This is the second in a series of articles profiling the 2023 USBC Butler Area Hall of Fame inductees

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Mike Rouda did a favor for his father — and bowling returned that favor many times over.

“My dad asked me if I would come sub on his bowling team one night,” the Connoquenessing Township resident recalled. “I had bowled a little here and there, all-night bowling kind of stuff, nothing competitive, nothing serious.

Mike Rouda

“I went with him. That was at Mars Lanes in 1997.”

He’s been bowling ever since.

Now Rouda will join Mike Hilliard and Donna Evans in comprising the 2023 USBC Butler Area Hall of Fame class. The trio will be inducted at 6:30 pm. Saturday during a dinner at the Callery Volunteer Fire Hall.

“I was shocked when I got the call,” Rouda said. “There are so many good bowlers out there. This is a tremendous honor.”

And Rouda has been a tremendous bowler.

He is in his 27th season as a member of the local bowling association, holding plenty of officer positions in multiple leagues. He’s rolled 16 300-games, at least ten other games of 290 or higher and six 800-series.

“I remember my first perfect game, at Mars Lanes in 2001,” Rouda said. “That was around the time I felt like I was becoming pretty good at this.”

Rouda owns a pair of Butler County bowling records. He joined Mike Dunkerley, Eric Hagan and his brother, David Rouda, in setting the four-man scratch series mark of 3,104. Mike Rouda shot an 806 during that set.

“The four of us have been bowling together as a team for five or six years,” Rouda said. “The thing I like most about bowling are the people. Ever since bowled in my father’s league, I’ve bowled with a lot of nice people.”

The biggest record Rouda holds is the county’s highest individual series. He bowled an 875 — games of 276, 300 and 299 — on Feb. 10, 2022, in the Armco League at Sherwood Lanes. That series snapped the previous record of 870, set by John Bulger at Freeway Lanes in Zelienople.

Rouda rolled 30 consecutive strikes during one stretch that night.

“I’m very proud of that 875,” he said. “There’s still room for that to be broken. I know some guys who want to go for it.”

Rouda still bowls in leagues at Sherwood Lanes and Sims Lanes in Beaver Falls. He is averaging 229 at Sherwood this season.

He’s competed in plenty of local and state tournaments and has a number of top 10 finishes. He’s finished in first place in a Seniors tourney as well.

“I’ve had a lot of fun,” Rouda said. “This Hall of Fame ... It’s a humbling thing.”