One of the most important days in the history of organized bowling will take place May 5 when results of voting by the Women's International Bowling Congress and American Bowling Congress delegations on the proposed merger to create the United States Bowling Congress are announced in Wichita, Kan.
Sealed ballots from WIBC voting May 4 and ABC voting March 19 will be unsealed and counted following the adjournment of the WIBC Annual Meeting at the Century II Convention Center.
According to the Plan of Merger, a two-thirds approval from each of the ABC and WIBC delegations will be needed to form USBC. The remaining merging partners, the Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling, also are scheduled to announce the results of their boards of directors' decisions May 5 if both ABC and WIBC approve the plan.
If both WIBC and ABC approve the Plan of Merger, the single organization would be launched Jan. 1, 2005. If either or both ABC and WIBC fail to approve the Plan of Merger, USBC will not be formed.
If approved, the merger would combine ABC, WIBC, YABA, and USA Bowling into one organization. It would be one of the largest non-profit mergers in United States history. Currently, ABC has more than 1.6 million members, WIBC more than 1.2 million, and YABA nearly 400,000. Joining them with USA Bowling would create one organization with more than 3.2 million members. The USBC would seek recognition as the national governing body for bowling in the United States.
A single membership organization Plan of Merger proposal failed to pass at both the 2003 ABC Convention and 2003 WIBC Annual Meeting. This year's legislation was revised to address concerns of ABC and WIBC delegations.
The University of Kansas men and Pikeville College women took home their programs' first national championships April 17 in the 2004 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships at Riverlanes in Tulsa, Okla.
Each team was presented with the Helmer Cup, awarded to the IBC national champions. The Helmer Cup is named in honor of the late Kerm Helmer, longtime coach at Erie Community College who led his teams to four IBC titles.
Pikeville defeated Wichita State University, 2.5-.5, in the best of three, Baker-format women's championship match. The Bears won the first game, 197-160, and tied at 169 in the second. In the third game, Pikeville senior Lindsey Durham, Louisville, Ky., spared and rolled a 7-count in the 10th frame to clinch a 196-192 victory and the national championship.
"That makes it that much better -- to come down to the 10th frame," said Durham, who was named to the All-Tournament Team and runner-up in the Linds World Impex Most Valuable Player voting. "This is something special for all of us. Nothing else matters except for this tournament."
Pikeville, which fielded its first women's bowling team in the 2001-02 season, has been a sectional champion in all three years of its existence.
It is the first team championship in any sport for Pikeville in the school's 115-year history.
"We in no way expected this when we started the program," Pikeville coach Ron Damron said. "We have a great group of girls -- they work really hard. We're really fortunate we've been a team for three years now."
Other members of Pikeville include: senior Patty Trusty, Louisville, Ky.; junior April Ellis, Jackson, Tenn.; junior Stacey Wyatt, Louisville, Ky.; sophomore LaDeanna Damron, Pikeville, Ky.; sophomore Michelle Leonard, Beavercreek, Ohio; and sophomore Tracy Miller, Louisville, Ky.
Kansas rallied to down Saginaw Valley State, 2-1, to claim the men's national championship. After Saginaw Valley State took game 1 by a score of 223-201, the Jayhawks recovered to win the best-of-three match 222-181 and 193-187.
"We bowled a great game in the first game and got beat," said Kansas sophomore and Team USA 2004 member Rhino Page, San Diego, who was named Linds World Impex MVP in the men's division. "We knew we were going to have to post a good number and hang together as a team. It worked out for us."
"We were down in about four of the matches Saturday, so it was no big deal at all," Kansas coach Mike Fine said. "This team has shown remarkable resiliency this weekend...they just find a way to make things happen."
Other members of Kansas include: senior Marc D'Errico, Rochester, N.Y.; senior Alan Emmons, Loveland, Colo.; junior Jason Reese, Lenexa, Kan.; freshman Chris Dilley, Overland Park, Kan.; and Trent Overbey, Berryton, Kan.
In the semifinals, the Western Illinois University men's teamgave Saginaw Valley State its first loss of the tournament with a 4.5-3.5 victory -- forcing a second and decisive best-of-seven match, which was won by the Cardinals, 4-1, to advance to the championship. Kansas eliminated Fresno State University, 4-2, in the other semifinal.
On the women's side, Pikeville and Wichita State each cruised to4-1 semifinal victories in eliminating Western Illinois and Lindenwood University, respectively.
Joining Page on the men's All-Tournament Team were: Saginaw Valley State senior and MVP runner-up Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa.; Fresno State freshman P.J. Haggerty, Weimar, Calif.; Morehead State University sophomore David O'Sullivan, Yonkers, N.Y.; and Wichita State senior and Team USA 2004 member Sean Rash, Anchorage, Alaska.
Joining Durham on the women's All-Tournament Team were: Wichita State senior and MVP Maggie Smith, Lenexa, Kan.; Wichita State junior and Team USA 2003 member Anita Manns, Austin, Texas; Wichita State freshman Clara Guerrero, Armenia, Colombia; and Lindenwood senior Erin Reid, Richmond, British Columbia.
The men's and women's finals will be nationally televised on College Sports Television at a later date. Five-time Team USA member and Professional Bowlers Association superstar Chris Barnes served as commentator.
The IBC is the climax of the college bowling season, as the top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams squared off in a double-elimination, Baker-style format to determine who will be crowned national champions. Teams are selected to participate in the IBC based on season records and qualifying through sectional qualifiers.
The Fresno State University men's team and Wichita State University women's team captured the second annual American Bowling Congress/Women's International Bowling Congress Sport Bowling Crystal Pin Awards after leading the qualifying round April 15 in the 2004 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships at Riverlanes in Tulsa, Okla.
The Crystal Pin Award -- Sport Bowling's signature honor -- was presented to each team prior to April 15's competition by five-time Team USA member and Sport Bowling spokesperson Chris Barnes along with ABC/WIBC Director of Research Neil Stremmel. This marks the third year that the IBC has been contested on Sport Bowling lane conditions.
Fresno State totaled 6,495 pins through 32 games to average 202.7 in the Baker format, qualifying with a high game of 279. Second-team All-American P.J. Haggerty, Weimar, Calif.; and honorable mention All-Americans Erick Buckley, Madera, Calif., and Ivan Miyasato, Aiea, Hawaii, led the Bulldogs.
"It's about as proud as I've been of a team," Fresno State assistant coach Chris Preble said of the Bulldogs, who are comprised offour sophomores and two freshmen. "They held it together all day. They had some sets where they were down, but never too far down."
Wichita State, ranked No. 1 by the Bowling Writers' Association of America, amassed 6,451 (a 201.6 average) with a high game of 265. The Shockers were led by first-team All-Americans Anita Manns, Austin, Texas; Maggie Smith, Lenexa, Kan.; second-team All-American Clara Guerrero, Armenia, Colombia; and honorable mention All-American Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan. Wichita State also led after qualifying at the 2003 IBC to earn the first Crystal Pin Award in the women's division.
"That was one of our goals coming in -- repeat as the high qualifier and win the Crystal Pin," Wichita State women's coach Mark Lewis said. "We try to play on Sport Bowling conditions all the time. We're looking for those major events that have Sport conditions, knowing that is what we are going to see here at the IBC. We almost avoid tournaments that have soft conditions -- we want to be on the stuff that's harder to prepare for here."
Sport Bowling is an optional program of leagues and tournaments in which lane conditions must meet precise and challenging requirements much less forgiving than a standard league condition. Many premier bowling tournaments -- including the four Professional Bowlers Association majors -- are conducted on Sport Bowling lane patterns, which require bowlers to rely on accuracy, ability to read lanes and spare shooting skills. Visit SportBowling.com for more information.
Saginaw Valley State University senior Bill O'Neill and Fairleigh Dickinson University freshman Elysia Current were named Most Valuable Players for the 2003-04 collegiate bowling season by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association.
It marks the fourth consecutive year being named a first-team All-American for O'Neill, who helped lead the Cardinals to the Downington (Pa.) Sectional title and a berth in the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships. The Levittown, Pa., native also was named Male Bowler of the Year for the third time by the Bowling Writers Association of America.
In addition to being MVP and first-team All-American in her debut season, Current also was selected as Women's Rookie of the Year and BWAA Female Bowler of the Year. The Ephrata, Pa., native was all-events champion at the Kerm Helmer Memorial Invitational, SCCC Invitational, Quaker Classic and Nittany Lion Kegler Classic this season.
Joining O'Neill on the men's first team were Wichita State University's Sean Rash (senior, Anchorage, Alaska); West Texas A&M University's Mike Hardesty (junior, Frisco, Texas); Vincennes University's Jeff Campbell (sophomore, New Castle, Pa.); and Saginaw Valley State's Steve Novak (freshman, Oceanside, N.Y.).
Lindenwood University's Brian Valenta (freshman, Lockport, Ill.) was named Men's Rookie of the Year and Vincennes' Gary Sparks was tabbed the Kerm Helmer Men's Coach of the Year.
Joining Current on the women's first team were Wichita State's Maggie Smith (senior, Lenexa, Kan.); Wichita State's Anita Manns (junior, Austin, Texas); Sacred Heart University's Erin Gore (junior, Woodbridge, Va.); and West Texas A&M's Megan Larson (sophomore, McKinney, Texas).
Pikeville College's Ron Damron was named the Kerm Helmer Women's Coach of the Year.
Former College Bowling USA Director Brian Graham was named recipient of the NCBCA Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award. The awards were announced during the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships' "Night of Champions" reception at the DoubleTree Hotel at Warren Place.
Bill O'Neill, senior, Saginaw Valley State University, Levittown, Pa.; Sean Rash, senior, Wichita State University, Anchorage, Alaska; Jeff Campbell, sophomore, Vincennes University, New Castle, Pa.; Mike Hardesty, junior, West Texas A&M University, Frisco, Texas; Steve Novak, freshman, Saginaw Valley State University, Oceanside, N.Y.
Richard Fairley Jr., junior, Virginia Tech, Lynchburg, Va.; Brian Valenta, freshman, Lindenwood University, Lockport, Ill.; Scott Schultz, freshman, Briarcliffe College, Huntington Station, N.Y.; P.J. Haggerty, freshman, Fresno State University, Weimar, Calif.; Ryan Abel, sophomore, Erie Community College, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Ivan Miyasato, sophomore, Fresno State University, Aiea, Hawaii; Joe Kolanowski, junior, Saginaw Valley State University, Muskegon, Mich.; Clay Herrbach, senior, Western Illinois University, Naperville, Ill.; Rhino Page, sophomore, University of Kansas, San Diego; Eric Buckley, sophomore, Fresno State University, Madera, Calif.
Men's Most Valuable Player: Bill O'Neill, Saginaw Valley State University.
Men's Rookie of the Year: Brian Valenta, Lindenwood University.
Men's Coach of the Year: Gary Sparks, Vincennes University.
Elysia Current, freshman, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ephrata, Pa.; Anita Manns, junior, Wichita State University, Austin, Texas; Maggie Smith, senior, Wichita State University, Lenexa, Kan.; Megan Larson, sophomore, West Texas A&M University, McKinney, Texas; Erin Gore, junior, Sacred Heart University, Woodbridge, Va.
Clara Guerrero, freshman, Wichita State University, Armenia, Colombia; April Ellis, junior, Pikeville College, Jackson, Tenn.; Shannon Pluhowsky, junior, University of Nebraska, Phoenix; Tina Stickney, senior, West Texas A&M University, Austin, Texas; Christina Schulze, sophomore, Briarcliffe College, Willistown Park, N.Y.
Olivia Sandham, sophomore, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.; Kelly Zapf, junior, University of Kansas, Rochester, N.Y.; Stefanie Nation, University of Central Florida, Miami; Catie Boroff, junior, West Texas A&M University, Mansfield, Texas; Lindsey Coulles, freshman, Morehead State University, Centerville, Ohio.
Women's Most Valuable Player: Elysia Current, Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Women's Rookie of the Year: Elysia Current, Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Women's Coach of the Year: Ron Damron, Pikeville College.
2004 NCBCA Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award Recipient: Brian Graham -- College Bowling USA.
O'Neill, a senior, is a resident of Levittown, Pa. Current, a freshman, is from Ephrata, Pa.
Recent American Bowling Congress Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow winner P.J. Haggerty, a freshman at Fresno State University from Weimar, Calif.; was among four male runners-up. Others were: Jeff Campbell, sophomore, Vincennes University, New Castle, Pa.; Mike Hardesty, junior, West Texas A&M University, Frisco, Texas; and Sean Rash, senior, Wichita State University, Anchorage, Alaska.
Earning male honorable mention were: Richard Fairley, junior, Virginia Tech, Lynchburg, Va.; Scott Schultz, freshman, Briarcliffe College, Huntington Station, N.Y.; and Brian Valenta, freshman, Lindenwood University, Lockport, Ill.
Anita Manns, the 2002 Women's International Bowling Congress Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow and Team USA 2003 member, was among the women's runners-up. The Wichita State junior from Austin, Texas, was joined by three-time U.S. Amateur Champion Shannon Pluhowsky, junior, University of Nebraska, Phoenix; Maggie Smith, senior, Wichita State University, Lenexa, Kan.; and Erin Gore, junior, Sacred Heart University, Woodbridge, Va.
Earning women's honorable mention were: Clara Guerrero, freshman, Wichita State University, Armenia, Columbia; Megan Larson, sophomore, West Texas A&M University, McKinney, Texas; and Christina Schulze, sophomore, Briarcliffe College, Willistown Park, N.Y.
Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, will be the backdrop for one of professional bowling's most prestigious championships on Oct. 31 when ESPN televises the finals of the Miller High Life Masters presented by the American Bowling Congress.
ABC officials made the announcement as part of a new three-year agreement to hold the Masters in Milwaukee as a major event on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour during am April 13 news conference at Miller Park on April 13.
The 55th Masters marks the return of a national professional tournament to Milwaukee after a 14-year absence. The 1990 ABC Fall Classic, won by Parker Bohn III at the now-closed Red Carpet Celebrity Lanes, was the last national pro stop held in Milwaukee.
"We're proud to bring professional bowling and the Masters back to our hometown of Milwaukee," said ABC Assistant Executive Director Jack Mordini. "Our partnership with Miller Brewing, the PBA and Miller Park will make this a landmark event in the history of professional bowling."
The qualifying and double-elimination match play rounds of the Masters will be conducted at the 72-lane AMF Bowlero Lanes in Wauwatosa, Wis., Oct. 27-30. After match play, the field will be narrowed to the five bowlers who will compete in the stepladder finals on specially-installed lanes in Miller Park's outfield.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to host the Masters here at Miller Park on Oct. 31," said Rick Schlesinger, Milwaukee Brewers Executive Vice President-Business Operations. "Miller Park is an excellent venue suitable not only for baseball games, but many wonderful events that will allow our fans to enjoy this facility during the offseason."
Masters Pro-Ams for adults, seniors and youth bowlers will be conducted at AMF Bowlero Lanes on Oct. 24 and 26 with Masters practice sessions scheduled for Oct. 25.
The Masters will mark the second time in 52 years that the event has been held in Milwaukee. The second Masters was conducted in 1952 in conjunction with ABC's National Championships in the Milwaukee Arena. Willard Taylor of Charleston, W.Va., who defeated bowling legend Andy Varipapa for the title, won the 1952 Masters.
As one of professional bowling's richest and most prestigious events, the Masters showcases the sport's best professional and amateur bowlers and is expected to attract a field of 576 players.
"The PBA Tour is excited to return to Milwaukee for our season's first major event," said PBA Commissioner Fred Schreyer. "Milwaukee is a tremendous community with a rich bowling tradition. Staging the event finals in an arena setting at Miller Park guarantees additional excitement for our bowling fans who already should expect to see some wonderful competition."
PBA star Walter Ray Williams Jr. recently won his 39th professional title by winning the 54th Masters that was conducted at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Jan. 21-25. He collected a $100,000 share of the record $400,000 prize fund.