RENEE BENNETT
Renee Bennett was born May 25, 1973, to Warren and Kathleen Tober Sr. and is the youngest of 7 siblings. Warren Jr., Annette, Ardyce, Duane, Donald and Kay (deceased). Renee married Michael in June of 1999 and has one daughter Taylei Bennett (Brad Lewis) and 1 stepdaughter Alexis Love (Gavin). Together Michael and Renee have 4 grandchildren Temperance, Nash, Oliver and Brantley. Renee has been employed at Wisconsin Knife Works for 25 years and holds many titles as Purchasing (shop and maintenance), Shipping Tech., Stockroom Leader and Quality Control. Renee has also been the SCWUSBC Bowling Association Manager for the past 13 years.
Renee grew up in Clinton, WI where her parents rented a dairy farm. They lived in Clinton until 1989 when the owners sold the farm. From there Renee’s parents moved back to East Troy where her Dad (Warren Sr.) owned a farm with his twin brother Wallace. Renee didn’t want to change schools, so she lived with her brother Warren Jr. her Junior year in High School and then lived with her sister Ardyce her Senior year. Renee was very active in Basketball and Volleyball; bowling was not on the spectrum. “Cougar Lanes was just built, and we had to go there for a gym class, I wasn’t impressed. It was fun but that was it.” As she laughs.
In 1992 Renee’s sister Ardyce needed a sub on her league at Cougar Lanes and of all the people Ardyce knew she calls Renee. “I really didn’t want to bowl; I really didn’t know how. So, I watched people bowl and thought I could do that, it doesn’t look to hard.” Renee started bowling as a “back-up” bowler with a 5-step approach. Had an average of 103 after that night. Not too bad for not knowing how to bowl.
Renee has bowled in the Thursday Ladies League at El Ra Bowl for around 30 years. She also subs on the Browns Oilers League. Renee met Michael bowling on the Sunday Night Mixed league at El Ra Bowl back in 1997. Michael was the one that taught Renee how to bowl with a hook, and finally got rid of being a “back-up” bowler. Michael and Renee bowl tournaments together on a team and are also doubles partners. Renee has bowled at Cardinal Lanes on the Wednesday Ladies League as a sub, RiversEdge Bowl as a sub and at BlackBridge Bowl on a summer league. That was many moons ago.
In Renee’s bowling career she has bowled 2—300 games (March 2014, December 2020),12—700 series with 733 as her highest series. She has bowled a clean series with one of her 300 games, 279 game and several 500 and 600 series. Her highest average was a 205 and held that for 3 years. She has been a member of the SCWUSBC Bowling Association for 32 years. She has been to the National Convention, WI State Delegate for 13 years, WI State Youth delegate for 4 years, a member of the WI State 500 club (3 years), WI State 600 club (18+years), bowled Women’s Nationals Tournament in Milwaukee, Open Nationals Tournament in Las Vegas and Reno (5 years), Queen’s Tournament, Midwest Tournament, Women’s State Tournament (26 years) where her team took 1st place in 2008, SCWUSBC Adult Championship Tournament (20+ years), SCWUSBC Senior Tournament (2 years), and the Sergeant At Arms for the Thursday 5:30 Ladies league for 15 years. Renee is also a Registered Volunteer and SafeSport certified. She has also been an assistant coach for High School Bowling for Parker High School Girls Varsity (6 years) (Westside Bowlers), assistant coach for High School Bowling for Parker High School Boys Varsity and is also helping with the Blackhawk Technical College Talons Bowling Club (2 years).
Renee’s fondest bowling memory will always be when one of the High School Boys Varsity Bowlers qualified for singles at the High School State Championship Tournament. Ethan could have asked anyone to be his coach, and he asked Renee. They made it to the TV finals and beat the first bowler in a step ladder championship. The second bowler they needed to beat was going to be hard. Both left-handers, both 2 handed, and both bowling with the same ball model. It was head-to-head throughout the whole game and came down to the 10th frame. Ethan looked at Renee and said, “well coach, whatcha think” and Renee said, “I want 30 in the pit, I want 3 strikes from you, he has us by 1 pin right now so no time to mess this up. If he wants to win, he needs to work for it.” Renee couldn’t have been prouder, he put 30 in the pit. Now, up to the opponent, 1st ball he threw a weak strike, 2nd ball 9 count with a pin rolling on the deck and slowly took out the 9 pin for a strike, 3rd ball (they wait on pins and needles hoping for a tie and a roll off) he throws the ball and it’s a strike. They lost the game 233 to 232. This kid made her proud for 2 years as his coach, and now that he is graduated and bowling adult leagues, he still calls her coach when she sees him and gives her a hug.
In early 2011 Renee joined the SCWUSBC Board of Directors. Four months later the Association Manager position opened. She was not interested at all in the position. Then Bonnie Decker told her to fill out the application “you’d be good at it” she said. Renee was not the first choice, which was fine until she got the call that the first choice decided not to take the position. Well, here we are 13 years later as the Association Manager. Renee would like to thank ALL the centers and members in the association for their support of the sport we all love.
There have been many people who have influenced Renee throughout her bowling career. To name a few would be Michael Bennett, Bonnie Decker, Phyllis Shrier, Holly Milz, Chris Brose, Susan Rhinehart, Renee Grover and Vicki Kessler. All these people have taught Renee the importance of our sport in some manner. You all hold a special spot in her heart.
When Renee is not bowling or working on bowling “stuff” she loves to go camping, fishing, gambling, working on “projects” with Mike, going for car rides, playing with the grandkids and being with family and friends.
Renee will enter the SCWUSBC Bowling Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service and Superior Performance.