When Matt Dragun arrived in Canada from his native Croatia in 1965, a Hall of Fame bowling career was the furthest thing from his mind. Initially, Matt was a welder at National Steel Car in Hamilton before joining the construction industry. Working across Ontario, Matt eventually became a specialist in the installation of acoustic ceilings.

Matt married his wife, Jeanette, in 1968 and, one year later, through his local Croatian social club, joined his first bowling league. With only some bocce skills from his homeland as a foundation, Matt improved his technique over the next ten years bowling in Burlington and Waterdown. His average eventually reached 250 and, at the urging of Tom Patterson, Matt bowled in his first provincial Open and also participated in his first open tournament, coincidentally at Pat Jepson’s Brampton Bowling Centre. Both events occurred in the late seventies and Matt was an instant success in the Open, qualifying fourteen times in the competitive Hamilton zone. Included are two singles appearances as well as six each on the men’s team and the mixed team. This activity produced four Ontario titles with mixed teams in 1994 and 1996 and both the singles title and the men’s team championship in 1999.

The Master Bowlers Association proved to be another area of excellence for Matt. From 1982 through 2000, Matt has bowled 1198 tournament games and averaged 258, ranking him fifth overall in bowlers with over 1000 games. On the Ontario tour, Matt has six victories beginning in 1983 with the Fall Classic and including the 1991 Pro-Am when Matt and his partner Jocelyn Chouinard split $25,000. In addition, Matt has made the Masters Ontario team on five occasions from 1986-1996 and the 1986 and 1995 teams won gold medals nationally. Turning fifty introduced Matt to the MBA Senior tour and he has won four events and, in addition, bowled in three more national championships.

Matt is one of a small group of bowlers who have two sanctioned perfect games. The first one was in 1990 during league play at Waterdown Lanes while his second occurred in 1994 at Sherwood Centre. This latter centre, the home of the Open, is certainly Matt’s favorite. Since 1993, during a period of eight years, Matt has averaged between 267 and 272 winning the high average six times and finishing second the other two years.

Each year, Matt travels the open tournament schedule as well. His victories include the Bowlerama Match Play in 1988 and the annual 3-6-9 tournament at North End Bowl in both 1997 and 2000. Other titles have been won in Waterloo and the Adolpho Orlando Memorial Tournament in Welland.

For his efforts during a twenty-year period, Matt was voted to fourteenth position in the ranking of Ontario’s bowlers over the first ninety years, truly an outstanding achievement for such a short career. His coaches have marveled at his consistency and both his positive attitude and commitment to the team concept.

Matt and his wife Jeannette continue to live in Burlington and their children, Cathy, Judy and Peter, are now very successful in their adult careers. Matt, who is now sixty, shows no sign of stopping and, with his strong work ethic, will continue his career and enjoy his Hall of Fame status.