New Jersey 'casual' bowler takes first in All-Events Division 3 at USBC Women's Championships
05/14/06
Little more than a month ago, Veronica Dugenio wasn't even thinking about the 2006 USBC Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.
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. She bowled a 1,608 (527, 502 and 579) in all events, and a 579 (200, 190 and 189) in singles; all of it well above her average of 149.
The 31-year-old-housewife and mother of three from Branchburg, N.J., happened to be bowling league at the Greenbrook (N.J.) Strike 'n Spare in late March, when she was invited to join the Motor Machine team, which had just learned one of its long-time regulars would not be able to make the trip to Reno due to health problems.
Dugenio checked with her husband, who offered to stay with the kids - 11 years, four years and 15 months - and she was headed for Reno.
"I've been bowling off and on - mostly off - since I was six years old," she said. "My dad taught me, and lately I've done it just to get out of the house and away from the kids," she confessed not so sheepishly. When her father heard about her performance at the National Bowling Stadium, he admitted that he himself "was never that good."
This was Dugenio's first time bowling in Reno and, more significantly, her first national tournament. She claimed to be a tournament novice and had no idea what to expect. "I didn't even have a clue about how they set up the divisions for competition," she said.
Dugenio appears to be a totally uncomplicated bowler. "I just bowl for fun," she claimed. "I throw a straight ball, nothing on it but with good velocity. At least that's what people tell me. I think if I took it more seriously, I'd have very good potential."
She may have approached the whole experience casually, but apparently she's caught the bug: "That was truly an experience," she marveled. "I can't wait to do it again." Mr. Dugenio might have more child-minding chores ahead of him.
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, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129.
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, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 579. 5, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 1,608. 2, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 3, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 4, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 5, Shirley Baker, Orangevale, Calif., 1,574.
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, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 5, Alice Vieselmeyer, Friend, Neb., 1,426.
United States
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (March 16 - July 2, 2006)
Little more than a month ago, Veronica Dugenio wasn't even thinking about the 2006 USBC Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.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. She bowled a 1,608 (527, 502 and 579) in all events, and a 579 (200, 190 and 189) in singles; all of it well above her average of 149.
The 31-year-old-housewife and mother of three from Branchburg, N.J., happened to be bowling league at the Greenbrook (N.J.) Strike 'n Spare in late March, when she was invited to join the Motor Machine team, which had just learned one of its long-time regulars would not be able to make the trip to Reno due to health problems.
Dugenio checked with her husband, who offered to stay with the kids - 11 years, four years and 15 months - and she was headed for Reno.
"I've been bowling off and on - mostly off - since I was six years old," she said. "My dad taught me, and lately I've done it just to get out of the house and away from the kids," she confessed not so sheepishly. When her father heard about her performance at the National Bowling Stadium, he admitted that he himself "was never that good."
This was Dugenio's first time bowling in Reno and, more significantly, her first national tournament. She claimed to be a tournament novice and had no idea what to expect. "I didn't even have a clue about how they set up the divisions for competition," she said.
Dugenio appears to be a totally uncomplicated bowler. "I just bowl for fun," she claimed. "I throw a straight ball, nothing on it but with good velocity. At least that's what people tell me. I think if I took it more seriously, I'd have very good potential."
She may have approached the whole experience casually, but apparently she's caught the bug: "That was truly an experience," she marveled. "I can't wait to do it again." Mr. Dugenio might have more child-minding chores ahead of him.
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, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129.
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, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 579. 5, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Veronica Dugenio, Branchburg, N.J., 1,608. 2, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 3, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 4, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 5, Shirley Baker, Orangevale, Calif., 1,574.
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, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 5, Alice Vieselmeyer, Friend, Neb., 1,426.