USBC Extra Frames
The United States Bowling Congress has announced it will award $3,800 in cash prizes to winners in editorial, feature and news categories in its 54th annual Bowling Writing Competition.
Deadline for entering the contest, sponsored by USBC's official membership magazine, US Bowler, is Jan. 31. Eligible entries must have been published between Dec. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2005.
"USBC is pleased to continue the long-standing tradition of recognizing those who write about our sport and the extraordinary people who participate in the sport. They are vital to the health and prosperity of bowling," USBC Chief Executive Officer) Roger Dalkin said. "In today's world, communication is one of the most important aspects of our sport. Rewarding those who do an exceptional job in telling our sport's story is our way of letting them know how much we appreciate the work they do."
2005 US BOWLER WRITING COMPETITION RULES
1. Deadline for entering the 2005 US Bowler Writing Competition is Jan. 31, 2005.
2. Editorial, Feature and News stories must have been published or broadcast between Dec. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2005. Entries must be original clippings with broadcast entries accepted on tape or CD. Materials that appeared in American Bowler, Frames & Lanes, Xpress, US Bowler or US Youth Bowler are ineligible.
3. Entry guidelines for the three categories are: a. EDITORIAL - Any opinion expressed in the media concerning a tenpin bowling related subject. b. FEATURE - A non-fiction story concerning any individual, facility, equipment or organization related to tenpin bowling involvement. c. NEWS - A tenpin bowling related story written under deadline with proof of following day publication.
4. First place in each division will carry a $300 award. In addition to the first place awards, others will be: News and Editorial - $225, $200, $175, $150, $75, and $50; Feature - $225, $200, $175, $150, $125, $100, $75, $50 and $50. There also will be five honorable mention certificates awarded in each category.
5. Entries should be unmounted, clearly identified as to author as well as name and date of publication. Author's name, mailing address and social security number must be included with the entry. Entries will not be returned.
6. Entries are limited to three per author in each division.
7. Send entries to: US Bowler Writing Competition, 5301 S. 76th St., Greendale, WI 53129.
NWBW Mail-o-Graphic Tournament scheduled for Feb. 5-11
The National Women Bowling Writers' 10th annual Mail-o-Graphic Tournament is Feb. 5-11, 2006. The event is open to all USBC certified bowlers.
Entry fee is $10 per bowler per league (multiple entries are permitted), but the bowler may cash only once. USBC Certified National ID number for each bowler must accompany entry. The entry form and subsequent score sheet must be completely filled out or the bowler may be disqualified without refund of entry.
Entries close on Feb. 1. All scores bowled and score sheets must be returned and postmarked by Feb. 20. There are three divisions: Women's 156 average and over, women's 155 and under and men's division. Bowlers may only participate in one division. Each division is handicapped based on 90 percent of 235 using bowlers' current average of 21 games or more at the time of participation. If a bowler bowls in more than one league, that league's average will be used.
For further information and entry form(s), write Ellen Goss, Tournament Chairman, 2204 Forest Brook Lane, Garland, TX 75040, call (972) 530-8372 or e-mail megoss@verizion.net.
Record-setting performances
Kenny Neighbors rolled the highest series by a substitute in April with 873 in the Lutheran Mixed Doubles League at Bountiful (Utah) Bowl. His 277, 299 and 297 games moved him past Warren Crawford who had 869 in Eureka, Calif., in February.
It recently was discovered that the Van Nortwick's of Battle Creek, Mich., became the fourth family with a father and four sons rolling career 300 games. Kevin Van Nortwick started the feat in 1984 with a perfect game. His brother Stephen followed in 1990, brother Doug in 1992, father Milo in 1996 and brother Gregory in 2004. They join the Chuck Pezzano, Ron Katona and Robert Fulton families.
William (Scotty) Laughland bowled the highest three-game series by a bowler age 75 and older Nov. 16 with an 867 in the Cosma Seniors League at Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich. Laughland had 300, 289 and 278 games as he moved past the 834 rolled by Fran Lasee, the oldest bowler with 800 series, in Green Bay, Wis., in 2004.
Amy Daniels and Aubrey Christian had the second-best mixed doubles four-game series with 2,020 in the Scratch Mixed Doubles Traveling League at Poelking South Lanes in Dayton, Ohio. Christian had 1,029 and Daniels 991 to trail the 2,110 record set by Ty Dawson and Nina Bennett in Rohnert Park, Calif., in 2002.
Clara Kress joined three other women who have converted) the 5-7-10 split when she achieved the feat in November in the Tuesday 4 Woman League at Tell City (Ind.) Bowling Center. The other women reported to have made the split are Judy Clark in Modesto, Calif., in 1996, Lucy Kratzer in Tell City in 1996 and Emily Wissmar in Kenosha, Wis., in 1997.
Terry Schacht set the record for highest eight-game series with 2,178 in the Minneapolis Senior Masters at New Hope Lanes in October. His 264, 265, 279, 298, 266, 279, 229 and 299 games allowed him to top the 2,173 by Steve Swearinger in Sacramento, Calif., in 1994.
Edward Satkowski and sons Brian and B.J. of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., didn't know it at the time but when they all rolled 800 series in both the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons and 2000 and 2002 calendar years, they became the first family to achieve both feats multiple times. They joined Wallace, Jeff and Mike Walther of St. Cloud, Minn., (2003-04) as the only families with 800s in the same season and Pat Sr., Pat Jr. and Paul Bentley of Grand Rapids, Mich., (1994) as the only families in the same year. The Satkowskis also have moved atop the list for most 800s by a father and sons with a combined 55 - 29 by Brian, 23 by B.J. and three by Edward. The previous leaders were Randy, Tristan and Brian Choat of Granite City, Ill., with 48.
Rushville (Ind.) Bowl reports that Bill and Bobby Servies rolled 299s in the same team game in 2004 making them the third father and son to achieve the feat. Ironically both left 10-pins and used the same type of ball.
State records
When members of RPM Auto rolled a 3,894 series in Homer, N.Y., not only did they set a state team series record, they also rolled the fourth best five-player score in history. Led by Dick Arnold's 831, the team established the record in the Total Auto Care League at Hi-Lanes Bowling Center. Tom Cullip added 808, David Pitts 807, Mike Root 726 and John Boyle 722 as they beat the 3,813 of Vince Gance Agency in Endicott in 1993. The only all-time scores better than RPM Auto are the 3,934 by Limo Exchange in New Castle, Del., in 2004, 3,905 by Print Mark Industries in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 2001 and 3,897 by Westgate in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 2004.
Bowlers in North Carolina pointed out that the state's record team series actually was set in 1994 with 3,677 by Skyland Beer in Ashville. David Harris rolled 836, Steve Miller 759, Wayne Miller 721, Bob Browning 700 and Jeff Miller 661 in the Major Men's Matchpoint League at Star Lanes. That was higher than the 3,664 listed for Big Daddy's Crew in Raleigh in 2004.
South Dakota's team series record changed hands in October when Larry's Lumber finished with 3,600 in the City League at Tommy's Lanes in Watertown. Terry Young led with 760. He was followed by Andy York with 731, Steve Rieffenberger 717, Jeff Pickrez 712 and Roger Billings 680 as they beat the previous record 3,549 by Edwards Construction in Vermillion in 2001.
Robby Hackleman broke the Wyoming individual series standard with 867 in the Sundown League at El Marko Lanes in Casper. His 299, 279 and 289 games in May topped the previous record of 858 set by Ivan Weitz in Cheyenne in 1994 and matched two months later by youth bowler Justin Moore in Cheyenne.
Members of the O'Neill's Golf and Sports team set a Massachusetts team game record with 1,311 in October in the Original Pancake House League at Pro Lanes in North Reading. George Hassard III led with 279 followed by Robert Dickinson with 275, Donald Pomerleau 265, Joseph O'Neill 248 and David Pomerleau 244. They beat the old record 1,296 of Titlist 1 of New Bedford in 1995.
NBMFS rolled the highest team game in Texas history in May with 1,360 in the Texas Bowling Association Championships in Dallas. Steve Addkison rolled 783, Darrell Coats 757, Thass Young 726, Charl Cathey 707 and Michael Coats 703 as they beat the 1,345 by Itty Bitty Flashers in Euless in 1990.
Another older state record only recently discovered was in Vermont where members of Interstate Battery rolled a 3,629 series in 2003. Dick Brady led the way with 766 followed by John Teriele with 752, Jon Wilbur 730, Dave Radaker 717 and Jim Quesnel 664 to top the 3,523 of Bill's Blasters in Plainfield in 1991.
The unusual
When pro bowler Kent Wagner rolled a 292 game on Nov. 28, he completed the unusual feat of rolling every score possible between 290 and 300. The rarest score possible for starting a game with 11 strikes, the 292 has been reported to have occurred less than 20 times.
Notes
WIBC Tournament champion and international competition medalist Jane Leszczynski of Milwaukee died from cancer Dec. 3 in Milwaukee at the age of 70. Leszczynski won the 1974 WIBC Tournament Open doubles title with USBC Hall of Famer Carol Miller and won a gold medal in the women's four-player event in the 1969 Federation Internationale des Quilleurs American Zone Championships and a silver medal in the 1975 FIQ World Championships women's four-player event. A member of the Milwaukee Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame, she also won numerous state and local titles in Wisconsin.
By Mark Miller USBC Communications