Steffens breaks 11-year-high series record

[September 21, 2018] 

Shuffle, shuffle, slide; ka-THUNK, rolling rumble, bing bing goes the crack of wooden pins knocking together; that's the familiar sound at Logan Lanes. Bowling has been, and remains a tremendously popular activity that brings all kinds of people together both in competition and for a simple fun time out with family and friends.

On a particular evening earlier this summer, the lanes fell silent for just for a few minutes. It was for a special moment, a double of recognition ceremony to observe both the former high series record and the new record holder.

Logan Lanes owner Shawn Taylor was enthusiastic to announce that Justen Steffens not only broke the Logan Lanes record, but he bowled "the highest series in the city of Lincoln, ever!"

In his presentations on this night Taylor would go in chronological order and recognize the prior record holder first.

David McIntire broke the lane's highest series record on April 5, 2007, bowling an 853 series with games of 286, 279, 288.

Unfortunately McIntire passed away in 2012. On this night his award was presented to his family.

Present were McIntire's wife Melanie, daughters Halie and Siera, parents Ron and Terri McEntire, his sister Carie Groves and her husband Perry, nieces Izzy Groves and present in spirit but absent for the photo, Lexie Groves.

Halie, Melanie and Siera

David was an avid bowler and was a member of the CICBA and several other bowling associations. mHe bowled on Wednesday nights on the West Side Team at Logan Lanes and on Thursday nights on the Elites team. He also made PBA history as the youngest bowler in the U.S. to win the adult men's Pro Am event.

Taylor remarked that McIntire's record had stood for 11 years. "The nice thing about it," he said, "it was broken by one pin, and by one of David's best friends, Justin Steffens."

Halie, Justen and Siera

Noted high games of the two friends go way back and here are located near each other.

Steffens all-time-high of 854 breaking all of Lincoln's bowling history, not just those at Logan Lanes, was won with games of 285, 279, 290.

Steffens holds numerous conference records and has traveled the state winning tournaments. He has made some money at these, and on this night received a check for $200 for his last two 800 series. Steffens also now has his own plaque with his picture that hangs in a place of honor in the bowling alley.

Asked about what he has enjoyed most about bowling Steffens said that most of all he values the experience of meeting people both locally and in his travels from St. Louis to Chicago and Iowa, "I've met a lot of good people."

Steffens is employed full time with Taylor-made-construction, and he does landscaping on the side as Steffens Landscape.

Justen was introduced to bowling by his father Jack Steffens at age six and has been bowling now for 34 years. The senior Steffens is a former record holder himself.

Joining Justen Steffens for his award was his father Jack Steffens (left).

Taylor reflected back on the high game night. He had a St. Louis company come and recoated the lanes earlier in the day and at that time complained to the company that he wasn't seeing scores be what they should be for the past year. That very night on the super smoothed lanes Justen shot his high game.

The lanes were recoated again in mid-July and are ready again for some great rolling.

The bowling alley constructed in 1962 has been owned by Taylor and Keith Hasprey since 2000.

Anywhere you go inside this bowling alley you will see numerous displays of league plaques and trophies, many familiar names, including Taylor's, plus various winner plaques line the walls, while individual names, high game points and the year border the ceilings in double lines circle all around.

Looking for a way to spend some fun time with family, friends or workers? Stop in at Logan Lanes and join in on the shuffle shuffle, slide, thunk roll rhythm.

[Jan Youngquist]

Past related article

05/03/2013 - Logan Lanes celebrates 50 years with a party Saturday