Bowling One-On-One with Hector Delgado: Rolling for Life
The game of bowling is a huge adventure and challenge in itself with the ups and downs and all the time and effort we put into it to be our best. But the game of life is the ultimate challenge as we can be faced with devastating and life changing adversities at any given time. One thing you can count on though is that the sport of bowling and the bowling community will be there through and through. I had the opportunity to catch up with Hector Delgado, a man who knows a few things about facing and overcoming challenges in bowling and in life, and I asked him about his bowling journey.
What was your first exposure to bowling? How did your bowling journey begin?
“I started bowling when I was about 15 years old. I never joined any kind of junior league or bowled any junior tournaments. I went down to Diablo lanes on a Friday night because my sister and brother-in-law had their league night. No one in our family has ever been a bowler. So, when I heard my sister and brother-in-law bowled in a league, I wanted to see what it was like. When I saw a full bowling alley with league bowlers, and I saw them bowling for the first time I was in awe. There were bowlers just crushing strikes left and right, just constant BOOMS and POWS!!!! It was at that point I knew I needed to be a league bowler!!!”
You were ready to start your journey on the lanes. The BOOMS would come eventually but you had your mind set on learning the craft first.
“My sister and brother-in-law loved that I was really passionate about getting into bowling so for my birthday that year they got me my first bowling ball, and bag. They are the root cause for my passion for the sport. My plan at this age was to get as good at this sport as I possibly could by the time I turned 18 so I could be an adult league bowler – that was the Big Show to me back then 😉. My brother-in-law started teaching me a spare system early on and I still use it to this day. I would tell myself at that age that I wanted an 8 count or better for each frame, for manageable spares.”
As a young man, you had a newfound passion for the sport and you were on your way to learning and enjoying the game you love. The waves of life can sometimes send us on different paths especially as a young adult, and suddenly we can find ourselves facing new adventures and also challenges that we did not anticipate or plan for. Talk about this stage of your life and some of the challenges you came face to face with.
“I was finally able to join a league when I turned 18, but shortly after I stopped bowling all together and it became a 10+ year hiatus from bowling. During this time, I started a family, I was working and married the love of my life. The downfall of that story was I had a problem, a drinking problem. This problem really started putting my health at risk but of course as an alcoholic I was in denial. In 2019 I checked into an outpatient rehab.”
“They were very dark times, that’s for sure. The good times started to just get out of control. I ended up in the hospital four times in the span of seven months in 2019 from withdrawals. The doctors told me I was drinking too much, and my response was ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about’. The fourth and final time I went to the hospital, I spoke with the same social worker from my previous visit and finally said to her ‘Yes, I need help’. I wish that was the hardest part of it, but it was only the beginning. I went to an intake facility the next day and was checked into an outpatient program. I sat down in my first group therapy session, and I was a complete mess. They went around the entire room for everyone to say their name, drug of choice, and how many days sober. It was the first time that I had to say out loud to a room of strangers, ‘My name is Hector and I’m an alcoholic’.”
“I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me but was terrified at the same time. I really felt that in these group sessions no one was going to understand me and think how bad off I truly was. As I worked through my program I met some really amazing people. I listened to their stories and realized that as different as our stories are, we are exactly the same. I slowly started to find myself as I worked my program more and more. I even came up with my own program which I called the ‘3 Fs’. I needed to Find, Fix and Figure myself out. It was a long process but as I reflect on it today, I wouldn’t change any of it. I have been sober ever since. Has it been easy? Absolutely not!!! But nothing worth fighting for is easy.”
(Hector, Before and After)
Ever since, you’ve been been locked in and making the most of life like never before. You have an incredible family and great friends. I can only imagine how thankful and grateful you must feel today. Share how life has changed for you since sobriety.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the life I have today. I almost lost so much in my life. I could have lost my family, my job, my freedom but most importantly My Life. I have been able to reflect on my sobriety this year because at this point in my sobriety I truly do think if I continued that path I was on, I would not be alive today. Everything I am able to do or accomplish these days I know wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for my sobriety. I bowl a few times a week now, I have traveled to so many great disc golf courses, I go on an annual kayak trip with my wife to Lake Tahoe, NV and just so much more. I think the way I’m able to show my gratitude for each day I’m alive is what everyone hopefully sees at the bowling alley, the disc golf course or wherever you might see me and that’s a smile on my face and the laughs I can give to everyone.”
I met Hector during our Thursday night scratch league a few years back. I remember paying him a compliment on his quiet, smooth release. Not too long after, I ran into him at a local tournament. We waited around for the results for forever, but during that time I got to know him better. Since then, he’s quickly become one of my favorite people. He’s a great bowler, but an even greater person. His laugh is infectious, and his calm demeanor on the lanes makes having him as a teammate so much fun.
– Sunny McHugh
Today, your friends and family at the alley know you as one of the most talented bowlers on the lanes. Your game has been consistently improving to new levels in each of the last several years. What do you attribute that too?
“I didn’t start bowling again until after covid lockdowns started being lifted. When I got back into bowling, I was able to become the bowler I always wanted to be. I would 100% dedicate my success to my new lifestyle, and that would be Sobriety. I was smooth, focused, and consistent and I dedicate it to my sobriety. Since I started bowling on Thursdays (scratch league) at clayton over the last few years, I have been able to improve my average from a 195 to a book average of 214.”
Your game has really taken off. You’ve rolled two 290 games and earlier this year a 297. You’re knocking on the door to perfection. You’re also a great team player and perhaps one of your most memorable accomplishments is your recent team championship victory in scratch league. Talk about these accomplishments and also about some of your personal goals as you look ahead.
“My 297 game I am able to take away positives from it because I was able to get over that hump of the 10th and 11th strike, but I just need that 12th strike to go down next time. I hope the next opportunity I will be able to finally get on that ‘Wall of Fame’ at Clayton Valley Bowl. My biggest accomplishment is taking 1st Place on Thursdays night scratch league which I never have been able to accomplish, especially a scratch league. Thank you, David, Tony, and of course Renee.”
(David Courtney, Renee Matsutani, Hector and Tony Costa)
“Goals for me this year is to just always have the mindset of ‘always improving’. I want to always do my best to absorb any knowledge from any bowler and improve. Obviously, I want that 300 and would love to get an 800 too and hopefully it will happen in the near future. I’ll continue to challenge myself with learning how to bowl on harder oil patterns to get myself ready for Nationals in Baton Rouge and any other tournaments. The only way I can improve is to push myself if I want to reach a new level. I try to keep this kind of mindset and thinking for life in general. I want to be better today than I was yesterday even in the smallest ways, just be better. A better son, a better husband, a better bowler but mostly a better father each day.”
Who are some bowlers you look up to or admire? Bowlers in the past or present, whether it be family, friends, league members, or professionals. And why?
“I would say I have always admired my locals more than any pro bowler. Of course, I love Norm Duke and Pete Weber has always been my guy. They are entertaining to me but the ones I admire are the bowlers I know personally. The first person I admired was the one who started it all for me and that was my brother-in-law, David Courtney. He taught me the true basics of the sport. How to roll the ball, spin the ball, where to aim and what the arrows on the lanes actually meant. It was a lot of information for my little young brain. Then as I was introduced to more and more local bowlers, I would pick all their brains for any kind of knowledge just by asking little questions. I still admire them to this day: Randy Hammond, Garrett Richardson, Allen Ables, Darryl and Steve Sibbitt, Jackie Matsutani, CJ Honciano, Sunny McHuge, Ceez (That’s my teammate) Kurt Reisinger and so many more. I wouldn’t be the bowler I am today without their knowledge and willingness to share any kind of pointers with me. Thanks fellas.”
(Sunny, Jonathan, Tamara, Paul, David, Renee, Hector and Tony)
When you’re away from the alley, what other interests and hobbies do you have and enjoy?
“Outside of the bowling alley I like to cook, bake and I love to play is disc golf. My specialty baking recipes are my pumpkin pie and my award winning (best tasting) cheesecake. I have been baking for over ten years now and I just taught myself from YouTube how to make everything I bake. A lot of trial and error. There are a lot of pies and cheesecakes that have not been seen in the outside world.”
“I have been playing the sport of disc golf for about ten years but only competitively for the last four years. I started taking the sport seriously during the start of my sobriety and would say the sport helped me stay sober. I have been to places and disc golf courses that are gorgeous and seen views I would only see because of the sport. It’s like I get to go hiking and play at the same time.”
(Schuyler, Ryan, Jake, Nate and Hector)
“I spend time with my two Beautiful daughters Kendra (17) and Leah (13) and my beautiful wife Amanda. Kendra Graduated from Clayton Valley Charter High School on June 5th and then she will be off to the University of Arizona in the fall…Go Wildcats!!! Leah Cheers for the Clayton Valley youth program and is probably more popular than me at Clayton Bowl.”
(Leah, Hector, Amanda, Kendra – Leah and Kendra)
Hector, I have a feeling you’ll have about 100 orders for pies and cheesecakes in your Inbox shortly.
As you know, the sport of bowling all around the world has been gaining in popularity both recreationally and competitively at all levels and ages. Your game is respected, and you are an inspiration, plain and simple, to bowlers all around you. What advice might you give to those working to improve their game?
“I would say to be as open-minded as possible. Listen to advice from any angle because someone might see something you could be doing wrong that you cannot see like ball motion, ball speed, angle, or even mechanics. I like to approach the game with the mindset of sometimes a teacher, always a student, but never an expert. Because expert means there is nothing more for me to learn.”
“Spares! Spares! Spares! Always make your spare game a priority and come up with a system that works for you. This system can come from various sources of people or even videos. Then you can do your best to put it all together. Always remember “Any fool can get a strike, but it takes a real bowler to get their spares.” I have always tried to base my game off this motto.”
After having gone through one of life’s toughest challenges and battles with alcoholism, I would be remiss if I didn’t also ask if you could share some words of wisdom from your experience for others who might be struggling with alcoholism or any mental health crisis today.
“I would say for anyone that truly does feel like they need or want help is that there is always an answer. There are countless locations and times for an AA meeting in the bay area or anywhere you go, so there is always an answer. I get that it’s scary to take that leap of faith into a new lifestyle. We are humans and are creatures of habit, so change is always scary. I can guarantee that if you walked into any AA meeting that they will accept you with open arms, no questions asked. If you asked any of us for a helping hand, they will give you both hands. The help you need will always be right there for you; you just have to accept it. I’m not much of a religious person but if I had to choose one it would be AA. Not because of the beliefs but because of the people. They will be the most organic, down to earth and REALEST people you will ever meet because they don’t bullshit. They will make sure you get the help that you need, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on. These people are my family now and they could also be yours. We all want results in the blink of an eye, but this takes time and hard work. If you put the time and work in, it will get better.”
Thank you so much Hector for sharing your bowling journey as well as one of the toughest personal challenges you have battled in life. Facing life threatening circumstances, you fought for your life and your family and you are a true inspiration. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for you and your accomplishments and also for your game as you’re one of the smoothest rollers out there with incredible poise and confidence. I wish you absolutely the very best as you continue your incredible bowling and life journey.
“I would just like to thank you for having me on Bowling One-On-One to do this interview. I truly appreciate it. I am grateful to anyone that reads my story and hopefully can take anything away from it to better themselves. If there is a quote I would share, it would be this:
-The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! – Rocky”
“To my daughters, always live your life to the fullest potential. If you have a dream, then chase it and don’t let anyone get in the way of it and I will always be here to support you through it. Our family is like four strands of rope, alone they can easily break but together we are strong.”
“My name is Hector. I’m an alcoholic. And I’m 5 years sober.”
(Hector and Amanda)
