WHEATLAND – The NCAA tournament just finished play in its 64-team bracket which meant that the 64-team bracket at Big Dogs Lanes was about to begin in Wheatland’s premiere singles bowling tournament.

This was the second annual Big Dog Bash and the second tournament of its kind since Kevin Jenkins purchased the business from Kent Smith, owner of KYCN and KZEW in Wheatland.

“We started out small and actually threw it together last year in three weeks,” Jenkins said. “It’s a singles handicap tournament and it actually goes three days this year. Last year we did it all in one.”

The tournament had a prequalifying play-in round to make it into the actual 64-person tournament.

“This is so fun and anyone can win,” said bowler Carolie Pollock. “Because it’s a handicap tournament it’s even.”

Last year the tournament had 32 teams, so in just a year, the tournament has more than doubled in size.

The teams bowled a four game qualifier on March 31 and based on the scores, the top 64 entered into Saturday’s competition which was bracket play/double elimination. From there it was head-to-head competition.

“In the round robin, you can come back through the loser’s bracket and possibly could end up winning,” Jenkins said. “The scores have been competitive and although I haven’t seen any 300 games, I saw a guy shoot in the high 280s. We have some really good bowlers from not only all around the state, but also from Nebraska.”

The tournament features a top-class tournament, food, bar and according to Jenkins, they had a bunch of door prizes.

“We had quite a lot of stuff donated by people,” Jenkins said. “We have a lot to offer this year with the tournament, the food, the bar and we’re the only live lottery Keno game in town. You can actually sit here and watch your numbers be drawn. We have had that now about a month and a half.”

Jenkins (51) and his sons, Mike (27) and Emilio (11) have always dreamed about bowling a perfect game on the lanes. In a perfect life that may be possible.

In the Jenkins’ life, the dream of owning their own business may be the perfect fit for the family.

Jenkins who is a Wheatland native and graduated from WHS in 1988 went on to South Dakota State University after high school on a football scholarship. He was pursuing a degree in elementary education. A blown-out knee ended his career in football, but as a door closed, other windows opened. He has since gone on to Eastern Wyoming College where he graduated in 200”0 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, which Jenkins said is similar to a management degree and helped to prepare him to become a business owner.

Last year Jenkins and former Wheatland bowling establishment owner Kent Smith came to a financial agreement after months of negotiations and Smitty’s Lanes became rebranded as “Big Dogs Lanes.”

Jenkins was previously working at Black Hills Energy as a service tech when the new opportunity came along.

“I’ve always wanted my own business,” Jenkins said. “A friend of mine owned this (Smith) and he offered to sell it to me. So, after six months we finally got the deal done and here we are.”

Previous owner Kent Smith said, “I'm really not sure when the bowling alley opened, i know it was the early ‘60s. I’m not sure who exactly started it but Jimmy and Paula Wilson owned it (called Wheatlanes) for the longest until Jimmy's death in 2013, Paula then sold it to us in 2016 and we changed the names to Smitty's Lanes to give it a fresh start having redo the whole center. My wife (Renny) and I enjoyed owning Smitty's Lanes, but my health started to decline running two businesses.”

As to his personnel, he is leaning toward sharing the load with his sons.

“Michael is pretty much going to be my lay mechanic, and Emilio is just going to be a grunt cleaning and helping out in getting done what needs to be done. He’ll also probably run some lanes a little bit.”

Mike grew up in Wheatland and graduated from WHS in 2013 before heading to the oil field for a short stint. He is also no stranger to the local bowling alley as he worked for two previous owners. Although he is now working full time as a butcher for H’s Custom Cuts, he plans on doing part-time work at the bowling alley also.

When the elder Jenkins initially told his sons about the business acquisition, each had their own reaction. Not just as bowlers, although Mike sports a hefty 205 average and Emilio has an 86 average.

“We talked about it quite a bit,” Mike said. “He wanted to make sure I was on board with it and although it was long process, and when it finally happened it was like a slap of reality across the face. I am most likely going to be doing maintenance on the lanes and make sure everything stays running. I have worked here when the old owner had it and also the owner before him. I feel that I have a lot knowledge on the stuff in the back.”

Emilio who grinned ear to ear had a hard time hiding his excitement about the business.

“I was excited,” he said. “I had one friend already who asked if we were going go get free bowling. I said, ‘no, probably not.’ I plan on doing some cleaning around here and janitor stuff and then learn the ropes to run the bowling alley.

Starting a business after 50 is never easy, but Jenkins is optimistic.

“I think it’s going to work out really well,” he said. “From the buzz around town, people are really excited that we’re going to be open. This is my livelihood now.”

The winners from the second annual Big Dog Bash and the payouts were:

1 CJ Stricker $2053, 2 Dillon Cox $1026, 3 Steve Eppel $684, 4 Jonathon Bazemore $513, 5 Barry Sichl $376, 6 Khody Shayder $376, 7 Eric Peterson $275, 8 Troy Slick $275, 9 Kamran $200, 10 Cole Vernor $200, 11 Brandon Struble $200 and 12 Bill S. $200