“Behavioral meltdowns were an every day occurrence,” said Kim Wilson, Trevor’s mom. “Bowling became a form of occupational therapy to relieve stress. I think it was the motion of throwing the ball that helped him release tension.”
That childhood stress relief has translated into adult success as Lipson and partner Chris Reuber recently won the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress city doubles handicap title with 1,560 – nearly 100 pins better than second-place finishers Mike Ekberg and Tom Rausenberg with 1,465.
“It’s amazing to me that I won a title and I did it in front of my family which was even better,” Lipson said.
Lipson’s family is more than just his relatives, it also includes several of the employees at the tournament host center Thunderbowl Lanes. The Northmont High School graduate is a regular at Thunderbowl where he is averaging 220-plus this season.
“We are very fortunate that he found this niche and a sense of community,” Wilson said. “In bowling, he has found people who accept him.”
That’s not to say Lipson hasn’t had some struggles on the lanes. While he was excited to bowl for the Thunderbolts during his sophomore year, the raucous cheering was too much for him. He quit midway through the season.
“He couldn’t handle the noise, it was very stressful for him,” Wilson said.
That stress can, at times, lead to behavioral problems.
“If my brain isn’t working right, I lose my temper,” Lipson said. “I don’t like being touched or yelled at and, when that happens, I don’t always act correctly, but I’m working on that.”
The desire to compete on the high school team resurfaced during his senior year, so Wilson appealed to the Ohio High School Athletic Association to allow her son to wear noise-reduction headphones during matches. Lipson carried a 215 average that season.
Lipson easily made the transition into adult leagues after graduation in 2012. He now bowls five days a week competing in several bowling centers including Poelking Lanes South where his coach Andy Parker works.
And in addition to earning his first city title, Lipson also posted his first sanctioned 300 game. But it is the camaraderie that means more than tournament titles or honor scores.
“Many families with an autistic child pay for their child to have a social community,” Wilson said. “Thanks to Trevor’s friends at Thunderbowl, he truly has a community and a 300 ring.”
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