88-year-old Florida Bowler 'steps' toward history at USBC Women's Championships
04/27/06
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.
Mary Covell of Chicago, who competed in 61 straight tournaments before retiring in 1992, is the current record holder. Tvaska needs to bowl in next year's tournament in Charlotte, N.C., to tie Covell; and in the 2008 USBC competition in Detroit, in order to eclipse her mark.
Will she go for it?
"I'm already planning for Detroit," Tvaska said. "I'll be 90 years old and bowling close to where I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. I'm feeling fine now and still bowling in city and state tournaments. Even after 60 years bowling, I'm still excited by tournament play." She's being met in Reno by her niece Nancy Nelson from Waterford, Mich.
Tvaska will be presented with a special 60-Year Plaque Sunday night prior to her 7:30 p.m. participation in the teams competition. Monday morning she will bowl singles and doubles beginning at 11 a.m.
Admitting to her "obsession" with the sport, Tvaska hasn't missed a Women's Championships since she first began in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Her tournament appearances alone - not including countless associated side trips - have racked up an estimated 145,000 miles, nearly six times around the world. An avid traveler anyway, she's visited all 50 states, Canada and Europe, much of it related to her love for the sport.
"After the tournament in Reno, we're taking a bus to San Francisco," she said. "It's such a beautiful drive." This will be Tvaska's fifth trip to Reno for the Women's Championships and her fourth time competing at the National Bowling Stadium.
Self-described as "not a star bowler," she currently averages "around 125," down from 150 in her salad days. Tvaska enters the 2006 tournament with a relatively new eight-pound ball. "I love bowling and I love watching bowling," she said enthusiastically. "I root for all the women and I really enjoy being with them."
If it's necessary to further testify to her passion for the sport, Tvaska is well outfitted when she appears on the lanes. She also boasts her own in-home bowling museum in St. Petersburg, displaying memorabilia she's collected over seven decades of participation.
In May and June, two other women will be celebrating personal milestones in the Women's Championships. Dorothy Sternberg of Indianapolis will mark her half-century in tournament competition on May 13. And on June 8, Mildred Anderson, Rochester, Minn., will bowl her 50th event.
The USBC Women's Championships is the world's largest participatory sporting event for women. Conducted from March 16 through July 2, it will accommodate more than 55,000 women bowlers. The first Women's Championships was held in 1916 in St. Louis and hosted eight teams.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier of USBC.
Top five division leaders with hometowns and pinfall:
United States
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (March 16 - July 2, 2006)
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.
Mary Covell of Chicago, who competed in 61 straight tournaments before retiring in 1992, is the current record holder. Tvaska needs to bowl in next year's tournament in Charlotte, N.C., to tie Covell; and in the 2008 USBC competition in Detroit, in order to eclipse her mark.
Will she go for it?
"I'm already planning for Detroit," Tvaska said. "I'll be 90 years old and bowling close to where I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. I'm feeling fine now and still bowling in city and state tournaments. Even after 60 years bowling, I'm still excited by tournament play." She's being met in Reno by her niece Nancy Nelson from Waterford, Mich.
Tvaska will be presented with a special 60-Year Plaque Sunday night prior to her 7:30 p.m. participation in the teams competition. Monday morning she will bowl singles and doubles beginning at 11 a.m.
Admitting to her "obsession" with the sport, Tvaska hasn't missed a Women's Championships since she first began in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Her tournament appearances alone - not including countless associated side trips - have racked up an estimated 145,000 miles, nearly six times around the world. An avid traveler anyway, she's visited all 50 states, Canada and Europe, much of it related to her love for the sport.
"After the tournament in Reno, we're taking a bus to San Francisco," she said. "It's such a beautiful drive." This will be Tvaska's fifth trip to Reno for the Women's Championships and her fourth time competing at the National Bowling Stadium.
Self-described as "not a star bowler," she currently averages "around 125," down from 150 in her salad days. Tvaska enters the 2006 tournament with a relatively new eight-pound ball. "I love bowling and I love watching bowling," she said enthusiastically. "I root for all the women and I really enjoy being with them."
If it's necessary to further testify to her passion for the sport, Tvaska is well outfitted when she appears on the lanes. She also boasts her own in-home bowling museum in St. Petersburg, displaying memorabilia she's collected over seven decades of participation.
In May and June, two other women will be celebrating personal milestones in the Women's Championships. Dorothy Sternberg of Indianapolis will mark her half-century in tournament competition on May 13. And on June 8, Mildred Anderson, Rochester, Minn., will bowl her 50th event.
The USBC Women's Championships is the world's largest participatory sporting event for women. Conducted from March 16 through July 2, it will accommodate more than 55,000 women bowlers. The first Women's Championships was held in 1916 in St. Louis and hosted eight teams.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier of 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, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 3, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869. 4, All Star Lanes, Silverdale, Wash., 2,865. 5, Magic of the Southwest, Slidell, La., 2,855.
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, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 4, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231. 5, Teresa Adkins, Xenia, Ohio/Debbie Benchic, Dayton, Ohio 1,223.
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, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896. 3, (tie) Rachel Einstoss, Chula Vista, Calif., and Jami May-Bruce, 1,890. 4, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif., 1,883.
1, Strike 3, Sun City, Ariz., 3,021. 2, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 3, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869. 4, All Star Lanes, Silverdale, Wash., 2,865. 5, Magic of the Southwest, Slidell, La., 2,855.
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, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 4, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231. 5, Teresa Adkins, Xenia, Ohio/Debbie Benchic, Dayton, Ohio 1,223.
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, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896. 3, (tie) Rachel Einstoss, Chula Vista, Calif., and Jami May-Bruce, 1,890. 4, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif., 1,883.
DIVISION 1
Team (846-945 average)
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759. 3, N-10-City, Sun Valley, Nev., 2,743. 4, Sassy Ladies, Apopka, Fla., 2,691. 5, Creative Minds Pro Shop, Moreno Valley, Calif., 2,686.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 3, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 4, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif./Jackie Wyckoff, Cupertino, Calif., 1,178. 5, Lynda Hall, Brighton, Colo./Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,173.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Marlene Crosier, Mitchell, Neb., 650. 2, Tracey Hoffman, Twin Falls, Idaho, 633. 3, Sherry DuBois, Londonderry, N.H., 632. 4, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 629. 5, Jill Switzer, Reno, Nev., 621.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 2, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777. 3, Lazette Harris, Antelope, Calif., 1,734. 4, Bethany Suzuki, Vacaville, Calif., 1,730. 5 (tie), Paulette Genz, Mahtomedi, Minn. and Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore., 1,721.
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759. 3, N-10-City, Sun Valley, Nev., 2,743. 4, Sassy Ladies, Apopka, Fla., 2,691. 5, Creative Minds Pro Shop, Moreno Valley, Calif., 2,686.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 3, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 4, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif./Jackie Wyckoff, Cupertino, Calif., 1,178. 5, Lynda Hall, Brighton, Colo./Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,173.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Marlene Crosier, Mitchell, Neb., 650. 2, Tracey Hoffman, Twin Falls, Idaho, 633. 3, Sherry DuBois, Londonderry, N.H., 632. 4, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 629. 5, Jill Switzer, Reno, Nev., 621.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 2, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777. 3, Lazette Harris, Antelope, Calif., 1,734. 4, Bethany Suzuki, Vacaville, Calif., 1,730. 5 (tie), Paulette Genz, Mahtomedi, Minn. and Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore., 1,721.
DIVISION 2
Team (746-845 average)
1, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 2, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 3, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 4, Burger Construction, Athens, Wis., 2,579. 5, Team 31233, Antelope, Calif., 2,578.
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, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129. 5, Stacey Fenton, Manor, Texas/Diane Beger, Round Rock, Texas, 1,119.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615. 3, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 607. 4, Leandra Harvey, Angleton, Texas, 604. 5, Sandra Mays, Hercules, Calif., 603.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,682. 2, Morgan Robinson, New Haven, Conn., 1,681. 3, Juli Wall, Petaluma, Calif., 1,680. 4, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 1,679. 5, Dottie Knebel, Midland, Texas, 1,668.
1, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 2, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 3, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 4, Burger Construction, Athens, Wis., 2,579. 5, Team 31233, Antelope, Calif., 2,578.
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, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129. 5, Stacey Fenton, Manor, Texas/Diane Beger, Round Rock, Texas, 1,119.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615. 3, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 607. 4, Leandra Harvey, Angleton, Texas, 604. 5, Sandra Mays, Hercules, Calif., 603.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,682. 2, Morgan Robinson, New Haven, Conn., 1,681. 3, Juli Wall, Petaluma, Calif., 1,680. 4, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 1,679. 5, Dottie Knebel, Midland, Texas, 1,668.
DIVISION 3
Team (651-745 average)
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 3, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401. 4, Coldwell Banker, Eureka, Calif., 2,397. 5, Teske Trucking Inc., Cokato, Minn., 2,351.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045. 3, Janie Bauer/Sandy Wilson, Elko, Nev., 1,033. 4, Janine Poisson/Marg Cumming, Chatham, Ontario, 1,030. 5, Winsome Wells, Lakeview, Ore./Beverly Scherer, Paisley, Ore., 1,026.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575. 5, Pat Ballantyne, The Villages, Fla., 564.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 3, Sheila Jeffers, Sandy, Utah, 1,543. 4, Susan Wright, Hudson, Mich., 1,538. 5, Kelli Zygulski, Elgin, Ill., 1,536.
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 3, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401. 4, Coldwell Banker, Eureka, Calif., 2,397. 5, Teske Trucking Inc., Cokato, Minn., 2,351.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045. 3, Janie Bauer/Sandy Wilson, Elko, Nev., 1,033. 4, Janine Poisson/Marg Cumming, Chatham, Ontario, 1,030. 5, Winsome Wells, Lakeview, Ore./Beverly Scherer, Paisley, Ore., 1,026.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575. 5, Pat Ballantyne, The Villages, Fla., 564.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 3, Sheila Jeffers, Sandy, Utah, 1,543. 4, Susan Wright, Hudson, Mich., 1,538. 5, Kelli Zygulski, Elgin, Ill., 1,536.
DIVISION 4
Team (650 average and under)
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079. 3, Roth Embroidery, Great Bend, Kan., 2,072. 4, Goof Troop, Farmington, N.M., 2,070. 5, Nebraska Inn, Clay Center, Neb., 2,048.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 3, Susan Carlson, Milaca, Minn./Karon Bensen, Saint Louis Park, Minn., 920. 4, Donna Hill/Rene Lozoya, Battle Mountain, Nev., 911. 5, Karen Lutz, Oconto Falls, Wis./MaryAnn Buelow, New Holstein, Wis., 901.
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, Claudia Garrison, Penn Valley, Calif., 525.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 3, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 4, Mage Merritt, New Haven, Conn., 1,414. 5, Lynnsy Hesse, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1,412.
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079. 3, Roth Embroidery, Great Bend, Kan., 2,072. 4, Goof Troop, Farmington, N.M., 2,070. 5, Nebraska Inn, Clay Center, Neb., 2,048.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 3, Susan Carlson, Milaca, Minn./Karon Bensen, Saint Louis Park, Minn., 920. 4, Donna Hill/Rene Lozoya, Battle Mountain, Nev., 911. 5, Karen Lutz, Oconto Falls, Wis./MaryAnn Buelow, New Holstein, Wis., 901.
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, Claudia Garrison, Penn Valley, Calif., 525.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 3, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 4, Mage Merritt, New Haven, Conn., 1,414. 5, Lynnsy Hesse, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1,412.