October 14, 2026 Jill Winters

As professional bowlers, brothers EJ and Zac Tackett have high expectations of themselves and even higher expectations when they are hosting a tournament.

Their mindset is to show the players they are appreciative of them being there by providing a comfortable environment, easily available snacks and water and free meals, so the bowlers only have to focus on one thing: coming in and competing at the highest level they possibly can.

Based on the overwhelming generous feedback they received from the players and spectators, they delivered during the first-ever PBA ELITE stop in the Central Region held inside their home center, EZ Bowl in Bluffton, IN., Oct. 2-4.

This was definitely a family effort. One of their sponsors is a barbecue restaurant, which served up a free catered meal for the bowlers after the pro-am on Friday. On Sat., EJ and Zac’s mom, Angie, made a home-cooked meal that was free to every bowler and spectator as a thank you for supporting the tournament.

“She does beef and noodles every year and people absolutely love it. She made 50-pounds of homemade mashed potatoes and there wasn’t any left,” Zac said. “Someone said they are going to come back every year because they feel like when they come here it is like they are sitting in my mom’s kitchen. That was probably the nicest compliment we have ever gotten.”

Their dad, Ed, bowled on the regional tour in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. He always wanted to host a regional event, but their previous bowling center wasn’t big enough with 12 lanes. Since purchasing this 22-lane center in 2018, they have fulfilled his wish. This was their ninth regional.

“It’s important to be a part of professional bowling not just as a bowler but giving guys another opportunity to bowl – myself and Zac included in that. That is why it has always been so important for us to host over the years,” EJ said. “We’ve gotten a ton of people and companies come on board and help us financially every year to be able to put it on and make it bigger and better every single year.”

EJ and Zac are also quick to give a lot of credit to their partners. EJ’s wife Natalie and Zac’s fiancée Kayla Crawford.

“It is not just me and EJ; it is the four of us really. A lot of our success since we took over has to do with mainly Natalie and Kayla because they are the brains behind a lot of this,” Zac said. “I’m the one in the pro shop. Me and EJ are making sure everything runs right. They are the ones making sure the inner part of everything is running correctly. I don’t feel like they get enough credit for what they have done.”

EJ added, “Natalie and Kayla are huge parts of not just the regional but the bowling center itself. Natalie does a ton with organizing things, taking care of our staff, hiring new staff and paying them. Kayla is there alongside her to help with things Natalie can’t get done. They both also have actual jobs that they work.”

With EJ being gone between 200 and 250 days a year, he said it definitely takes a village to make everything work. They are so fortunate to have both sets of parents close by to also help with EJ and Natalie’s young son, Tripp. The entire Tackett family loves this sport and are willing to do everything they can to support it.  

“Bowling has given me literally everything in my life. My parents started in the business 40 years ago. I met Natalie through bowling and if it were not for the sport, we wouldn’t have Tripp. Zac met Kayla through bowling,” EJ said. “Everything in my life revolves around this amazing sport that is something you can do your entire life, you can enjoy it with family members, and it doesn’t matter social status, background or anything like that. It is one of the most inclusive sports I think on the planet, and we all have to do our very best to help bowling thrive, not just survive.”

Another special Tackett touch at this tournament was a reserved premier parking spot for last year’s Family Ford of Bluffton/Yergy’s BBQ/EZ Bowl Central Open Central champion Graham Fach. This was something EJ had noticed at golf tournaments, and he implemented the idea for the first time in 2024.  

“It’s a small thing to show appreciation for all the hard work someone puts in to be able to win an event. Whoever is the winner definitely deserves it,” EJ said. “Now next year, Michael Davidson will have that parking spot.”

As soon as Davidson was handed his trophy and check as the standard division champion and Mika Koivuniemi as the senior division champion, EJ put his equipment away, Zac pulled out the lane machine, and they got EZ Bowl ready for Sunday night league.

“We don’t get a lot of time to sit down and reflect because life doesn’t stop,” EJ laughed. “We plan on continuing to host and we will see what the future brings for us.”