Wichita ? Nadine Oppliger saw her first bowling alley in 1947, and now, at 75, is a member of the Kansas Women’s Bowlers Assn. Hall of Fame and a former member of the Professional Women’s Bowling Assn.

Her daughter, Jodi Bartman, manages the Wichita bowling alley that Oppliger owns. Bartman and her sister, Debbie Walker, also are members of the state women’s bowling hall of fame.

Bartman, like her mom, didn’t get into bowling until she was a teenager. That’s when she realized the social aspect of being at a bowling alley wasn’t so bad.

“I was a swimmer,” Bartman said. “And then, it was just fun to spend so much time with my friends. The friendship is the best part — you get to be with them at least once a week.”

And now Oppliger’s granddaughter, 19-year-old Jenny Jenson, is emerging as a fine young bowler in her own right. Unlike her mom and grandmother, Jenson got her start early in life, at the age of 3.

“I always had higher averages than everybody else did at my age,” Jenson said. “But I had my grandma, mom and dad as coaches. I listened to what they had to say.”

Bartman, Jenson and Walker competed together this week at the Women’s International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament in Wichita. Oppliger didn’t get to compete this time, but she’ll get her chance at a different tournament in June.

“At my age, I don’t strike as much as I used to, but it’s still a thrill to strike,” Oppliger said. “Every strike urges you on.”

Some believe it’s people like Oppliger and her family who put Wichita on the bowling map.

“I think the reason most people here don’t know it is that bowling has this image of being a dark, smoke-filled place with sweaty men,” said Cissie Bryant, executive director of the Wichita Women’s Bowling Association. “These are women athletes who are prominent in the bowling community. they contribute to our community daily.”