BullShooter Magazine October 2018 Number 10 Volume 35 | Page 14

It has often amazed me how many times I contact someone for Pacers Page,
and though I have never met them, within minutes I feel like I am talking
to an old friend. Almost instantly I could sense just how much this darter
enjoys being a part of the game of darts. Let’s talk to Rhonda Mader.
Rhonda lives in Lewiston, in the northern part of Idaho with her hus-
band Greg and sons Dylan and Karson, 17 and 13. For 25 years she has
been employed by Dr. John Ritz, an Optometrist. She says, “Sometimes I
can’t believe everything that has happened to a girl from a little town like
Lewiston, Idaho.”
Rhonda Mader
Pacer: Rhonda, I always try to
find out what attracted each player
to the game of darts, and I have to
admit I got a kick out of your story.
Rhonda: Greg and I were dating
and I really wanted to get him some-
thing special for his 21st Birthday.
He told me he wanted a dart board
and I was like, are you crazy, a dart-
board! He said yeah, a dartboard.
So, I ended up buying him one of
those old boards that hooked up to a
black and white TV.
Pacer: Man, I had completely for-
gotten about that. I thought that
Rhonda teamed up with Ashley Zenner and
took 3rd Place in Women’s B 301 Doubles at
the BullShooter Finals last May.
was really cutting edge technology.
These new boards just amaze me.
Rhonda: Well, we were playing at
home and I have to admit that it was
fun, but I still thought he was crazy
for wanting a dart board for his 21st
birthday. The next thing you know
he wants to get on a Mixed Doubles
League. I was really sure he had
lost his mind (both laughing). I
thought to myself, boy is this silly.
The next thing you know we were
playing on a 4-person mixed team at
a place called The Villa and I’m just
having a great time. I really enjoyed
the competition and we were mak-
ing so many new friends that it was
impossible not to have a good time.
I finally had to admit that Greg
wasn’t crazy at all!
Pacer: He really didn’t know what
he was starting when he asked for
that dart board.
Rhonda: I would have to say that
that is probably true. I really do
think to myself, how did all of this
happen to a girl from Lewiston,
Idaho. It really amazes me. Greg
still plays but I probably play more.
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I couldn’t play nearly as much if he
wasn’t behind me.
Pacer: Just what is it like being a
dart player from Lewiston, Idaho.
Rhonda: Well, for one thing you’re
out in the middle of nowhere. Once in
awhile there is something in Boise.
In fact, I met Danny and Stacey
Pace there last year. Usually the
closest major tournaments are in
Seattle and you’re talking six hours
away. The airport in Lewiston isn’t
exactly an international airport and
it’s not easy to get to and it’s really
costly to fly out of there. Thankfully,
I’ve been with Dr. Ritz so long that
I’ve got a lot of vacation. I turn a
lot of Fridays and Mondays into
vacation days. When you’re talk-
ing about a major tournament like
the BullShooter, there goes a whole
week of vacation.
Pacer: When Greg got you on that
mixed team, he really didn’t know
what he was getting started did he?
Rhonda: He probably wonders
sometimes. Really, he has been
wonderful. There are times there
are tournaments that he knows I