” such as Tom Baker and Walter Ray Williams also competed in this event.

“It would be a dream come true to bowl against some of these professionals I’ve watched on television,” said Brodowski.

Brodowski bowls in about 35 to 40 tournaments a year. With each tournament, lane conditions created by a machine can vary. Professional events have a more challenging condition, making it more difficult to obtain a higher score.

“I have around 14 or 15 sanction 300 games, two of them on professional tours,” said Brodowski.

Currently dealing with a torn wrist ligament, Brodowski attends physical therapy, but continues to bowl in pain.

“It hasn’t slowed me down that much,” he said. “I will keep playing until I no longer physically can, or I’m unable to be competitive.”

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