Bowling Highlights Column 12-28-07

Why Is There No High School Bowling In Sullivan County?

High school bowling is very popular in many parts of the country but there is no inter-scholastic competition for schools in Sullivan County.
We contacted several local high school athletic directors who mostly indicated that they have never thought about high school bowling competition.
High school bowling had been an operating entity for a very long time.
Chicago's Mitt Reymer, an American Bowling Congress Hall of Famer, initiated one of the nation's first high school bowling programs more than 60 years ago.
High school bowling definitely take up a big void that exists in high school varsity bowling as figures released by the United States Bowling Congress point out that 60 to 90 percent of athletes competing in bowling do no compete in other sports.
Several local high school athletic directors said they never had any information on high school bowling and asked where they could get background information.
We pointed out that the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) high school bowling has a resource program that offers high school administrators, high school state athletic associations, state proprietor associations and industry member organizations assistance in the creation and maintenance of high school bowling programs.
The USBC High School bowling program actively offers guidance to all levels of high school bowling by providing rules, instructional opportunities, membership and awards and industry resources to ensure the success of high school bowling nationwide.
The USBC High School bowling program maintains strong relationships with the National Federation of High School Associations , state athletic associations, the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America and USBC Coaching as well as providing a steppingstone to further developmental opportunities such as College Bowling and the Junior Gold Program.
We certainly compliment local bowlers who assist youth in various youth bowling activities and local bantam and teen-age bowling leagues....this is where young bowlers start to learn the basics of this great sport and taking it to the next level with high school inter-scholastic bowling prepares teenagers the opportunity to compete for college bowling scholarships.
The high school bowling competition also helps and increases student involvement in extracurricular activities where there is no facility maintenance or equipment expenses to local high schools.
The USBC High School bowling program offers a free membership for varsity and club programs, is open to all high school teams that participate interscholastically, and the program provides benefits exclusively to bowlers and coaches.
The benefits for high school bowling athletes is that bowlers receive letter jacket pins for 290, 299 and 300 games as well as 700. 800, 900 series and Baker 300 games. Additional; awards for conference and team accomplishments are available for coaches/teams and may be purchased through USBC High School bowling.
New York State contacts information for High School bowling is available by calling the New York State Public High School Athletic Association at 518-690-0271 or by going on line at www.nysphsaa.org
It's important to remember that the sport of bowling offers a healthy, safe and controlled environment for student-athletes to compete in.

Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: One of our previous tips was designed to help you achieve the correct body position to properly execute a bowling shot and be able to repeat it.
This week, we will cover the release.....information that will help bowlers on all levels.
A properly executed release is possibly one of the most misunderstood parts of a bowling shot. Most bowlers tend to muscle the ball through the release zone, either accelerating or decelerating on the downswing. The proper release for all bowlers, "whether you are a six-year-old with a conventional grip or an accomplished bowler with many years experience," should be executed by letting gravity bring the ball from the top of your swing through the release zone with no interference from your arm or shoulder muscles.
If your ball fits properly, the gravity will take it off your hand at the right time providing your body is in the proper position. Any rotation on the ball should come from your hand only, not your arm.
Using the proper technique will allow you to get as much rotation on the ball as desired.
Note, however, if your ball does not fit properly, it will require excessive grip pressure to hold on to which will make the release harder to execute.
Aside from bowling, for those of you that have played golf, you can strike the ball much better and with more accuracy if you do not pull the club down from the top of the swing with your shoulder muscles. Gravity can be your best friend or worst enemy depending on how you use it.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Teacher. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is also the Northeast Technical Advisor for the Morich Bowling Ball Company (Morich Enterprises, Inc.). Mike is a member of the Brunswick Pro Shop Staff. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 341-1694 or via e-mail at mikespro@warwick.net

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scored in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 186 by Dee Dee Schrader, Maureen Schlott 188, Ingrid Ott 189, Ginny Cinnell 185, 182, Pat Peters 198, 506, Lillian Zieres 210, 531,
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Steve Lagoda scored a 201, 197, Tom Schultz 235, Tom Bisig 207, Jesse Lopez 199, Mark Herbert 202, Ken Darling 202, Russell Yerkes 212, Walter Yanacek 234, Joel Turner 195, 204, Jon Wayne 214, Mark Hawley 214, 215, 277, 706, Brian Starr 224, 201, 206, 631 and Tad Doscher 232.
In the Wednesday Night Mixed Businessmen's league first half champions is the Sullivan County Democrat team with a winning percentage of 71.4. Second place went to Margie's. The new league format has a first and second place team format with four teams in a round robin match for the league championship in April. Individual scores include a 182 by Shirley Townsend, Alan Hendrickson 203, Bob Cady 226, 213, 619, John Fink 212, Ed Townsend 205, 215, 601, Rich Winters 213, John Hoffmann 214, 226, Dave Malus 202, Alan Rutledge 202, Kory Kessler 212, Damien 258, 634, Dwayne Gorton 195,

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men league include a Eddie Lake with a 246, 225, 650, Jaryl Scott 214, 213, Ricky Lake 253, 200, 651, Donnie Durland 225, 276, 201, 702, Rob Sze 216, James Raner 212, 254, 244, 710, Tom Belgiovene 217, 225, 633, John Hoffmann 249, 236, 662, Lloyd Bridges 209, Chris Marler 216, Paul Durland 210, Marty Waichman 211, Kort Wheeler 211, 216, 201, 626 and Mike Mulligan 233.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league Eddie Lake scored a 268, 689, George Kelley 254, 668, Matt Cooper 249, Donald Durland 656, Joan Lake 245, 581, Cara Brighton 245, Debbie Durland 225, 619, and Dorian Jennings 600.
In the Wednesday Men's league Eddie Lake scored a 241, 204, Christopher Magie 195, Bill Danchak 212, Dale Sonnenschein 245, Tom Belgiovene 201, 232, 614, Paul Minton 195, Walt Edwards 204, 195, Donald Durland 243, Mark Wegener 211, 199, Rich Hendricks 215, 198, 226, 639, Al Caycho 195, 224, Mike Weiner 202, 261, 255, 718, Dave Graham 266, 247, 205, 718, Kenneth J. Atkins 197, Kenny M. Atkins 230, Jay Shore 278, 201, 649, Al Frangipane 225, John Cascone 203, Dean Shattuck 215, 257, 247, 719 and Shane Cunningham 199.
In the Thursday Ladies league Mardette Wilcox scored a 211, Connie McKenley 221, Debbie Durland 280, 227, 666 and Sonya Robinson 205.
In the Saturday Morning Youth leagues, in the Pee Wees division Abigail Rustic scored a 68, George Van Aken 57 and Emma Jones 72. In the Bantams division Thomas Nola scored a 90. In the Preps division Cory Dietclhman scored a 139, Tyler Foxwell 147, Taylor Bruderman 103, Cody Burns 91, Tyler Bruderman 97, 98, Trevor Scott 116 and Kristy Gessman 95. In the Jr./Mjrs. division Eddie Walsh scored a 193, Nick Price 178, Michael Scuderi 133, Taylor Thomas 191, Kerri Fraser 148 and Shane Drierier 129.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Womens Earl Bird league include a 192 by Melinda Ferris, Diane Miller 180, 510 and Michelle Wolbert 189.
In the Wednesday Men's Independence league Donald Marino scored a 255, 256, 202, 713, Robert Johnson 206, 247, 195, 648, Pat Kille 205, 231, 207, 643, Scott Ostrander 253, 626, Marc Fino 223, 198, 615, Neil Mosher 226, 226, 613, Rod Pudney 203, 247, 608, Hank Whitmore 233, Thomas Anderson 236, 203, Carl Davis 203, 209, Arthur Gately 228, Jim Thompson 200, 206, Andrew Bullis 203, Daniel Wormuth 222, Brian Drumm 200Frank Couse 209, Lee Stanton 213, Brandon MacDonald 230 and Steven Jacobi 220.
In the Thursday Deposit National league Andrew Bullis scored 211, 215, 215, 641, Tony Wright 213, 224, 200, 637, Rod Pudney 236, 231, 636, Steve Aitken 221, 264, 634, Howard Couse Sr. 202, 234, 626, Paul Ignatovich 206, 222, 196, 624, Shane Merwin 210, 236, 607, Jeff Curtis 202, 213, Neil Mosher 210, Jim Valentine 246 and John Lanner 205, 201.
In the Friday Couples league Andy Bullis scored a 246, 267, 706, Matthew Johnson 226, 236, 646, James Dibble 267, 642, Cecil Spencer 241, 220, 621, Daniel Wormuth 196, 244, 609, Howard Couse 220, 602, Brian Tiffany 223, 224, 600, Robert Ellis 216, Paul Fritz 225, Jason Mead 225, Gary Resti 219, Anne Couse 180, 190, 528, Jeannette Linkroum 222, 500, Dawn Mclenon 222, Michelle Brush 204 and Kristina Couse 187.