September 24, 2024 Nolan Hughes

The last two-plus years for Lennie Boresch Jr., on paper, have been nothing short of a career renaissance.

Since June 2022, Boresch won his fifth PBA50 Tour title in the PBA Senior U.S. Open, was elected and inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame, won the Senior Classic division of the inaugural PBA LBC National Championships and led the Super Senior division of the 2024 PBA LBC National Championships.

Boresch returned to the national stage during last year’s PBA LBC National Championships Clash. He struck on six of his nine shots, celebrating one of which with the iconic Norm Duke pose, and finished third.

A man whose PBA Tour career never reached the heights he dreamed suddenly saw all of his wildest imaginations become reality.

“You’re on top of the world one minute,” Boresch said, “And then…”

Between every shot of the taped show, Boresch said he ran to the bathroom to pee. After multiple misdiagnoses related to his prostate, Boresch was awaiting more test results and bracing for the worst.

“It was pure misery being here last year,” he said. “I was a nervous wreck. I was so worried. I think I was so nervous that it kept my mind off bowling, and that’s why I did so well.”

Two weeks after the event, Boresch said he was diagnosed with a rare form of small cell carcinoma in his prostate. He said the cancer, most commonly found in the lungs, had spread to his lymph nodes.

Boresch, who was also battling kidney failure, asked his doctor to tell him straight: How long do I have?

“Well, it could be a couple months, or it could be a couple years,” he said his doctor told him.

After leaving a 10-pin to finish third in last year’s Clash, Boresch said he didn’t pick up a ball for six months.

He has received 27 chemotherapy infusions and, at one point, 33 consecutive days of radiation, on top of additional treatment, his daughter Lauren wrote.

While the relentless fight for his life pushed bowling to the backburner, he would never let anyone or any disease take away the game he loves so dearly away.

“I didn’t want my last shot to be a flat-10,” Boresch said with a chuckle.

Bowling gave Boresch something to strive for, something to keep his mind off reality. When he laced up his bowling shoes, no matter what was going on off the lanes, he was a Hall of Famer again.

Boresch found a way to bowl the PBA50 Tour stop in The Villages in May and the USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas. He finished runner-up in July's PBA60 Tristan’s T.A.P.S. Memorial Open.

The 62-year-old also bowled the PBA LBC National Championships this summer and shot 1,357 for his six games. As the leading Super Senior player, Boresch became one of two players to book a return trip to the Clash.

“I didn’t expect anything, and then I had a big last three games and here I am,” Boresch said.

Returning to Bayside Bowl, the place where he felt so miserable a year ago, made him appreciative of the people who helped him get there.

Support for Boresch has been ubiquitous on social media since he shared his diagnosis last fall. A GoFundMe, organized by Christopher Keane, has raised more than $46,000 for Boresch’s family. 

“The bowling community has been so supportive, unbelievable,” Boresch said. “I go to these treatments and I see people that are way worse than I am. I see kids. Sometimes I think I ain’t got it that bad.

“I didn't know, even a week ago, if I'd be here. But you know, I said if I could stand in line and throw the ball, I’m going to be here. Make another memory.”

The PBA LBC National Championships Clash will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern on FS1.