ROTH, PETRAGLIA, MACPHERSON ELECTED TO USBC HALL OF FAME

ARLINGTON, Texas - Three of the most successful players in professional
bowling history have been elected to the United States Bowling Congress
Hall of Fame in the Superior Performance category.

Mark Roth, 57, of Fulton, N.Y.; John Petraglia, 61, of Jackson, N.J.,
and Wendy Macpherson, 40, of Henderson, Nev., will be inducted during
the USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., on Friday, May 1.

Roth, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, is widely credited with introducing the
high-revolution power game into the sport. Roth’s unorthodox style
produced 34 Professional Bowlers Association titles including a
remarkable 14 victories over a two-year span (1978-79). His eight titles
in 1978 stand as the most victories in a single year by a PBA player.

Roth also is a two-time PBA Senior Tour champion and banked more than
$1.6 million during his career. He won Bowling Writers Association of
America Bowler of the Year honors in 1977, вЂ˜78, вЂ˜79 and вЂ˜84 and
was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987.

“I’m surprised. I didn’t think I’d ever get in,” Roth said.
“It’s a great honor. I got the call from USBC President Jeff Bojé
on New Year’s Eve, so it was a great way to bring in the New Year. At
least I get to go in before I die so I can enjoy it.”

Petraglia, also a Brooklyn native, is a 14-time PBA champion and one of
five players in PBA history to complete the Triple Crown. After winning
his first PBA title at age 19, Petraglia won the Firestone Tournament of
Champions in 1971, U.S. Open in 1977 and the PBA National Championship
in 1980. Billy Hardwick, Pete Weber, Mike Aulby and Norm Duke are the
only others in the “Triple Crown Club.”

Petraglia also was part of two teams that won American Bowling Congress
Classic Team titles before the Classic Division was terminated, and he
owns six PBA Senior Tour titles. He is the only PBA bowler to win three
consecutive televised tournament titles, one of three who have won PBA
titles in five different decades, and one of 17 who have bowled
nationally-televised 300 games.

“I was very, very surprised. It was a shock, but it was wonderful
news,” Petraglia said. “I thought it would take two or three years
at least. It’s pretty special to be recognized alongside guys like
Andy Varipapa and Dick Weber and all the great players who are in the
hall.”

Petraglia and Roth were both pleased to be elected in the same year.

“Mark and I basically grew up together, even though I’m four years
older,” Petraglia said. “Mark and I won a Paramus league one year,
and the Met Classic league another year. We were good bowlers when we
were young, but you never know how things are going to turn out. Looking
back, it’s a big surprise to see what we’ve accomplished.”

Macpherson, a 20-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association
champion, made her presence known on the women’s scene as an
18-year-old amateur when she won the Women’s U.S. Open for her first
title. Since then she became the youngest woman to win the tour’s
Triple Crown, captured three USBC Queens titles, was selected Woman
Bowler of the Year four times and became the all-time earnings leader in
women’s professional bowling with $1.2 million in 2003 when the PWBA
ceased operations.

“It was a great way to begin the New Year,” Macpherson said.
“I’m honored. It’s very, very exciting.”

Macpherson also is the only woman to win a USBC Open Championships
title, firing an 812 series to win the 2006 Regular Singles crown in
Corpus Christi, Texas.

“I think it’s a combination of all the fabulous years and the many
years, 20 years, that represents your career,” she said. “I did a
little bit of reminiscing of how wonderful bowling has been to me over
the years, how much I’ve enjoyed it and been blessed to be able to do
it for so many years and am still doing it.”

She was the leading vote-getter among the 12 candidates considered by
USBC’s panel of veteran bowling writers and hall of famers, named on
146 of 158 ballots cast for 92.41 percent to easily exceed the 70
percent majority needed for election. Roth received 130 votes (82.28
percent) while Petraglia received 117 votes (74.05).

Other men’s candidates were: Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore., 105
votes (66.46); Del Ballard Jr., Keller, Texas, 59 votes (37.34); Dave
Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., 27 votes (17.09), and Amleto Monacelli,
Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 16 votes (10.13).

Other women’s candidates were: Shirley Levens, Titusville, Fla., 79
votes (50); Dede Davidson, Buellton, Calif., 65 votes (41.14); Cheryl
Robinson, Oceanside, Calif., 51 votes (32.28); and Jackie Mitskavitch,
DuBois, Pa., and Michelle Mullen, Farmington Hills, Mich., each with 20
votes (12.66).

The USBC Hall of Fame was created in 2005 by merging the former ABC and
Women’s International Bowling Congress Halls of Fame. With the three
new inductees selected by the committee, there are now 375 members of
the USBC Hall of Fame - 246 in Performance, 110 in Meritorious Service
and 19 Pioneers.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body,
ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides
programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and
enhances the bowling experience.