Couple Get Along Just Fine--Until They Reach the Lanes : Bowling: Differences don’t keep Sam and Debbie Lantto from winning.

Sam and Debbie Lantto have been known to bicker and disagree, and they never speak to each other during a bowling competition.

But this couple from Maple Grove, Minn. appears to be in complete harmony during the U.S. National Amateur Championships at Brunswick Premier Lanes.

The Lanttos both advanced into match play in the individual tournament Wednesday. With 24 games of match play beginning today, they are trying to become the first husband and wife to gain spots on Team USA, a national team that takes six men and six women.

Sam, 28, carried a 208.7 average through 24 games to qualify fourth among the men. Debbie, 26, averaged 193.2 and qualified in 12th position. Only 24 of 87 men and 24 of 84 women advanced.

Making Team USA would present some problems for the Lanttos, who have shared their differences since they became high-school sweethearts more than 10 years ago.

For starters, they will travel the world playing international tournaments. What will they do with daughter Larissa, 1, during those times?

Heck, what will they do with each other, when inside a bowling center this bride and groom often refuse to communicate? Attempts to coach each other usually lead to arguments.

“We don’t get along, really,” Debbie said with a painful laugh. “We each mind our own business. We don’t bowl with each other. It doesn’t work.”

Should they continue their impressive run here, however, they will likely iron out any differences--as they have in nearly four years since matrimony.

“We’re touching areas we already know about,” Sam said in response. “There are certain bounds. You don’t talk bowling or try to help her while she’s competing.”

Yet Sam said it was love at first sight when he spotted Debbie, a fifth-grader, bowling in Texa Tonka Lanes, owned by Bill Johnson, her father, his coach.

“I snagged a ride home with her mother that one time,” said Sam, “because all my friends left me there.”

Debbie’s attraction for Sam was more of a slow burn. She didn’t date him until high school. Since then, these two have been clicking like an engine that won’t start.

Sam said the couple’s fourth anniversary is Sept. 21. Debbie corrected him: Sept. 23. Then Sam, trying to correct himself, said everyone in the family was born on the 21st. Wrong, Sam. Larissa was born on the fourth.

Debbie said her first date with Sam consisted of watching Andre the Giant in a World Wrestling Federation show held in a cage at the St. Paul Civic Center. NOT, said Sam.

“It wasn’t quite a cage match,” he said, while Debbie recoiled. “I’ve never been to a cage match.”

Sam and Debbie refuse to bowl together in a mixed league and they stay at arm’s length in competition because of different styles.

Said Sam, “She’s mechanics. I’m internal. I teach rhythm and stuff.”

There is definite chemistry between these two, however. They’ve become a solid twosome after competing in same junior leagues, travel leagues, collegiately at Minnesota and now as top amateurs. They even worked together at the Texa Tonka, Debbie as waitress and short-order cook, Sam as counter attendant and night mechanic, midnight to 4 a.m.

Their paralleled success as bowlers and homemakers is not necessarily unique (many touring pros have bowling spouses), but it dumbfounded the United States Tenpin Bowling Federation, governing body of the amateurs. USTBF officials, upon learning Sam Lantto and Debbie Lantto had won the Minnesota state qualifying tournament, didn’t know how to react.

“They laughed,” Sam said, “and, at first, they weren’t going to give us the same room in the hotel.”

Separate rooms, even for the Lanttos, is a bit extreme.

In fact, both say they get along great whenever they get away from all the pin crashing.

“We’re going to the (San Diego) Zoo tonight,” Debbie said. “Kind of hang out and relax. He’ll probably have a beer. It’s been a long week.

“Once we’re out of the bowling alley, we like not to think about it.”

That could prove to be a struggle before Saturday’s finals. Both would like to march into international competition with Team USA much like they marched down the middle aisle as newlyweds.

“It’s nice to make it this far together,” said Sam. “One of us doesn’t have to sit and watch the other.”

Bowling Notes

David Garber of Bedford, Tex., is the men’s top qualifier with a 5,046 pin total and a 210.2 average. After tallying 15 consecutive strikes, including the third 300-game by a female in tournament history, Tammy Turner of West Palm Beach, Fla., qualified No. 1 with a 4,857 pin total and 202.3 average.