2006

A record team series highlighted title performances at the 2006 USBC Women's Championships as the event ended its 109-day run at the National Bowling Stadium Monday. Together Once Again of North Richland Hills, Texas, set the all-time record team series on June 15 to win the Classic Division with 3,350.

DeAnn Kubr had a new ball and a new doubles partner, and both proved a boon for her at the United States Bowling Congress 2006 Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Kubr, 47, moved into second in Division 4 singles; fifth in doubles (along with partner Jane Buckendahl); and first in All-Events competition.

For Fort Wayne, Ind. bowler Sandy Kaiser, bad weather on the other side of the country meant good fortune on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Kaiser and doubles partner Coleen Fritsch, also of Fort Wayne, moved into fifth place in Division 2 Doubles competition.

Shannon Sellens brought the "wrong ball" to the competition, which ironically enabled her to take over second place in Classic Division Singles at the USBC Women's Championships. Her "mistake" resulted in a 768 series (245, 255, 268), just three pins short of leader Karen Stroud.

Mary Louise Young of Houston, Texas, was honored for her 50th United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships appearance Thursday evening at the National Bowling Stadium. Young, 76, who competed in her first national tournament in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1954, accepted her plaque from tournament manager  David Biber.

Together Once Again of North Richland Hills, Texas, set the all-time record team series Thursday, taking the lead in Classic Division with 3,350 at the USBC Women's Championships. The team series eclipsed the previous record of 3,327 set by High Roller-Cherry Hills, N.J. of Henderson, Nev., bowled in 2002.

With defending United States Bowling Congress Queens champion Tennelle Milligan, the Barry Asher's Embroidery team of Costa Mesa, Calif., moved into the Classic Division Team lead Wednesday in the USBC Women's Championships. Gina Daroszewski of Franklin, Wis., moved into the Classic Singles lead Thursday with a 720 series.

Floridians Linda Martinez and Melissa Stewart teamed up to take the Classic Doubles lead in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. Martinez, a 26-year-old human resources professional from Jacksonville, and Stewart, 24, who works for her family's ventilation business in Port St. Lucie, combined for a 1,411 total Thursday at the National Bowling Stadium.

It takes a special breed of cat to be a member of the United States Bowling Congress Travelers program. Travelers spend nearly four months out of every year away from home, family and friends at the USBC Women's Championships. Currently numbering 12 members, the travelers assume the countless day-to-day tasks behind the scenes to help make a tournament succeed. Without tournament registrars, record keepers and squad room facilitators, the Women's Championships would not happen.

Until she learned of it 48 hours later by long-distance phone, Carol Hausman didn't realize she had taken over first place in Division 2 Singles at the USBC Women's Championships. The 60-year-old Hausman rolled a 632 on Thursday (190, 194 and 248) to move into first place ahead of Judith Kaufman (620 pinfall) of Winslow, Ill.

Mildred "Millie" Anderson of Rochester Hills, Mich., was acknowledged with a special plaque commemorating her 50th appearance at the USBC Women's Championships. Anderson, 87, accepted the plaque from David Biber, tournament manager for the USBC Women's Championships, which opened in Reno's National Bowling Stadium on March 16 and will continue through July 2.

Every year, for the past 38 years, the Zodiacs team of New Orleans faithfully travels to compete in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Considering the devastation of last fall's Hurricane Katrina, the six women of the Zodiacs aren't just fortunate to be here bowling, they're lucky to be alive.

Oh, the agony and the ecstasy of competition. As bowler Cathy Woessner participated in the team portion of the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, she was anything but pleased with her performance on June 3. But what a difference a day and a little rest made.

As double amputee Jean Farr of Tustin, Calif., wrapped up her third game of Division 2 team play May 31 at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, she couldn't help but think, "here we go again." Farr, 76, of the Tustin Aces, wears two prosthetic feet, which somehow managed to fail her - again.

Linda Gearhart, Casa Grande, Ariz., achieved two personal milestones when she moved into second place in Division 3 Singles Wednesday at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. Gearhart rolled 203, 236 and 181 for a 620 series. Her 236 in the second game marked her high in a 27-year career, and the 620 pinfall represented the first time she's ever broken the 600 barrier.

Bowling together for the first time in doubles, two Texas bowlers moved into second place in Division 2 (299-388 average) at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. Janice Kuhen, San Marcos, Texas, and Kim Illhardt, Seguin, Texas, wound up three pins short of taking their division lead with a 1,169 pinfall.

With approximately 55,000 women participating in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, it's safe to say that bowling brings people together. For sisters Pat Foster, Clara Conley and Janice Cook, all of California, their friendly sibling rivalry on the lanes May 27 ultimately became a tribute to their late father, Dale Starkey.

For the second time in three days, a team hastily put-together has moved into first place in Division 3 (651-745 average) at the 2006 USBC Women's Championships. On Saturday, the Idaho Pick-up Gals from Pocatello, bowling together for the first time, took the top spot with a 2,501 pinfall. Two nights later, the Unbowlievables from Meridian, Idaho, Grass Valley, Calif., and Chicago, have eclipsed that mark with 2,530.

Jo Milam and Ann Murray marked their 44th consecutive national tournament bowling together at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. The two Atlanta women, ages 77 and 82, first met on the lanes in 1963, then traveled to the nationals in Memphis that year. They've been at it ever since, with only one near miss.

Hastily, though aptly named, the Idaho Pick-up Gals have taken over first place in Division 3 Teams competition at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. The quickly-thrown-together "Gals" totaled 2,501 to lead Division 3 (651-745 average) over Just Marked of Oakland, Calif., which took the top spot three weeks earlier with 2,458.