Striking Spotlight on Mike Manguso

This edition is going to focus on a very special senior bowler. Now you may be asking yourself what is so special about senior bowling. Well that can be answered by me a couple of ways. Some may have seen on Facebook where I got the chance of a lifetime to bowl the USBC Open Championships with two living legends of the game in Jimmy Schroeder and Glenn “900” Alison. The other reason I feel Senior bowling is so big right now is because if you take a look at the top of the PBA50 tour. For me it takes me back to the mid 90’s where every week you saw a combination of pro’s like Weber, Williams, Bohn, Duke, and Monacelli just to name a few. Over the past couple of years a number of these players have become eligible for the PBA50 Tour. Getting to see these guys called a “Rookie” is kind of funny as most have made a really good living throwing a bowling ball.

Locally there are some very talented senior players and I do not want to dismiss all the great things that they too have done within their career, but this month’s special Striking Spotlight is Mike Manguso. I have known Mike since I was a teenager hanging out at Fair Lanes Squaw Peak. Mike was one of the first to work with me and taught me the basics that there are to bowling. Manguso is still bowling and is a solid 165 average bowler and just recently hit a milestone that no other bowler in the history of the Arizona State USBC Tournament has hit. Manguso just finished competing in his 60th Arizona State Tournament.
“This was the 67th Tournament and I have been involved with the State Association since the early 1990’s and what amazed me the most was that Mike has not missed a single tournament in those 60 years of bowling “John Doyle Arizona State USBC Association manager.
The Manguso family has had bowling in their blood for over 60 years as Mike started bowling with his two brothers and now it is something that he is doing with his children and grand kids. At 91 years young Manguso with his trusted 12 pound ball and his grandson went on to finish 2nd place in the Az State Tournament. (Manguso’s Grandson had back too back 280’s in their doubles series)

I had a chance to talk with Manguso’s daughter Bev and I asked her about the 60 years in the Az State Tournament and how he has never missed one. She told me that he is just one of those luck guys that never gets sick and eats right. It’s also the excitement of the State tournament that brings him back year after year.

As much as Manguso would love to be on the golf course or bowling lanes he finds himself at work at McFarland’s Carpet Service which he owns and it has been a family owned and operated business since 1947. They offer the most comprehensive fine rug and carpet cleaning and rug repair and restoration services in Phoenix and throughout the valley with over 60 years of expertise and experience. Manguso and McFarland’s Carpets has sponsored many teams over the years, so if you see them at the next City / State Tournament come on over and say HI!

Till next time stay Happy, Healthy and Bowling.

Brian Hirsch