Corey Dockstader acted like he didn’t have a care in the world, and why not?

There he was Sunday, watching the finals of the Byrn’s Junior Masters at King Ferry Lanes, the bowling center owned by his dad, Bill. But he wasn’t enthralled by the action. The television, showing the professionals on ESPN, also caught his eye.

It could have been a fairy tale weekend for Corey. The longhaired 16-year-old with the quick smile lost for the second time Saturday in the boys tournament. Had the stars aligned correctly, he would have been out there, trying to win it all on his home turf.

But it didn’t happen. His chance slipped away. That’s just the way things go. The Ithaca High sophomore spoke almost philosophically about his experience in the event.

“I’m not very disappointed about not being out there now,” he said. “I lost by six pins yesterday, Kevin Roche beat me. If I had struck on my first ball in the 10th frame, I would have won. But I pulled it.”

Nerves may have gotten the best of him, he said. He knows he should probably have an advantage at King Ferry, but chalk it up to experience. Last year he made a quick exit, losing his first two matches. This season, he had an excellent showing.

Corey even endured a 300 game by opponent and eventual champion Chris Gomez at Starlite Lanes.

“I was stunned. I came back and bowled 210 against him, but what am I supposed to do?” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

No worries. Bowling certainly figures in Corey’s future. His father will someday hand him the keys to King Ferry. But he takes it all in stride.

The game doesn’t seem to consume him. Sure, he helps out on Saturdays “and whenever I’m not in school,” he said. He can condition the house’s six lanes if he has to, and he does minor work on the bowling machines.

He has the luxury of throwing games whenever he wants, improving his spare shooting while his father offers occasional tips.

But a career in the bowling business? For now, Corey likes to shoot pool, and he wonders about life as an auto mechanic, something that also interests him.

“It’s his choice,” Bill Dockstader said. “This place will be here for Corey if he wants it.”

It may be difficult to give up. There are 64 bowlers in the Saturday junior program, almost half of them between ages 5 and 9, to keep things buzzing.

“They start at 9:30 in the morning and get done at 3,” Bill said. “It’s very encouraging. The parents stick around and help their kids out. I love having them here.”

And with the Auburn USBC Association keeping King Ferry in the rotation for major events, perhaps Dockstader is having too much fun to call it quits.

“I’ll be here forever, just like Ron Rizzo’s dad,” he said of Al Rizzo, a nonagenarian still going strong at Rainbow Lanes.

And if Corey, indeed, stays on board, the association will benefit from another solid father and son combination to serve its bowlers.