Our Story

How Out! Bowling Became Out! Bowling

It all started in the summer of 2014 with an idea of Nate, our founder. In the summer of 2013, he and his partner, Casey, moved to the Chicago Suburbs and realized that, unless you wanted to go to the city, there wasn’t much to do for LGBTQ+ folks in the area. For transplants like them, it was hard to connect with new friends. Then, he had an idea that would change the LGBTQ+ landscape of the Chicago area for over a decade: “let’s start a bowling league!”

Nate got to work advertising; Casey got to work putting together a logo and a flier. And when it came to a name – one stood out above the rest – we were going “out” bowling – it was as simple as that. And so, Out! Bowling was born with 53 league members that inaugural season. With 11+ years and over 2-dozen seasons, we’ve got so much to celebrate as an Out! Bowling Family. Below are just some of the highlights from past seasons. Thank you for being part of our family as we continue to grow. Our mantra is as good today as it was on day #1 – all, welcome.

Out first night was a preview night with 39 bowlers! See Omar there!? He’s one of our original founding members and has been with us for 7 years.
Karaoke quickly became part of our traditions at Out! Bowling. Many league members hung out afterwards, had a drink and sang karaoke. Here’s a picture of League President, Casey, and former founding league member Amy listening to some jams.
Theme nights quickly became part of our seasons. The first – our Halloween Theme party which has become an annual tradition.
Very quickly our family grew from 53 bowlers the first season to over 83 in the spring season! New faces and returning faces found our home at Brunswick Zone in Naperville a safe place!
John Gammon, in the center, became the “social secretary” of the league – where he has continued welcoming new faces every season!
Food quickly became a huge part of our league. While the alley doesn’t let us bring in “meals,” they made exceptions for desserts. And wow…do we know how to bake.

Our Legendary Beginning
Brunswick Zone, Naperville
Fall 2014 to Fall 2015

Our original logo – simple, to the point, and told the world exactly what we were!
The staff at the various lanes we have been on have been just as much a part of our family as the bowlers. That’s Noelle, original league bartender!
In the center there is Nate – he’s the reason for Out! Bowling. It was his brainchild and from his idea, we have spawned into this amazing family.
It became tradition that even non-bowlers came to visit and became part of our Out! Bowling Extended family.
We weren’t sure how summer season was going to go, but we ended up with 67 bowlers, more than our first season!

Finding Our New Home
Lisle Lanes to Wheaton Bowl
Spring 2016 to 2019

As we get to know our league members, they become like family. And unfortunately we lost a member of or family in 2015. The league donated $100 to his memorial fund. His family told us that the league brought him so much joy his final year in life on the earth.
We blew it out of the water with $3578 made towards the Open Door Clinic!
In Spring 2016, our got a little bit of a spruce-up…and so did our tees!
After several seasons of managing the league, it was time to step back and find someone else for Spring 2017…
Our third annual charity fundraiser with a goal of $2500.
After 6 seasons, we took a minute to honor the founding members of the league who were still bowling!
And somewhere in this craziness, we got a new logo too!
Another successful charity fundraiser for Fall 2018…this time to Youth Outlook!
Our time at Brunswick at Naperville came to a close and we had to seek out a new home in Lisle. Lisle Lanes to be specific.
Our logo got a tune-up too and became much more colorful!
Our goal was to make $1500…and…
Our second annual charity fundraiser raised even more money and this time for the Aids Foundation of Chicago through the Open Door Clinic in Aurora – where long-time league member, Sally Bice, worked.
Presenting the $3578 to the Open Door Clinic of Aurora!
New faces…new friends!
Even in moments of national tragedy, we come together.
And we soldier on…

In the fall of 2016, Nate and Casey decided to step aside as life happens. They left the care of the league in the hands of Morgan and Dave Wechter beginning Spring 2017

Spring 2017 found Morgan and Dave Wechter taking over the league and we officially entered the “Wechter Years.”
Passing the Torch…
And new tees too! The Wechter Years were a huge succeess!

Wheaton Bowl decides to close its doors and we must find another home!

Stardust Lanes: The New Home of Out! Bowling
Spring 2019 to Present

In Fall 0f 2019, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary!
Oh yeah – we got a new logo too!

Spring 2020: The world shut down, and unfortunately so did Out! Bowling.

For the first time in almost 6 years, there was no league, no bowling, but the community held strong until they could be together again…

And another successful charity fundraiser…this time benefiting P-Flag!

From Wooley to Wechter back to Wooley: Transition in 2021

During the pandemic, we lost our spring, summer, fall 2020, and spring 2021. But…in summer of 2021, with vaccines and the pandemic subsiding, it was time to relaunch the league. Morgan and Dave had to move onto other things and asked Casey to step back in to get it running again. And that’s what we did…we picked back up, as though nothing had ever changed!

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022: Lift Off!

After getting our feet wet in Summer of 2021, Fall 2021 was looking up! It was the official start of bowling season once more and the community came out in droves! Out! Bowling was back! Masks wouldn’t stop our fun and fun we had!

We continued to grow and flourish from Fall into Winter 2022.

Spring 2022: Transition from Wooley to Dunne

In the Spring of 2022, Casey made a decision to once again hand off the leadership of the league to a new president. This time, long-time league member and league officer, Ed Dunne stepped forward and emerged. Spring 2022 and Summer 2022 Casey worked with Ed to make sure it was a smooth transition. From that point forward, the league flourished under Ed’s leadership with help from the “Board.”

And in 2023, the league celebrated its 9-year anniversary of ALL.WELCOME!

Ten Years and Beyond

2024 marked a milestone as we celebrated 10 years of Out! Bowling. We celebrated with an anniversary banquet and the league has flourished ever since attracting record numbers of bowlers each season. Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Straight, Ally, and everything in between, we are the league of ALL.WELCOME.