When Oren Alsager isn’t bowling in Rhinelander, he’s up in Eagle River. When he’s not competing in tournaments across Wisconsin, he’s coaching middle schoolers on their approach.
His coach puts it plainly: “The kid lives in a bowling alley.”
That dedication just paid off big time. Alsager became the first Rhinelander Co-op bowler to qualify for the state tournament since 2022, finishing eighth out of 124 competitors in District 9 standings. Now he’s headed to Weston for the High School State Bowling Meet on March 6.
Summer Practice Transforms a Bowler
Alsager didn’t stumble into state competition by accident. Over the summer, he bowled about 10 frames every single day.
The results speak for themselves. He improved his average by 30 pins and boosted his high series by a staggering 180 pins.
“I don’t know what happened over the summer, but I got a lot better,” Alsager said. His pre-shot routine stays rock solid — test the slide, wipe down the ball, repeat. Consistency at the line translates to consistency on the scoreboard.
Northwoods Bowling Runs Deep
Alsager’s achievement taps into something bigger than one athlete’s success. Bowling has been woven into the fabric of Northwoods communities since the early 20th century.
Up in Three Lakes, the Black Forest Pub & Grille added a bowling alley back in 1940 to meet growing demand from tourists and locals alike. It ran strong until the mid-1990s, when a roof collapse ended that era.
Across the region, bowling centers became more than just places to knock down pins. They’re community anchors — gathering spots where generations of families spend Friday nights, where summer leagues keep retirees sharp, and where kids like Alsager discover a passion that shapes their high school years.
“I don’t know any kid that’s better than him right now. It’s impressive what he’s doing.” — Coach Cory Dellenbach
Leading the Rhinelander Co-op to an 8-2 Season
Alsager didn’t just qualify as an individual. He helped power the Rhinelander Co-op team to an impressive 8-2 record this season.
Coach Dellenbach watches Alsager move between venues throughout the week — Rhinelander one day, Eagle River the next, tournaments scattered across the state on weekends. That kind of commitment creates a culture that lifts entire teams.
Now Alsager’s taking that culture one step further. He’s coaching the middle school bowling team, passing along the techniques and mental approach that got him to state.
Why Starting Young Makes All the Difference
Here’s something that surprises people: Alsager only started bowling three years ago.
“I feel like I’m really behind compared to the other high schoolers,” he admits. That’s why he’s so passionate about getting younger kids involved early.
His impact is already showing. Coach Dellenbach’s daughter bowls on the team and tries to mirror Alsager’s form every time she approaches the lane. “He is driving those kids to do better and wanna keep going,” Dellenbach said.
The math is simple in Alsager’s mind:
- Start young and build muscle memory early
- Rack up experience in different venues and conditions
- Learn to handle pressure before the stakes get high
- Develop consistency through repetition, not talent alone
State Tournament Expectations and What’s Next
Alsager heads to Weston with high standards but realistic perspective. He’s shooting for a top-10 finish while acknowledging this is his first time on the state stage.
“Obviously I’m gonna have high expectations,” he said. “But first time doing state, I shouldn’t expect too much.”
That balance — confidence without arrogance, ambition tempered by wisdom — might be the most impressive thing about him. He knows what it took to get here: hundreds of frames thrown in practice, that pre-shot routine executed thousands of times, miles driven between bowling centers across the Northwoods.
Whether he brings home a trophy or not, Alsager’s already accomplished something bigger. He’s shown the next generation of Northwoods bowlers what dedication looks like. He’s proved that a kid from Three Lakes can compete with anyone in the state.
And he’s reminded us that sometimes the path to excellence runs straight through a bowling alley in Eagle River, a practice session in Rhinelander, and a deep love for a sport that’s been part of our community for generations.
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