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'Hittermania': 35th Henry Hitter 3-Man tourney on Saturday, Dec. 14 will have a wrestling theme
Back in July, Madison Area USBC Hall of Famer Mark Henry met World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer Mark Henry, who once was known as the World’s Strongest Man, as I detailed in this story.
That led to this year’s Henry Hitter 3-Man Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at Bowl-A-Vard Lanes having a wrestling them, tournament founder and director Mark Henry announced.
So the 2024 edition of the popular tournament will be “Hittermania,” the trophies will be real wrestling belts, and every bowler should make up their own wrestling name, with the top four receiving cash prizes.
The tournament attracts many of the top bowlers from Wisconsin and some from Illinois for great competition and camaraderie. The latter is truly the key to the event as there isn’t huge prize money or demanding lane conditions — it’s more a grand holiday bowler gathering.
How popular can be seen in the demand by bowlers to get in, which has resulted in Henry having a waiting list for years.
The 40 teams compete in four games of qualifying, with the top 16 advancing to bracket match play.
The entry fee is $225 per team. First is $1,800, second $900, third and fourth $450 each, fifth through eighth $360 each, and ninth through 16th $225 each.
The 2024 tournament would be the 36th annual Henry Hitter, but it wasn't held in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.