Tim Taflinger knew exactly what he wanted to do when he entered college almost thirty years ago.

“My whole family always bowled, and I’m the youngest in my family,” Taflinger, the bowling lanes manager at EIU Lanes, said. “I just kind of grew into it.”

Taflinger, The Daily Eastern News’ campus worker of the week, came to Eastern after receiving an Associate’s Degree from Vincennes University, Vincennes, Ind., in bowling lanes management. He has been here for 26 years.

The spring semester saw nine bowling classes at the lanes, located on the lower level of the Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union. Some students take the classes, which are taught by the kinesiology department, four times while at Eastern.

Taflinger is the only full-time employee, but he has student workers who help him out.

This summer he only has two students, but during the regular school year there are 10 to 12 students working at the bowling lanes part-time.

One part of his job Taflinger does not like is seeing students leave after four years of working with him. He feels the same way about his regular customers.

“You don’t get to keep your customers as long as you’d like,” he said.

Students don’t just go there to bowl. The lanes also offer arcade games, pool tables and a big screen TV.

“It’s not just for bowling,” he said. “Friends come down here to meet and hang out.”

During the summer, the lanes are only open Monday through Thursday from noon until five. Taflinger uses his mornings to catch up on extra work.

“I’m here in the morning doing maintenance on the machines,” he said. “I’m oiling and greasing them and stuff, repairing parts.”

The work is just routine maintenance; the machines were replaced eight years ago and are in good condition.

The previous machines were 35 years old.

Summer is a slower business time, but families and camps being held on campus still come in.

“I spend a lot of time doing stuff for the camps,” he said. “They usually reserve a time to come in after hours.”

For families, it is an economical outing.

“We’re still in the range where it’s affordable,” Taflinger said.

With a Panther Card, bowling costs $1.75 a game. Without a student ID, it is $2.25 per game.

Taflinger himself is a good bowler. He averages 215 a game.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7943 or at seruholl2@eiu.edu.