A mother's day tale - Dorothy Sternberg competes in 50th Women's Championships
05/15/06
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 presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.
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 more than she needed to bowl in San Diego that year. Since then, she's reeled off 37 straight Women's Championships appearances to compete in her 50th event this year in Reno.
Sternberg's accomplishments were noted in a pre-event ceremony May 13 on the center aisle at the National Bowling Stadium, where she was presented with a special plaque and pin by USBC Women's Championships tournament manager David Biber.
Biber noted that Sternberg had been bowling for 63 years, was recently inducted into the Indiana Bowling Hall of Fame, and continues to bowl twice a week in league competition. He credited Sternberg and others like her for the "lasting popularity" of women's bowling, citing their love for, and dedication to the sport.
"Bowling keeps me going, and I love to visit with the women at the tournaments every year," Sternberg said. "I have had so many wonderful experiences over the years. This has been such an honor for me."
Sternberg reflected on her two younger sisters who never bowled and who are both deceased.
"It would have been nice to have experienced this with them," she said. I can't help thinking that bowling might have added to their longevity."
Sternberg mentioned she has bowled in every state except Hawaii, and is usually accompanied by her husband Jerome, who also is active in Indiana bowling circles. He's served in various offices on the state and local association levels for decades.
Denise Boyer, one of the children for whom Sternberg passed up that tournament in 1969, now bowls with her mother for The Orchid Room team, sponsored by the Indianapolis beauty salon of the same name. Two other teammates, Hilda McDougall and Mary Kasnak, each have more than 30 years invested in the sport. Suzanne Spicer, the fifth team member, owns The Orchid Room.
Sternberg doesn't lament some of the liabilities associated with growing older. She matter-of-factly talks about her 187 average and the 16-pound ball she used in the 1960s; and the fact that she once threw 15 straight strikes (over a two-game spread). Perhaps a little wistfully, the lady says today that she averages 120 using an eight-pound ball.
A curiously fond memory associated with all those years of bowling: "In 1952, we took the train from Indiana to St. Louis for the tournament. The Korean war was on and the train was filled with soldiers. They had priority and all the seats were taken. So we sat on our bowling balls on the platforms between the train cars. But we didn't mind at all," Sternberg laughed.
Stepping away from the spotlight of the special ceremony at the National Bowling Stadium, Sternberg bowled in team competition May 13, rolling 75, 111 and 111. The next morning, Sternberg got a 90, 92 and 96 in doubles, then 112, 118 and 102 in singles.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier for the USBC.
Top five division leaders with hometowns and pinfall:
Team (946 average and over)
1, Strike 3, Sun City, Ariz., 3,021. 2, C&S Bowling Supply I, Plainfield, Ill., 2,946. 3, Laurel Bowl, Johnson City, N.Y., 2,917. 4, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 5, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869.
Doubles (379 average and over)
1, Carrie Meares, Seneca, S.C./Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 1,331. 2, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif./Cathy Johnston, Folsom, Calif., 1,274. 3, Cherylee Secl-Cross, Marne, Mich./Carole Morgan, Wyoming, Mich., 1,263. 4, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 5, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231.
Singles (190 average and over)
1, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 707. 2, Valerie Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 691. 3, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 683. 4, Alisha Caballero, Riverside, Calif., 678. 5, Jamie Koster, Grants Pass, Ore., 674.
All Events (190 average and over)
1, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 2,097. 2, Lisa Stevens, St. Charles, Ill., 1,991. 3, Nikki Lunsford, Plainfield, Ill., 1,967. 4, Tracy Meyer, Loveland, Colo., 1,902. 5, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896.
Team (846-945 average)
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, Cavalettes 1, Sacramento, Calif., 2,811. 3, The Queen B's 1, Loveland, Colo., 2,807. 4, BeauBien Street Saloon, Troy, Mich., 2,781. 5, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Irma Day, Helotes, Texas/Julie Howard, San Antonio, Texas, 1,223. 3, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 4, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 5 (tie), Jackie Klock, Brandon, S.D./Judi Johnson, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Carmen Mills/Candis Bishoff, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1,180.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 686. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 676. 3, Paula Hallead, East Wenatchee, Wash., 674. 4, Casea Little, Longview, Wash., 670. 5, Dawn Jessie, Atlanta, 662.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Maika Winkler, Antelope, Calif., 1,856. 2, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,804. 3, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 1,802. 4, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 5, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777.
Team (746-845 average)
1, Jax 1, Jacksonville, Fla., 2,734. 2, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 3, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 4, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 5, Camas Lanes, Grangeville, Idaho, 2,628.
Doubles (299-338 average)
1, Sharon Cassidy, San Mateo, Calif./Elaine Van Otten, Pacifica, Calif., 1,171. 2, Jeanna Brown, Bloomington, Ill./Joan Kaufman, Heyworth, Ill., 1,154. 3, Deborah Nowak-Frick, Walkerton, Ind./Pat Dukarm, South Bend, Ind., 1,141. 4, Janet Bowcutt, Henderson, Nev./Shelley Hall, Long Beach, Calif., 1,135. 5, Jennifer Reed, Hamilton, Va./Amy Earley, Prattville, Ala., 1,130.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Julie Andres, American Canyon, Calif., 619. 3 (tie), Joyce Moss, Columbus, Ohio and Linda Urbanek, Poway, Calif., 616. 5, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Shelley Hall, Long Beach, Calif., 1,774. 2, Nikita Williams, Oakland, Calif., 1,767. 3, Pearl Cates-Bullock, Durham, N.C., 1,735. 4, Cheryl Blosch, South Wayne, Wis., 1,705. 5, Ruth Rapacz, Maple Grove, Minn., 1,695.
Team (651-745 average)
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, D.C. Rollers Team 3, Brentwood, Md., 2,449. 3, The Happy Hookers, Mesa, Ariz., 2,418. 4, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 5, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Loretta Haynes, Sissonville, W. Va./Lori Derrick, Charleston, W. Va., 1,058. 3, Sharon Schutts, South St. Paul, Minn./Barb Strus, McGregor, Minn., 1,053. 4, Jeanierose Tabulina, Tumwater, Wash./Lola Bernard, Tacoma, Wash., 1,052. 5, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Billie Crane, Montpelier, Idaho, 589. 4, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 5, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 579.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Jennifer Reed, Hamilton, Va., 1,680. 2, Stephanie Dowd, El Paso, Texas, 1,644. 3, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 1,608. 4, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 5, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592.
Team (650 average and under)
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, North Idaho Crushing II, St. Maries, Idaho, 2,111. 3, Tumbleweed Lanes, Ness City, Kan., 2,096. 4, Lundeen Ford, Annandale, Minn., 2,091. 5, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Michelle Bishop, Aurora, Colo./Judy Osguthorpe, Bellingham, Wash., 961. 3, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 4, Lorna Robinson/Holly Rybensky, Omaha, Neb., 941. 5, Ann Harvey, Pleasanton, Texas/Meaghan Bedwell, Jourdanton, Texas, 926.
Singles (130 average and under)
1, Rose Postle, Rice Lake, Wis., 554. 2, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 549. 3, Shelly Bloch, Ramsey, Minn., 538. 4, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 536. 5 (tie), Wendy Theisen, St. Cloud, Minn. and Donna Marshall, Fenton, Mo., 531.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Michele Burzinski, Soldotna, Alaska, 1,447. 3, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 4, Barbara Wade, Nampa, Idaho, 1,442. 5, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433.
United States
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (March 16 - July 2, 2006)
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 presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.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 more than she needed to bowl in San Diego that year. Since then, she's reeled off 37 straight Women's Championships appearances to compete in her 50th event this year in Reno.
Sternberg's accomplishments were noted in a pre-event ceremony May 13 on the center aisle at the National Bowling Stadium, where she was presented with a special plaque and pin by USBC Women's Championships tournament manager David Biber.
Biber noted that Sternberg had been bowling for 63 years, was recently inducted into the Indiana Bowling Hall of Fame, and continues to bowl twice a week in league competition. He credited Sternberg and others like her for the "lasting popularity" of women's bowling, citing their love for, and dedication to the sport.
"Bowling keeps me going, and I love to visit with the women at the tournaments every year," Sternberg said. "I have had so many wonderful experiences over the years. This has been such an honor for me."
Sternberg reflected on her two younger sisters who never bowled and who are both deceased.
"It would have been nice to have experienced this with them," she said. I can't help thinking that bowling might have added to their longevity."
Sternberg mentioned she has bowled in every state except Hawaii, and is usually accompanied by her husband Jerome, who also is active in Indiana bowling circles. He's served in various offices on the state and local association levels for decades.
Denise Boyer, one of the children for whom Sternberg passed up that tournament in 1969, now bowls with her mother for The Orchid Room team, sponsored by the Indianapolis beauty salon of the same name. Two other teammates, Hilda McDougall and Mary Kasnak, each have more than 30 years invested in the sport. Suzanne Spicer, the fifth team member, owns The Orchid Room.
Sternberg doesn't lament some of the liabilities associated with growing older. She matter-of-factly talks about her 187 average and the 16-pound ball she used in the 1960s; and the fact that she once threw 15 straight strikes (over a two-game spread). Perhaps a little wistfully, the lady says today that she averages 120 using an eight-pound ball.
A curiously fond memory associated with all those years of bowling: "In 1952, we took the train from Indiana to St. Louis for the tournament. The Korean war was on and the train was filled with soldiers. They had priority and all the seats were taken. So we sat on our bowling balls on the platforms between the train cars. But we didn't mind at all," Sternberg laughed.
Stepping away from the spotlight of the special ceremony at the National Bowling Stadium, Sternberg bowled in team competition May 13, rolling 75, 111 and 111. The next morning, Sternberg got a 90, 92 and 96 in doubles, then 112, 118 and 102 in singles.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier for the USBC.
Top five division leaders with hometowns and pinfall:
CLASSIC DIVISION
Team (946 average and over)
1, Strike 3, Sun City, Ariz., 3,021. 2, C&S Bowling Supply I, Plainfield, Ill., 2,946. 3, Laurel Bowl, Johnson City, N.Y., 2,917. 4, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 5, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869.
Doubles (379 average and over)
1, Carrie Meares, Seneca, S.C./Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 1,331. 2, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif./Cathy Johnston, Folsom, Calif., 1,274. 3, Cherylee Secl-Cross, Marne, Mich./Carole Morgan, Wyoming, Mich., 1,263. 4, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 5, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231.
Singles (190 average and over)
1, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 707. 2, Valerie Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 691. 3, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 683. 4, Alisha Caballero, Riverside, Calif., 678. 5, Jamie Koster, Grants Pass, Ore., 674.
All Events (190 average and over)
1, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 2,097. 2, Lisa Stevens, St. Charles, Ill., 1,991. 3, Nikki Lunsford, Plainfield, Ill., 1,967. 4, Tracy Meyer, Loveland, Colo., 1,902. 5, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896.
DIVISION 1
Team (846-945 average)
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, Cavalettes 1, Sacramento, Calif., 2,811. 3, The Queen B's 1, Loveland, Colo., 2,807. 4, BeauBien Street Saloon, Troy, Mich., 2,781. 5, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Irma Day, Helotes, Texas/Julie Howard, San Antonio, Texas, 1,223. 3, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 4, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 5 (tie), Jackie Klock, Brandon, S.D./Judi Johnson, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Carmen Mills/Candis Bishoff, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1,180.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 686. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 676. 3, Paula Hallead, East Wenatchee, Wash., 674. 4, Casea Little, Longview, Wash., 670. 5, Dawn Jessie, Atlanta, 662.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Maika Winkler, Antelope, Calif., 1,856. 2, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,804. 3, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 1,802. 4, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 5, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777.
DIVISION 2
Team (746-845 average)
1, Jax 1, Jacksonville, Fla., 2,734. 2, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 3, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 4, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 5, Camas Lanes, Grangeville, Idaho, 2,628.
Doubles (299-338 average)
1, Sharon Cassidy, San Mateo, Calif./Elaine Van Otten, Pacifica, Calif., 1,171. 2, Jeanna Brown, Bloomington, Ill./Joan Kaufman, Heyworth, Ill., 1,154. 3, Deborah Nowak-Frick, Walkerton, Ind./Pat Dukarm, South Bend, Ind., 1,141. 4, Janet Bowcutt, Henderson, Nev./Shelley Hall, Long Beach, Calif., 1,135. 5, Jennifer Reed, Hamilton, Va./Amy Earley, Prattville, Ala., 1,130.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Julie Andres, American Canyon, Calif., 619. 3 (tie), Joyce Moss, Columbus, Ohio and Linda Urbanek, Poway, Calif., 616. 5, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Shelley Hall, Long Beach, Calif., 1,774. 2, Nikita Williams, Oakland, Calif., 1,767. 3, Pearl Cates-Bullock, Durham, N.C., 1,735. 4, Cheryl Blosch, South Wayne, Wis., 1,705. 5, Ruth Rapacz, Maple Grove, Minn., 1,695.
DIVISION 3
Team (651-745 average)
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, D.C. Rollers Team 3, Brentwood, Md., 2,449. 3, The Happy Hookers, Mesa, Ariz., 2,418. 4, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 5, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Loretta Haynes, Sissonville, W. Va./Lori Derrick, Charleston, W. Va., 1,058. 3, Sharon Schutts, South St. Paul, Minn./Barb Strus, McGregor, Minn., 1,053. 4, Jeanierose Tabulina, Tumwater, Wash./Lola Bernard, Tacoma, Wash., 1,052. 5, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Billie Crane, Montpelier, Idaho, 589. 4, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 5, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 579.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Jennifer Reed, Hamilton, Va., 1,680. 2, Stephanie Dowd, El Paso, Texas, 1,644. 3, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 1,608. 4, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 5, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592.
DIVISION 4
Team (650 average and under)
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, North Idaho Crushing II, St. Maries, Idaho, 2,111. 3, Tumbleweed Lanes, Ness City, Kan., 2,096. 4, Lundeen Ford, Annandale, Minn., 2,091. 5, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Michelle Bishop, Aurora, Colo./Judy Osguthorpe, Bellingham, Wash., 961. 3, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 4, Lorna Robinson/Holly Rybensky, Omaha, Neb., 941. 5, Ann Harvey, Pleasanton, Texas/Meaghan Bedwell, Jourdanton, Texas, 926.
Singles (130 average and under)
1, Rose Postle, Rice Lake, Wis., 554. 2, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 549. 3, Shelly Bloch, Ramsey, Minn., 538. 4, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 536. 5 (tie), Wendy Theisen, St. Cloud, Minn. and Donna Marshall, Fenton, Mo., 531.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Michele Burzinski, Soldotna, Alaska, 1,447. 3, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 4, Barbara Wade, Nampa, Idaho, 1,442. 5, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433.