2006

Friends since their middle-school days in Bear Lake, Idaho, Teresa Singleton and Ronda Lutz were able to experience one of life's unexpected pleasures when they learned they had taken over first place in Division 3 Doubles at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.

Barbara Dynes bowls with a ball that some might consider old and ugly. But in this case, beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder, since it helped propel her into first place in Division 4 Singles at the 2006 USBC Women's Championships. The 61-year-old from New Castle, Ind., shot a 593 series with a ball of dubious age and lineage, and easily outdistanced previous leader Rose Postle (554).

But for the fact that she's always been a loving mother, Dorothy Sternberg would have been making her 51st consecutive appearance in a national bowling tournament as she competed at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. The 85-year-old Indianapolis native began her streak in Miami in 1956, but interrupted it in 1969, when she decided her children needed her at home.

Little more than a month ago, Veronica Dugenio wasn't even thinking about the 2006 USBC Women's Championships. But this week, the "casual" bowler, who claims she doesn't even practice most of the time, took over first place in Division 3 All Events (131-149 average), and fourth place in Division 3 Singles.

What began as a last-minute rush to assemble a full team for the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, ultimately resulted in an unexpected stellar performance for the Jax 1 team of Jacksonville, Fla.

Cavalettes 1 of Sacramento, Calif. posted a 2,811 series to move into second place in Division 1 team at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Maika Winkler led the team with a 639 series and added 641 in doubles and 576 in singles for an all-events total of 1,856, which pushed her into first place in Division 1.

Former touring pro Susan Brede celebrated her 30th consecutive national tournament this weekend at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. Friday night at the National Bowling Stadium she led her Garden Center team with a 685 series (204, 247 and 234) to take over the seventh spot in the Division I Team competition with a 2,692 pinfall.

Recent USBC Hall of Fame inductee Fran Deken is first and foremost a bowler, whether she's on the lanes or behind the desk registering bowlers at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships. One might think that after being accorded bowling's highest honor Deken would rest on her laurels, but she continues to fuel her passion for the sport by working such jobs as the Women's Championships registration desk.

When Wynn Brandon of Reno took over the Division I Singles lead with a 676 series on Sunday at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, she didn't expect it to last long. Little did she know just how short a time it did last. Literally minutes later on the same squad, Kristine Keisling of Las Vegas came up with a 686 series to beat out her fellow Nevadan.

When Mini Tvaska rolled her first ball during the April 30 team competition of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, she was making history. Tvaska, 88, bowled her 60th consecutive tournament, an annual event she's participated in since 1947.

With the 2006 USBC Women's Championships firmly at the halfway mark, competitors continue to have a story, a strategy, even a superstition or two. For Theresa Alwood of Belleville, Ill., it happens to be her shoes. Specifically, Alwood credits the new Circle bowling shoes she purchased at the National Bowling Stadium's Lane 81 Pro Shop for keeping her feet firmly planted as she racked up what she considers a landmark personal win in singles competition April 28.

When Mini Tvaska steps up to deliver her first ball Sunday night at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships - presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus at the National Bowling Stadium - she will be one step closer to achieving bowling history. When she lets go of that first ball, the 88-year-old St. Petersburg, Fla., resident will have begun her 60th consecutive tournament, the most of any active bowler, and only two shy of the record.

If there's any truth to the expression, "life begins at 40," bowler Karen Schmehl is getting off to a great start. On the very day she celebrated her 40th birthday, the Spokane, Wash.-based woman took home official USBC awards, commemorating 100 pins over average game; 140 pins over average series; a 200 game for 160 average or less; and a 500 series pin for 140 average or less.

Hall of Famer Lisa Wagner takes lead in two events at USBC Women's Championships United States Bowling Congress and Professional Women's Bowling Association Hall of Famer Lisa Wagner moved into the lead in two events Saturday at the USBC Women's Championships. Wagner, of Duluth, Ga., moved into the Classic All-Events lead with a 2,097 total and teamed with Carrie Meares of Seneca, N.Y., to take the Doubles lead with a 1,331.

Valerie Carrillo of Montebello, Calif., attracted plenty of attention Thursday morning at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Carrillo started the second game of singles with eight consecutive strikes before finishing with a 254 game. She opened with 221 and closed with 216 for a 691 series, good enough for second place in the Classic Division. Shannon Duplantis of New Orleans leads with 707.

More than 30 years ago, Sharon Cassidy of San Mateo, Calif., and Elaine Van Otten of Pacifica, Calif., met through bowling. Now, that friendship has taken them to the top of the leaderboard at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. Cassidy and Van Otten shot 1,171 Tuesday to take the lead in Division 2 Doubles at the National Bowling Stadium. Cassidy had games of 182, 222 and 228 for a 632 series, while Van Otten added games of 179, 179 and 181 for a 539 series.

A bowler since age 8 and a product of Young American Bowling Alliance (now USBC) youth competition, 22-year-old Candra Turner of Amarillo, Texas, moved into fourth place in Classic Singles (190 average and higher) at the USBC Women's Championships presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus on April 16. Bowling in her second Women's Championships, Turner rolled 658 on games of 226, 227 and 205.

For Becky Dwyer of Riverton, Wyo., the extra investment in coaching during her once-a-week trip to bowl league paid off - in a big way. At the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus in Reno, Dwyer rolled a 287 game, the second high game of the tournament thus far.

While they enjoyed competing at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships in the Reno, members of the Shady Ladies team from El Paso, Texas, say the wheels are already in motion to bring the tournament to their own city four years from now. The 2010 Women's Championships will be held in 2010 at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

Becky Tollefsrud and Kristy Gilbert, both in the Greater Reno Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame for superior performance and outstanding achievement, bowled as teammates in the USBC Women's Championships. One of the unique aspects of being a member of USBC is that while just a very few are able to gain recognition in the National USBC Hall of Fame, many are able to achieve fame locally and can showcase their talents on the national level by competing in the annual Women's Championships.