MEDFORD, Ore. — For many bowlers, participating in the Oregon State USBC Women’s Championship is a highlight of their year. The competition draws players of all ages and skill levels from across the state. But two competitors this year are truly remarkable — both in their longevity and their love for the sport.

Lois Schlecht, age 94, and Doris Bayless, age 99, are proving that you’re never too old to lace up your bowling shoes and hit the lanes.

“I was determined I wasn’t going to quit,” Lois says proudly. “You just have to get the ball down the lane.”

And get the ball down the lane she does — even while using a walker to steady herself. Lois is not alone in adapting to physical changes. “Last year we had three different people in our league using walkers, and a couple of them using a cane,” she adds. “That’s the greatest part about bowling — you just do what you can.”

Lois first started bowling in 1975 — at age 44 — and has been hooked ever since. At first, she resisted. “Different friends wanted me to try it. I said, number one, I can’t afford it, and number two, I don’t know anything about it,” she recalls. But the group persisted. She bought a second-hand ball and bag for $10 and quickly became a fixture in her local bowling community.

Her commitment to the sport has extended beyond the lanes. Over the years, she served on her local bowling association and attended many WIBC National Conventions. Today, although her eyesight is failing, she still organizes teams and makes sure the league rules are followed. “I don’t believe in shortcuts,” Lois says firmly. “You’ve got to do things the right way.”

Her advice for others facing challenges? Stay determined. “Several of them, when they get that [a disability or difficulty], they quit,” Lois says. “But I wasn’t going to.”

Doris, meanwhile, will celebrate her 100th birthday this October — and shows no sign of slowing down.

She bowled six games on Sunday during the Women’s Championship, after bowling three games on Saturday. “I have been well all my life,” Doris says. “I’ve never been in the hospital except two times — to have my kids.”

She’s bowled for more than 75 years. These days, she bowls with her daughter Barb — and they’ve been entering this tournament together for more than 30 years.

“She amazes me every day,” says Barb. “She still pulls weeds in her yard. She’s very independent.”

Bowling provides more than competition for Doris. It provides a sense of connection and purpose. “I live alone now,” she says. “My husband passed away two years ago. I like to go bowling to visit.”

When asked what keeps her coming back, Doris smiles. “It’s fun. I love the sport.”

She also remembers the sport’s history. Doris bowled in Portland when the WIBC National Tournament came to town in 1965 — an event where bowlers were required to wear skirts and white blouses. “That was the rule back then,” she laughs.

Now, the attire has changed, but her love of the game remains as strong as ever. In fact, her home bowling alley is already planning a 100th birthday celebration for her. “They told me I’m going to bowl until I’m 100,” Doris says with a grin. “I don’t worry about it. I take life as it comes.”

Lois echoes that sentiment. Though she uses a walker, she remains active and engaged in her bowling community. “I still arrange all the teams. I’m not an officer anymore, but I’m still involved,” she says.

Both women are living proof that bowling is truly a sport for life. For Lois and Doris, the lane is a place where friendships are forged, determination is tested, and joy is found — no matter the number of birthdays they’ve celebrated.