Dec. 19, 2001 -- They have been friends and competitors since childhood but now Andrew Cain and Shannon Pluhowsky can call each other champions as the Phoenix-area duo captured the titles in the 2001 USA Bowling Amateur Championships at the National Bowling Stadium.

Cain dominated the men's division while Pluhowsky easily won the women's division to become only the second U.S. Amateur Champions from the same city since the tournament began in 1986. Pat Healey Jr. and Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, N.Y., both won in 1994.

The 20-year-old Cain, a junior at Arizona State University, totaled 12,177 for 56 games including 20 bonus points for each match play victory. Cain won 22 of 32 matches as he topped second-place David Haynes, Las Vegas, who had 11,766.

"This is pretty neat. When you can make TEAM USA with your friends, it's real special," Cain said. Cain has enjoyed success as a youth including being named the 1999 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow. He continued to bowl well as evidenced by being named second-team collegiate All-American in 1999-2000 and first team in 2000-01. But in only his second year as an American Bowling Congress member, this was his first major achievement as an adult.

"This is the greatest thing I've accomplished so far," Cain said. "I don't think anything can compare to this. This takes the cake."

Pluhowsky, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Nebraska, won 19 matches and tied one on her way to a 11,503 total. Her closest competition was Jennifer Petrick of Canton, Ohio, who had 11,370.

"It feels good," Pluhowsky said. "It shows all the hard work paid off." For Pluhowsky, it was the third major title of the year after Nebraska won the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships in April and she captured the Junior Gold National Championships in July. She became the first woman to win both the junior and adult U.S. Amateur Championships. She also won junior crowns in 1999 and 2000 and earned six gold medals in the 2001 Tournament of the Americas.

"This is one of the most special accomplishments," said Pluhowsky, who made TEAM USA for the second straight year after qualifying for Junior TEAM USA the last three years. "Not much compares to being on TEAM USA and representing your country."

Haynes and Petrick also will represent their country with their second-place finishes. Haynes returned to the squad after a one-year absence while Petrick qualified for the first time.

Also making the team with top five finishes for the men were: Tony Manna Jr., Omaha, Neb.; Sean Rash, Anchorage, Alaska; and Bill Hoffman, Columbus, Ohio. Making the team for the women were: Lucy Sandelin, Tampa, Fla.; Jeanette Menacho, Sacramento, Calif.; and Diandra Hyman, Lincoln, Neb.

Manna, who finished third with 11,766, qualified for the fifth straight year. Rash, fourth for the men with 11,714, qualified for the first time. Hoffman, fifth with 11,679, made his fourth straight national team. Sandelin, third for the women with 11,227, made TEAM USA for a record eighth time. Menacho, fourth with 11,195, repeated from 2001 while Hyman, fifth with 11,195 and the 1999 U.S. Amateur Champion, won a spot for the fourth straight year.

Six other competitors were later chosen to TEAM USA 2002 by a national selection committee. They were: Dino Castillo, Dallas; Michael Mullin, New City, N.Y.; and Royce Rusher, Tulsa, Okla.; for the men and Kari Schwager, Montgomery, Ill.; Kristal Scott, Painesville, Ohio; and Lisa Stack, Elgin, Ill., for the women.

Four of those selected have made TEAM USA before. Castillo and Scott repeat from 2001, Mullin makes his fourth consecutive squad and Stack will make her third straight appearance. It will mark the first time for Rusher and Schwager on TEAM USA.

TEAM USA members will compete internationally in a number of events in 2002 including the Tournament of the Americas and Federation Internationale des Quilleurs World Tenpin Team Cup.

ABC revamps tournament bowling schedule for 100th anniversary championships in Knoxville

The American Bowling Congress has announced a major change in the tournament bowling schedule for its 100th anniversary championships to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2003.

The change in bowling times will result in one team squad bowling at 2:30 p.m. and the second team squad bowling at 8:30 p.m. Doubles and singles squads will be conducted at 7 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

The current schedule, in place for more than three decades, called for doubles and singles during the five daytime squads with team events bowled at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

"The first major change in our tournament format in more than 30 years has been made to ensure all five-player teams have an opportunity to bowl on the same lane dressing pattern," said ABC Assistant Executive Director Jack Mordini, who oversees ABC Championships Tournament operations. "ABC always has considered the team event to be the most prized championship in our tournament, and all players competing in team event should be required to compete under the same conditions."

Lane dressing applied to protect the lane surface is moved around and partially depleted by the traffic of bowling balls traveling down the lane, Mordini noted. Over a period of three games bowled by two teams on a single pair of lanes, the movement and depletion of "oil" applied to the lane makes the playing environment dramatically different for the next group of bowlers. Because of the tight time table for the tournament, which runs non-stop between February and June, there isn't time to clean and re-dress the lanes prior to each team squad.

Mordini said a survey of tournament participants in Reno, Nev., in 2001 showed overwhelming support for the revised schedule in order to create parity between the two daily team squads.

With the exception of the 7 a.m. squad, he noted, all doubles and singles squads also will bowl on lane conditions that have had some bowling activity, which should tend to equalize competition in the so-called "minor events" as well, he added.

The new schedule also gives each squad a few extra minutes compared to the old lineup, which should result in competition running on time.

"This schedule revision is an important change for the ABC Championships Tournament and it's one the bowlers themselves have endorsed," Mordini said. "Our goal is to provide our members with a fair and equal opportunity to compete for our organization's most important championships. We believe this change will accomplish that objective."

The revamped schedule is one of several special features ABC is developing in celebration of its 100th anniversary event, Mordini said. Details about other events and activities, along with entry forms for 2003, will be available soon.

Entries remain available for ABC Masters in Reno, Nev.

There still is time for bowlers meeting the 190 average requirement to enter the $350,000 American Bowling Congress Masters to be conducted Jan. 16-20 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.

As part of the richest Masters prize fund ever, the winner will earn $100,000 with the runner-up earning $50,000. Everyone in the top 24 will earn at least $2,000 and the top 100 will earn a minimum of $1,000.

In addition to the Masters, bowlers also will be able to compete in sweepers Jan. 14-15. Brackets will be available during the sweepers and Masters qualifying rounds.

Sanctioned and conducted by ABC, the tournament's unique qualifying and double-elimination match play format will remain unchanged.

As part of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, the Masters will be televised live Jan. 20 on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For Masters entry information, call (800) 514-BOWL, Ext. 3415. Entry fee is $400 with the deadline to enter Jan. 15.

The Eldorado Hotel & Casino will serve as the official host hotel. Bowlers and bowling fans will be able to take advantage of reduced rates -- $55 plus tax per night from Jan. 13-18 (Sunday through Friday) and $75 plus tax per night for Jan. 19-20 (Saturday and Sunday).

The Eldorado will host a welcome reception from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 14 for all Masters entrants. Masters entrants staying at the Eldorado will receive breakfast and beverage coupons.

Masters entrants and fans may make reservations by calling (800) 648-5966 and providing the Masters code CABCM02.

Billings radio group to serve as a radio partner for ABC Tournament

Media coverage for the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in Billings, Mont., will get a big boost with the recent announcement of New Northwest Broadcasters as a radio partner.

New Northwest Broadcasters consists of five Billings radio stations: KGHL-AM/FM, KBEX-FM, KRSQ-FM and KZRV-FM.

In exchange for promotional and marketing opportunities available through the ABC Tournament, New Northwest Broadcasters will provide daily coverage of the 134-day-long event on all five of its stations.

The world's largest grassroots sporting event begins Feb. 9 and will run through June 22 in Billings' Metra Park Expo Center.

Currently, the 2002 ABC ranks fifth all-time in entries with 10,350 teams. With a Jan. 2 entry deadline, Billings is 338 teams shy of the 2000 Tournament in Albuquerque which ranks fourth all-time with 10,688 teams.

There still is time to enter the ABC Tournament. For entry information call (800) 514- BOWL, Ext. 3320.

New York bowlers combine for highest three-player ABC team game in history

Members of a group calling itself the St. Louis Rams turned in a Super Bowl-type of performance Nov. 12 with the highest three-player team game in American Bowling Congress history.

Henry Montgomery and Craig Swider had 300 games and Mark Civill added 280 for an 880 in the Monday Night NFL League at Town 'n Country Lanes in Guilderland, N.Y. That broke the 878 by Team Columbia/Bay Lanes in Saginaw, Mich., on May 23, 1999.

A 10-pin leave by Civill on his first shot in the second frame is all that kept the St. Louis Rams from the first 900 team game.

Bowl.com launches new Industry Events Calendar

Bowling's premier Web site, bowl.com (www.bowl.com) announced it has launched a new feature - an industry events calendar.

The calendar lists the tournaments, conventions, trade shows and meetings for the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, USA Bowling, Professional Bowlers Association, Professional Women's Bowling Association, Multi-Unit Bowling Information Group, AMF, Bowling Inc., Federation Internationale des Quilleurs and Brunswick Bowling & Billiards. Visitors can search for events by date, location and/or event type. The industry events calendar is located on bowl.com under the Library link.

Bowl.com is the sport's most comprehensive site - a portal for bowling on the Internet. With a focus on entertainment, community and interactivity, bowl.com covers the sport with news, information, instruction, tournament results, events, games, discussion forums, industry links and more.

Bowl.com has received accolades from expressnews.com, miningco.com, Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, ESPN The Magazine, Access Magazine and was nominated for a Webby Award in 2001.

Launched as a joint venture of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, bowl.com serves the membership of these organizations through industry news and updates, a member search engine, technical assistance and other services.

Patriotic attire available through WIBC

Patriotic apparel and other items designed by XP Apparel, the Women's International Bowling Congress' new licensed merchandiser, are available through July 31. A portion of the proceeds from each item sold will benefit one or more of the Sept. 11 relief funds.

WIBC Tournament, Queens Tournament, Senior Queens Tournament and Bowl for the Cure® merchandise are among the many items available through the new online store on bowl.com. WIBC members may browse and purchase merchandise directly from XP Apparel via Internet, telephone and mail orders. Don't have Internet access? Call (800) 514-BOWL, Ext. 3328 to request a free catalog.

Most major credit cards will be accepted. Merchandise also will be available at the WIBC Annual Meeting and Championship Tournament, April 13-June 10 in Milwaukee (unless extended).

Western Illinois men, Indiana State women top first BWAA collegiate poll for 2001-02
The balloting is complete and Western Illinois University men and Indiana State University women are atop the leader boards in the first Bowling Writers Association of America Collegiate Bowling Poll of the 2001-02 season.

Western Illinois threw the shutout in the men's poll, garnering all first-place votes for a perfect 360-point total. But on the women's side, the pollsters were equally divided with Indiana State's women getting the nod by a slim margin over Morehead State (Ky.) University and the University of Nebraska.

Western Illinois, ranked first in both the BWAA and collegiate coaches' polls, came away with the prestigious National Collegiate Team Match Game Championship in St. Louis over Thanksgiving weekend, averaging an astounding 1,186 for the event. Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) University, ranked No. 2, was hurt by the fact that most of its top players did not bowl the St. Louis event due to other commitments. Indiana State has won three events and has two seconds; Morehead's women have also won three events this year, but finished second to Nebraska at the NCTMG. ISU also leads the coaches' poll. Nebraska seemed to be hurt by lack of tournament participation, but had a huge event in St. Louis.

This is the first of three polls being conducted by the BWAA, which has conducted these polls since the 1970s. The BWAA through its Collegiate Committee also recognizes the premier individual bowlers through its "Bowler-of-the-Year" programs, and awards $3,000 in scholarships thanks to the sponsor of the award program, Columbia 300. Also, the BWAA presents two $1,000 scholarships to aspiring journalists in the bowling field.