Bowling Highlights Column 4-30-10

New York Teams Sets Team Records

Bowlers Choice Pro Shop of Tonawanda, N.Y., had the highest team total in the 91-year history of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships on April 21, coming out on top after a three-team shootout for the record.
The team, which featured defending USBC Queens champion Liz Johnson, fired games of 1,160, 1,085 and 1,179 to finish with a 3,424 series.
Bowlers Choice Pro Shop received an additional 12 pins of handicap to finish with a 3,436 total, which also leads the Diamond Division.
Nikki Lunsford led the record performance with a 717 series, and was joined by Michelle Sterner (702), three-time Women's Championships titlist Johnson (690), 2007 Classic Division doubles champion Sue Jeziorski (665) and Sue Nawojski (650).
The strikes continued to fill the scoreboards at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, Bowlers Choice Pro Shop's crossing team, Great Balls of Fire of Peekskill, N.Y., kept pace to finish with the second highest team score in the event's history with 3,351. Kay Roush led the effort with a 730 series, and was joined by Aumi Guerra (728), Helen Waite (655), Shiela Allen (646) and Sandra Maresca (592).
After four second places at the Women's Championships over the years, the members of Bowlers Choice Pro Shop saw all of their hard work on and off the lanes result in a record-breaking performance.
"I'm still in disbelief," said Jeziorski, who bowls regularly at AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, N.Y. "We've been working for this for 15 years, so to post the highest score in tournament history is pretty exciting."
Bowlers Choice Pro Shop and Great Balls of Fire nearly found themselves deadlocked after the second game, but the teams appreciated the competition for the top spot and applauded each others efforts as they made their way toward history.
Jeziorski credited their familiarity as the key asset to their success. Four of the five members of Bowlers Choice Pro Shop, along with Waite and Allen, had just finished bowling their state tournament a week prior to competing at the Women's Championships.
With their name in the record books, the members of Bowlers Choice Pro Shop can only wait and hope their score holds on until the tournament concludes on July 4.
"All we can do now is hope that no one beats us," Jeziorski said. "It's an honor to put our names alongside some of the greatest women bowlers in the history of the sport."
Teams in the Diamond Division have combined averages of 900 and above, with handicap based off of 100 percent of 1,100.

The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

This week's tip is for parents with children who either bowl in a youth league or bowl regularly with their own equipment.
The first question for parents is....when was the last time you had your child's fit checked on their bowling ball at your local pro shop?
Children tend to grow quickly and the gripping holes in their bowling balls must be adjusted to accommodate this growth.
Bowling with poor- fitting equipment can become frustrating and uncomfortable. In most cases, it will only take a minute or two for adjustments to be made.
Also, if your child has his or her own bowling shoes, you can check the size yourself to see if the fit is acceptable. Do not wait for blisters to form on the toes.
Remember, the game is meant to be enjoyed, not to be a form of torture.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is an Advisor along with being involved with Special Events with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 435-720-7939 or via
e-mail at mikeproshop@ymail.com


Wrap Up Column For
2009-10 Season

This will be the wrap up bowling column for the 2009-10 league bowling season.
Congratulations to all the league champions.
Perfect 300 games this 2009-10 bowling year were rolled by Donald Durland with 2, Jaryl Scott, Dean Shattuck, Eddie Lake, Alan Jones, John Fischer, Rich Winters, Rick Lake and Little Lefty John Hoffmann with 4.
Just a reminder that many local bowling establishments offer summer leagues . Call and check them out.
We will continue to add bowling news to our Web Page, http://bght.blogspot.com
See ya in the fall.......have a safe and fun-filled summer. Join us next week in our Golfing Highlights Column.

Local Scores

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league includes a 254 by Gil Suarez, Dan Ricco 238, 631, Jaryl Scott 243, 237, 238, 718, Vinnie Collura 237, 626, Donald Durland 277, 235, 711, James VanAken 258, Josh Strang 237, 258, 667, Tom Belgiovene 635, John Hoffmann 237, 653, Nate Sanders 232, 270, 697, John Fischer 237, 253, 682, Dave Graham 268, 236, 226, 730, Jo Jo VanKeuren 237, 671, Serafin Rodriguez Jr. 226, Al Caycho 265, 674, Jon Wilhelm 241, 635, Miekey Lake 231, Eddie Lake 267, 679, Lloyd Bridges 237, 612, Kevin Stackhouse 235, 236, 693, Jack Moylan 258, 279, 749, Robert Sze 279, 665, James Ratner 225, 236, 624, Kort Wheeler 258, 226, 695, Daniel J. VanAken 247, Paul Curry 258, 227, 649, Ronnie Totten 237, 246, 686, Mal Press 257, 226, 697. Al's Auto Repar are the league champions with team members Frank Martinez, Craig Wilhelm, Al Caycho and Jon Wilhelm.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league champions once again is the IAPOTH team consisting of team members Kevin Stackhouse, Roberta Yakin, Robert Yakin Sr., John Hoffmann and subs David Graham and Eddie Lake. Individual scoring the last night of league bowling included a 192, 514 by Debra Blackford, Carena Collura 233, 504, Carol MacAdam 225, 197, 554, Andrea Grossman 182, 500, Neil Bell Jr. 600, Ed Guthrie 627, Mary Lee Williams 237, 187, 180, 604, Joan Lake 216, 192, 568, Dorian Jennings 180, 220, 579, Peter Scannell256, 604, Jack Rustic 243, 631, George Kelley 226, 621, Russ Keesler 236, 225, 669, Jason Jones 619, Fran Kaiser 191, 198, 551, Daniel VanAken 227, Debbie Durland 191, 197, 194, 582, Mal Press 609, Jon Wilhelm 241, 625, John Hoffmann 258, 669, Kris Gwiozdowski 244, 601, Linda Schaefer 188, Larry Berens 225.
In the Thursday Women's League Connie McKenley 180, Margaret Quick 185, Susan Gabriel 180, Mardette Wilcox 195, 214, 577, Lisa Cartwright 191, Debbie Durland 181, 215, 532, Joan Lake 236, 198, 613, Pat Shuart 180, 180, 185, 545, Liz Stubits 182, Barbara Durbak 183, 207, 558, Carmella Carpinone 180. Scores from April 15 include a 224, 182, 552 by Clorisa Hopkins, Lisa Cartwright 182, 501, Kim Peck 185, Mardette Wilcox 232, 198, 180, 610, Joan Lake 200, 203, 209, 612, Liz Burgio 185, Connie McKenley 191, Valerie Fersch 189, Liz Stubits 222, Camille Carpinone 205, Bonnie Geraine 199, Debra Castillo 201, Rudy Hoke 186, 505, Rita Burdick 195, Mary Lee Williams 203, 193, 560, Debbie Durland 194, 184, 556, Barbara Durbak 196.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling and to several bowling writers associations. If you have a topic that would make good reading , or have league and tournament scores, Ed can be reached by phone at 845-439-8177, via e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a more expanded version of the bowling column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com