Bowling One-On-One with Matt Ogle: Two-Time PBA Champion
No one has more determination, dedication and love for the game of bowling than Matt Ogle. He is one of the top bowlers on the PBA Tour today. There was a point when Matt wasn’t sure if he was ever going to bowl again and had to adjust his style completely to keep his dreams alive, and did he ever! I had the pleasure of connecting with Matt and I asked him about his bowling journey.
You essentially grew up in a bowling center and started bowling at 3 years-old. You continued to develop your game and were successful early on. You bowled your first 200 game by age 8 years-old and your first 300 game at the age of 16. Talk about your early exposure with bowling and how your passion for the game began.
“I was in a bowling center pretty much from the time I was born. I grew up in a bowling center my entire life basically, whether it was watching my parents bowl or bowling league myself. Around the age of 10 I wanted to be a professional bowler and bowl on TV. I enjoyed watching the greats on TV every Sunday competing for titles.”
Up until 2006 you had been a single-handed bowler. Due to physical ailments which had jeopardized your dreams of bowling at all, let alone professionally one day, you adopted the two-handed style out of necessity to keep your dreams alive. This style continues to grow in popularity and for some it’s all they have ever known. Your successes in the PBA helps breed encouragement, confidence, and acceptance of the two-handed style across the bowling community worldwide. Talk about the importance of this evolution to your game and your success with it at a very high level.
“I have been told that me switching to the two-handed style was a blessing in disguises even before I started winning. I am very fortunate to still be bowling, doctors told me I could have surgery resulting in minimal movement of my wrist, take pain pills or quit altogether. I chose the 4th option of bowling two-handed and it has been a large part of my success the last few years. Having power and high rev-rate on tour is key nowadays and it’s definitely an advantage for me. I don’t have to worry about my thumb swelling or the feel of a thumb hole. I have less to worry about when it comes to feel.”
Matt and I were just sitting in a bar years ago at an event in Ohio one summer talking about needing a partner for the PBA doubles the next year. He thought I was joking about it but I was serious. I knew he would bowl just fine. 6 years later and I think we have only missed the show twice. Hopefully that streak continues of having success in that event this year in Detroit. Matt has overcome a lot of challenges on the lanes from the wrist injury, the lifestyle on being on the road and so much more. Matt is an amazing Dad to Gavin, husband to Stacey and friend to so many. He is someone I know I could call if I needed anything. He works hard to be able to provide for his family and I know his wife and son sacrifice a lot for him to live his dream of being a professional bowler. His family have become more than friends to my family, they are extended family. My wife and I just wish they lived closer. I am sure he wishes he went pro sooner but everyone’s paths are different. I’m excited to see his future unfold as he continues this life on the road chasing his PBA Dreams.
-Sean Rash (17 PBA Titles)
In 2019, you won your first PBA doubles title with partner Sean Rash, the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman Doubles Championship in Shawnee, OK.
In April this year, you won your first singles title, the PBA Shark Championship in Wauwatosa, WI. You beat Sam Cooley of Australia, 204 to 191. I watched this stepladder finals and championship match, and you were ‘Dialed-In’, to say the least. You had Championship determination written all over your face as you navigated your way through. It was exciting to see you pull it out and win your first singles title. You were visibly overcome with emotion and rightfully so. As a lifelong dream to reach the PBA, and overcoming the challenges that you did; completely re-orchestrating your physical game along the way, share what winning these two titles means to you.
“There was a point in my life around 2006/7 that I thought I would never be able to fulfill my dream of bowling on tour and becoming a PBA National Title Holder. Fast forward to 2019, my dream has come true, and I have new life being a title holder. Four years after that I had the best year on tour in my career and it hit me hard when I won my singles title in April of 2023. I couldn’t stop the emotions of winning, having my family there to celebrate as well as my best friend Sean Rash there to see it happen. As I said before I once lost the thought of ever being able to bowl on TV (stepladder finals) much less win on TV, and I think that’s why it hit me so hard as I won the Shark Championship.”
The PBA is thriving and absolutely full of talented bowlers. Let’s talk about your experience on tour bowling with the best players in the world. With due respect of course for all the PBA members, are there any particular bowlers you might admire or look up to (past and or present)? And, with the 2024 season just about to get underway, can you share any particular goals and expectations you might have set for yourself?
“Norm Duke has always been a guy that I liked to watch growing up, he was always focused and wanted to win. He is a great person to be around and awesome to talk to. For goals, I would like to win a major, make the tour finals as well in the PBA playoffs. I would need another exceptional year and I believe I can do that!”
You were drafted by team captain and legend, Amleto Monacelli, to bowl for the Las Vegas High Rollers this coming year. You join Andrew Anderson, AJ Johnson, Matt Russo, Sean Rash and Thomas Larsen; a formidable group. In 2023 the Waco Wonders won the Elias Cup defeating the Lumberjacks who have had a dynasty run the past several years. This year the PBA League is expanding and there will be more action throughout the season and across the nation. I can only imagine your excitement with joining this team and talented group of bowlers. Also, with the format and team play being so completely different from normal tournament play, talk about the mental preparation and challenges during these events. You only get to touch the ball a few frames per game.
“First, I would like to say thank you to Norm Duke for having the trust to put me anchor and allowing me to bowl on his team for two years. I will miss the Dallas Strikers.“
“Having Amletto, Andrew Anderson and AJ Johnson pick me in the first round of the draft was awesome. I think along with Sean Rash, Matt Russo and Thomas Larsen we have a very solid team for the fresh lane conditions as that’s what we will mostly be competing on week to week. I think we will all work together to bring home the title this year in Portland!”
“With the very short formats of our matches, only getting a couple shots per game is tough. Staying focused on what’s in front of you and stretching between shots is very important. I am very confident in our team to get the job done this year!”
You have a family and a love for water sports and fishing adventures. Please talk about your interests and hobbies outside of bowling as achieving balance in life seems to be very important to you and your family.
“My family comes first, anytime I have a week off between stops I go fishing or we just spend a few days at our lake house and relax. I need the break from bowling, it can get very frustrating if your bowling mediocre and away from your family. I enjoy fishing tournaments with my father and going out on the boat with my wife, son and the rest of my family and friends. It’s a way for me to forget about everything for the moment and just live without any stress.”
Bowling is really ramping up and the excitement among bowlers is raging around the world and all ages are working hard and soaking up knowledge to improve their game. Hearing from someone like yourself carries a lot of weight and inspiration for others. What tips or advice might you give to bowlers working to improve their game?
“Practice with a purpose is what I tell anyone that asks this question. When you go to practice don’t just go throw strikes and go home. Practice from every part of the lane and shoot your spares. Learn from every shot, if you don’t know the answers ask those that win your local events, they will have the answers.”
Thank you Matt, for taking time from your busy schedule to share your bowling journey. You bring a lot of emotion and determination, let alone pure skills and ability to the PBA tour. Your accomplishments speak for themselves and the competition on tour knows they will have to deal with Matt Ogle at some point if they want to reach the next level in any tournament. You have and continue to inspire the bowling community world-wide and the entire sport of bowling. Good luck this season on tour, we will be watching you!
“I appreciate you reaching out to do this interview, I am very fortunate to be in the position I am in and enjoying every minute. Good luck to everyone that reads this article and may the pins fall in your favor unless you’re bowling against me! Haha”
*All images courtesy of USBC, PBA, DV8 and Matt Ogle
