Bowler Rolling Strong At 100 Years Old

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Harry Berckes, of Cedar Rapids, celebrated his one hundredth birthday recently with strike after strike, after strike.

¡°If you hear me talking to my ball, if it doesn¡¯t do good I try to 1encourage the ball to do better.¡±

Harry has been bowling for 90 years. He started when he was just 10 years old.

¡°There is a warmth with bowling that you don¡¯t find in any other sports. I like to do here. This is my 2home away from home 3basically.¡±

Berckes 4isn¡¯t kidding he says May City Bowl is his home away from home. He bowls in a summer league and then it really gets busy.

¡°We get into the fall and winter months then it¡¯s Monday, Wednesday, and Friday... and I¡¯m here every day.¡±

The day I shot Harry he 5was on fire with 3 strikes in a row and 4 in the game on his way to a 154.

¡°But I¡¯ve never been what you would call a high-scoring bowler. I do it for the exercise, for the people. It¡¯s become a part of me.¡±

And Harry is true 6inspiration to all his bowling partners in the senior league.

¡°I told him if I lived to be that long¡¦ I mean the shape he is at would be great.¡±

¡°As if he can do it at 100 I should be able to do it my age.¡±

So how do you live to 100, Harry? 

¡°I¡¯ve never 7drank alcohol. I¡¯ve never smoked. I tried them all, yes, but I mean I, I¡¦ one time was enough on all of it.¡±