One-On-One with Nick Lunghi: Rollin’ For 869
After years of playing soccer as a youth, it wasn’t igniting the inner passion for Nick Lunghi. I had an opportunity to catch up with Nick to learn more about his personal journey through bowling.
Watching his dad compete in ABT bowling tournaments on the weekends, Nick knew he wanted to feel that same passion he saw from his dad. “I wasn’t liking soccer too much. Watching my dad compete in bowling really motivated me and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. So, my parents signed up my sister and I for ‘bumper bowling’ at Concord Bowl.”
At 9 years old Nick began his bowling journey and started bowling competitively in the local youth program. “When Concord Bowl closed, I moved over to Clayton Valley Bowl to continue in their Junior Program. Julie Cashman was my Junior Coordinator, and she introduced me to a new type of competition, Junior League.”
After a couple of years in Junior League, Nick fell in love with the game and kept working to improve. Like most young kids, Nick had a certain level of stubbornness about him. While his scores were slowly improving, he realized that he had real potential, but he was struggling with his technique. “My biggest issue that was holding me back was throwing a backup ball. While I was averaging in the low 170’s doing this, I was not very open at the time to listening to coaching to help improve myself.”
In 2000, Steve Valente started working in the Pro Shop at Clayton Valley Bowl. Steve took an interest in helping young bowlers learn. As tough a coach as Steve was, Nick would come to respect and appreciate his help more than he ever knew. “I was practicing one day throwing my backup ball, when Steve came down to me and had me drop my ball in the return and he said to me ‘from this day forward you will never throw a backup ball again’. And, from that day to now, he was correct.”
He would throw that backup ball and was getting beat. I went down there, offered a few choice expletives, and then coached him. Now, he’s one of the very best. He’s a phenomenal bowler.
-Steve Valente
It wasn’t easy but Steve’s impact on Nick and his game would be instrumental over the rest of Nick’s bowling journey. “As stubborn as I am, I can recall how many times I wanted to fall back to the backup ball, even during league the following year when things were difficult, I stuck with it. I practiced every week and really took in what was being taught to me. After all the coaches and instructor’s I’ve had in my life in all the sports I have played, Steve was always the most difficult on me. I truly needed that to see my full potential. I still thank him today for doing what he did for me and my game 23 years ago.
Nick’s game really started to take off from there and success came in bunches. To date, Nick has (15) 300 games in three different centers. (12) at Clayton Valley Bowl, (2) at Diablo Bowl and (1) at Harvest Park. He has (8) 800 series under his belt with the highest being (840). Was one more special than the other to Nick? “I can honestly say the last 300 game felt just as awesome as the first.”
Nick has (3) sanctioned tournament titles to his name. In the state tournament in Fresno, he and his partner Mike Vogl finished 3rd in the Doubles tournament. He and Mike also had the incredible feat of both bowling a 300 in the same game during league. Nick also set the house record for a 4-game scratch league when he shot 286-268-290-296 for an 1140 series on two different pairs of lanes. “All I can remember about that particular night is the unbelievable zone that I was in. I used a Storm Marvel in that set that night.”
I’ve met some amazing people in bowling through the years and that means more to me than any of my accomplishments.
-Nick Lunghi
While Nick has achieved many accomplishments throughout his bowling journey, he has never lost sight of what really matters to him most. “My accomplishments are just a few of the many great things this sport has given me. Honestly, the most memorable thing is the people I’ve met and the lifelong friends I’ve made. I’ve met some amazing people in bowling through the years and that means more to me than any of my accomplishments.”
During his journey, Nick lost two close and dear friends from his life. They shared the same passion for bowling as Nick. In many ways, Nick’s inner fire burns even brighter today because of these two friends. “Losing two good friends, Bryant Leong and Shawn Givens, is never easy to deal with. I bowled a lot of tournaments with the both of them and I owe a lot of who I am today on the lanes to them as well. Bryant and I were great doubles partners and won and cashed in quite a few tourneys. Five years later I’m still looking for that right doubles partner to mesh with, although my sister Kristin Slown, has been filling in his shoes nicely.”
Shawn was also an extraordinary bowler. And Shawn had Nick’s back. “I looked up to Shawn. We bowled quite a few Big Swiss Tournaments, as well as other team and singles events together. When I was coming up, a lot of people were making fun of me and my style, but Shawn was always there for me. He motivated me and just told me, ‘Your game is solid, let them be jealous, you be you and the rest will follow.’”
Nick believes that youth bowling is what will make this great sport continue. He recently worked at a kids bowling clinic, and it fills his heart to help out the kids. “I love to reach out, teach and give feedback when I can. The kids clinic was amazing. Watching them pick up things that I taught them and having fun doing it. Seeing the smiles, laughter, and just the overall joy of being there, totally makes my day. They truly bring the best out of me on and off the lanes. The youth today are really good, talented and fun to watch.”
I asked Nick what he would tell kids, or any bowlers looking to learn and improve their game. “If you really want it, go for it, and never give up. Give yourself the time to learn, receive coaching and implement proper techniques. Never be afraid to ask questions, there’s so much good knowledge out there to learn from. For kids, bowling has so much to offer between Junior Programs, Scholarships, and Tournaments, as well as all the great people you will meet along the way.”
Outside of bowling, Nick is an avid sports fan, loves the game of baseball and is a big fan of local professional teams. Nick takes pride in his family and in everything he does. “Believe it or not bowling is not my number one passion, baseball is. I don’t play hardball anymore, but you’ll find me out on the slow pitch softball fields still playing the sport I love, although I’m definitely better at bowling. I also played basketball when I was younger. I may not have the speed anymore, but I still have a killer jump shot. I love watching and going to sports events. I’m a diehard San Francisco Giants fan, but also pull for the A’s, Niners, and Warriors. I love College sports as well and am a secret golf fan. Family and my dogs are my life and I have awesome friends. I’m a hard worker, I run a warehouse for a big flooring company, always putting a 110% into what I do.”
After opening himself up to coaching, Nick developed his game to a very high level and has been successful over a long period of time. He is well respected across many centers and communities. Through all his achievements in bowling, nothing matters more to Nick than the relationships that have come from the sport. His late friends, Shawn and Bryant, still inspire him today. The night his friend Shawn rolled a house record series of (869) is still fresh in his mind as the same night it happened. “My team name in any league or event that I bowl in now references ‘Rollin’ for 869’. When I roll the ball today, I roll it for them.
