2008

The 92nd United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships drew to a close Sunday at Super Bowl Lanes concluding the 88-day event which crowned champions in 20 events. A field of 7,330 five-player teams competed (more 36,500 bowlers) plus other friends and family members who poured an estimated $40 million into the Detroit area economy. Those bowlers came from all 50 states and a record nine foreign countries. Countries in addition to the U.S. represented in the Women's Championships were: Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

As the highlight of the bowling season for thousands of women bowlers, nearly 2,500 participants have shown their dedication to the event by competing in 25 or more USBC Women's Championships. Three of those bowlers, with a combined 142 years of participation, were honored prior to team competition Saturday in the 2008 USBC Women's Championships at Super Bowl. Eighty-seven-year-old Dorothy Sternberg was honored for 52 years,  Joyce Georgeson (pictured left with Tournament Manager James Lamb), 76, was presented a plaque for 50 years, and Helen Kidwell was a  forty-year recipient. 

When Michelle Stahl came into the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships she had a couple things on her mind, be competitive, bowl well and have fun. Stahl did all of those things and a little bit more Tuesday morning at Super Bowl Lanes. She moved into first place in Division 1 Singles (170-189 average) with a 657 series. The Hillsborough, N.J., native bowled games of 191, 198 and 268. Stahl started her third game on a roll by firing eight strikes in a row, and she needed every little bit of that 268 to take first place by only four pins.

When Canadian bowlers Judy Bodashefsky (left) and Nora Thornton (right) arrived for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, they didn't think they would leave Super Bowl Lanes on top of the leader board. Bodashefsky and Thornton teamed up to move into first place in Division 1 Doubles (339-378 combined average) with a 1,183 total. The duo has to wait until another four weeks to see if their score will hold up for the lead. The Women's Championships end July 6.

The 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships hit the halfway mark this past weekend at Super Bowl Lanes and to this point has produced some interesting statistics. Since the April 10 opening, nearly 17,000 bowlers on 3,400 teams have traveled from 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and nine countries. The high individual game of the tournament was a 297 shot by Jen Richter of Sheboygan, Wis. The high series was a 752 shot by Kari Watson which helped her Bohn Zone Chicks Classic Division team take the lead on April 24.

With friends and family by her side offering their support, Mini Tvaska of St. Petersburg, Fla., competed in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships on Tuesday for the 62nd consecutive time, breaking the event's all-time record for participation. After her first tournament in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Tvaska knew she was in for the long haul. By taking part in the 2008 Women's Championships, Tvaska moved into sole possession of the participation record. Mary Covell of Chicago competed in 61 events, the last coming in 1992.

When the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships leader board posted the new standings, many people saw the name Lucinda Griggie. The one person who did not see the name was Griggie herself. In fact, her name was not on the leader board just once but four times. Griggie of Charlotte, N.C., took the lead in Division 2 doubles and all-events while also leading two teams into the top 10.

Thanks to her experiences in United States Bowling Congress youth competition, Trisha Reid hopes to be on her way to a successful bowling career. The Columbus, Ohio, left-hander has been on a roll the past two years and local media already refers to her as the "Phenomenon." Having recently bowled in the 2008 USBC Women's Championships, she is currently in 17th place in Classic All-Events and 10th with her team, the Delivery Girls. Reid also bowled in her first USBC Queens, where she finished in the 34th place. The 16-year-old has bowled six 300 games, three 299s, and five 800 series - with the highest an 838.

When members of Cathy's Hair Shapers made the long journey to Detroit from North Carolina for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, they knew it would take a team effort and good scores to rise to the top. That is exactly what happened as the group came together and posted the highest score thus far in Division 2 (746-845 combined average) team with a 2,644. Janet Smith led the team with a 585 series, followed by Nancy Massengill (579), Cassandra Stephens (562), Angela Stallman (530) and Cathy Simmons (388).

Liz Johnson (left) of Cheektowaga, N.Y., took the lead in Classic All-Events (190 and above average) at the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships Friday with 2,113 and looks to add another title to her already impressive resume. Meanwhile, Corrine Ham (right) of Cocoa, Fla., bolted into the lead in Classic Singles with a 736 series. Bowling just lanes apart from Ham, Johnson fired 699 in team, 708 in doubles and 706 in singles to overtake the all-events lead.

When Leslie Bohn and her teammates arrived in Detroit for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, they were focused from the very beginning. That focus helped Bohn Zone Chicks of Kettering, Ohio, take the lead in Classic Team on Wednesday. "We never check the scores before we walk into the bowing center," said Bohn, whose husband is PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III. "We just stay focused and try and fill every frame."

Team Malaysia breezed into the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships wearing bright orange jackets and shirts, but it was their scores that announced their presence, loud and clear. Sharon Koh shone the brightest by taking the early lead in Classic Team, Doubles, Singles and All-Events at Super Bowl Lanes. The Malaysians will be in Detroit a bit longer to compete in the USBC Queens, which begins Saturday at Super Bowl.

An under-strength Malaysian women's team made their presence felt in the US$2 million (RM6.28 million) USBC Women's Championships by topping the team event at the 60-lane Super Bowl in Detroit on Monday. The absence of Shalin Zulkifli, Wendy Chai and Zatil Iman did little to affect the team's performance as the five-woman team posted 2,965 pinfalls to lead by a massive 193 pins in the Classic division. In second place are the Detroit All-Stars led by Tamika Glenn on 2,772 followed by Googles Inn (2,703).

She came dressed in an embroidered and scalloped peach shirt, yet beneath the smiling grandmotherly stance, there's a reason why Emma Hendrickson's teammates affectionately call her The Warhorse. Hendrickson's staying power ties for the record as oldest participant in the 92-year history of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.7,330 five-player teams are expected to bowl in the championships which will run through July 6 at Super Bowl in Canton, Mich.

Motown tempted female bowlers from across the United States with the dulcet tones of a Temptations style singer at the opening ceremonies for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships at Super Bowl Lanes in suburban Detroit. Veteran entertainer Larry Johnson, who tours as part of a Temptations review, brought the crowd to its feet with Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and Smokey Robinson classics, getting the event off to a rousing start. 

The Detroit area will become a bowling mecca for tens of thousands of women when the United States Bowling Congress conducts three of its major championships - the USBC Women's Championships, USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens - beginning this month. Beginning April 10, the first of 7,330 five-player teams (nearly 40,000 bowlers) will descend upon Super Bowl in the Detroit suburb of Canton, Mich., for the Women's Championships. Bowlers from all 50 states and several foreign countries will compete in five-player team, doubles and singles competition in five average divisions.

The United States Bowling Congress has announced that it has extended the entry deadline for the 2008 USBC Women's Championships to March 21. The event will be conducted April 10-July 6 at Super Bowl in Canton, Mich. Beginning April 10, the first of approximately 40,000 bowlers will visit the Detroit area to compete in the world's largest participatory sport for women. Bowlers will compete in five-player team, doubles and singles events.