High school bowling district tournaments are happening across Southwest Florida this week. The state championships will be held from Oct 29-31. Mariner High School will be one of the Southwest Florida schools in the boys finals, in part thanks to a junior who has bowling in his blood.
Mariner's Trey Lemus was born to bowl. He was practically raised at the lanes. His mother worked at a bowling alley. So, each day Trey would find himself at the lanes practicing.
"I had nothing else to do after school," Lemus said. "So I would stay from when she started until she got off, and I would just bowl countless hours and try to get good.”
He put in all of those hours to be just like his grandfather — Robert Comito.
Comito is a former professional bowler of 20 years. From 1980-2000, he won three times in the Professional Bowlers Association.
Trey would go to the bowling alley with his grandpa all the time, learning from him and even getting to sit with the adults during their competitions.
“I would see him shoot the highest scores," Lemus said. "When I was a kid, I was like, 'This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.' Even now, when I’m older and I see it, I’m like, 'This guy is insane.' He’s bowling 290s, 300s. I would just watch it in awe and hopefully try to be that.”
From childhood experiences to grown-up goals, Trey is now working to be just like his grandfather. After just his first season competing for Mariner, Lemus is one of the best bowlers in Southwest Florida.
“My first season, I couldn’t ask for a better season," Lemus said. "We’re a great team. We’re very well-coached. We have a great coach, and I have great teammates.”
Plus, it doesn't hurt that he gets to learn from a former pro. Comito lives in the Fort Lauderdale-area, but makes sure he gets some time with his grandson to work on his game.
“I’m making him come over once a month to spend two or three hours on the lanes with me because he needs it a lot right now," Comito said.
A family legacy is living on in the lanes of Southwest Florida.
“It’s just a great thing to be able to do it together, have fun with it, and go out there and have a great time," Comito said.