
Born: July 28, 1950
Inducted: August 12, 2021
Hall of Fame Show
Patty Spires-Merkel moved to Madison in the early 1970’s from an area with no organized sports for girls. Nonetheless, her natural athleticism shone as a pitcher in women’s fast pitch softball leagues and tournaments. Bowling leagues, and a Hall of Fame journey in that sport, soon followed.
After enrolling in two semesters of bowling at UW Madison, she was instructed how to throw a hook. Once she transitioned this new knowledge to her league play, she established herself as a lifelong quality player.
Her competition highlights span 36 years, and include a pair of association tournament team titles; the first in 1984 with the Madison Women’s Bowling Association and the second in 2020 in the Women’s Championships of the Madison Area USBC. She has tournament high games and won division championships in association Singles, Doubles, All Events, and Team events. She added Madison 600 Club tournament wins in 2015 and 2018.
Over her 41-year membership, Spires-Merkel’s career high average is 198. She has accumulated five 700 series – her first, and highest, a 758 set in 2013. In 2015, she rolled 16 strikes in a row resulting in a 298 game. Patty reached perfection with a 300 game in 2017.