Thomas J. Kondisko

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 11, 2024
• Comments off

INDUCTEE

Walter Ray Williams, Earl Anthony, Pete Weber, and Don Carter are not just a few names that aren’t easily recognized to the average sports fan. They have all earned millions of dollars as members of the Professional Bowlers Association, and have won numerous PBA titles that have made them the best in their sport. Although Tom Kondisko hasn’t earned the millions, he is recognized as being one of the most outstanding keglers ever to come out of our region. Tom has participated in bowling for 50 years, competing in A.B.C. sanctioned leagues, state tournaments, and tournament bowling on the local level. Your accomplishments mainly go unnoticed except by your fellow bowlers and the American Bowling Congress.

Tom has bowled 9 sanctioned 300 games – to be sanctioned, the lanes have to be certified by the American Bowling Congress. In addition, he has received 8 awards for throwing 11 strikes in a row, and has made the difficult 7-10 split on three different occasions. Kondisko has thrown many 700 series, including a best of 796. He has bowled on the team that had the first 1200 game and 3400 series ever in the Shamokin Bowling Association. In doing this part, Kondisko threw 29 out of a possible 36 strikes, helping his team to that magnificent achievement.

On the strike level, Tom won the Elks State Championship in 1991 at Befdord, and two Moose State Titles in Shampkin in 94 and Lewistown in 2005. He has also won a Multiple State Tournament, including singles, doubles, team, and all-events.

Tom has been able to maintain his success, even though the game has changed over the past 40 years. Lanes have gone from wooden to urethane, while the balls have changed from rubber t0 reactive balls. All of these changes have required the bowler to make adjustments to his game if he wanted to stay competitive. Tom has managed to keep his composite average above 200 in each of the last 20 years.

Tom has also served as the president of the Shamokin Bowling Association for 6 years and has presided over several local tournaments, including the Moose State Tournament. He serves his community as a 40-year member, and past president, of the Mount Carmel Lions Club, an 11 year administrator of the Shamokin Moose Lodge, and as a member of the Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus.

He is a 1965 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and is married to his wife, Pauline, for 41 years. He opened K’s Cleaners in Mount Carmel with his brother, John, in 1967.