Blythe’s II of Hammond, Ind., became the first team to crack the 3,000-pin mark in the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont. The quintet’s 3,047 score Feb. 16 took over the Regular Team lead in the tournament’s 99th edition. They moved past Pointers of St. Louis and Casino Queen of Round Lake, Ill., which were tied for the lead at 2,981.

Anchor bowler John Verbich led Blythe’s II with 637. He was followed by Chuck Marovich with 624, Jeff DelRolf 614, Dwane Locher 605 and Ed Wiklinski 567.

Defending champion K.J. Excavating of Toledo, Ohio, fell short in its bid to repeat in 2002. K.J. Excavating produced a 2,910 score, eighth best after the tournament’s second weekend. No team has repeated in the previous 98 events.

The 99th ABC Tournament is presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev., and runs through June 23. For expanded results or more information on the 2002 ABC Tournament, visit ABCtournament.com.

Hometown team captures Indianapolis ABC World Team Challenge

Making its first American Bowling Congress/Brunswick World Team Challenge finals appearance, hometown Bowlers Sport Shoppe of Indianapolis won the second Team Challenge 2002 qualifier Feb. 17 at Woodland Bowl.

Terry Brink, Mark Sullivan, Ed Frederick, Rich Heydon and John Bauerle defeated Team Voodoo of Columbus, Ohio, with veteran Team Challenge competitors Ted Hannahs, Bill Hoffman, Adam Barta, Ron Nelson and Bryan O’Keefe, 416-351, to earn a trip to the Grand Championship.

In addition to airfare and lodging for the Grand Championship to be conducted in Las Vegas in November, Bowlers Sport Shoppe earned $3,400 plus Keepsake championship rings and the sponsor’s trophy.

The winners earned $1,100 for qualifying second plus $1,400 and a $900 bonus for winning the event. Bowlers Sport Shoppe narrowly made the eighth and final qualifying position from Baker match play and then steadily made its way up the standings to qualify second for the finals.

In the semifinal match Bowlers Sport Shoppe defeated Keystone Builders (Kevin Gmach, Scott Helm, Brian Burgess, Mark Wukoman and Ron Scheucher) of Muskego, Wis., 366-322, to advance to the final.

Team Voodoo earned $1,550 for second ($450 for eighth in qualifying plus $1,100) and Keystone Builders earned $1,350 for third ($400 for ninth in qualifying plus $950).

Other finalists in the 44-team field from nine states were: 4, Storm Response, Naperville, Ill., $1,325 (7th in qualifying-$525 + $800); 5, Linds LTD, Milwaukee, $1,050 (10th-$350 + $700); 6, Bowlers Edge Pro Shop, Huber Heights, Ohio, $1,400 (4th-$800 + $600); 7, T-Byrd Lanes, Rochelle, Ill., $1,475 (3rd-$950 + 525); 8, Team Ebonite, Milwaukee, $1,850 (1st-$1,400 + $450); 9, Inland Athletic, Hammond, Ind., $1,000 (6th-$600 + $400); 10, Hawthorn Lanes II, Vernon Hills, Ill., $655 (11th-$305 + $350); 11, Roadkill, Milwaukee, $1,005 (5th-$700 + $305).

Regency Title of Troy, Mich., won the three-player Second Chance event for teams not cashing after qualifying. Robert Naiman, Brian Waltz and Ryan McCallep earned $395. The next Team Challenge qualifier is March 9-10 at Fiesta Bowl in Richland, Wash. For entry information contact Tom Boedecker at (800) 514-BOWL, Ext. 3415, or visit bowl.com.

Genalo, Dick use 300 game to take lead in ABC Tournament Regular doubles

Bolstered by an opening-game 300, Don Genalo of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Brian Dick of Waterville, Ohio, became the new Regular Doubles kingpins Feb. 17 after shooting 1,359 at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

Genalo, a six-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour winner, followed his first ABC Tournament 300 game with 269 and 215 for a 784 total. Dick added 575 on 198, 189 and 188 games. It was the second perfect game of the 2002 event, coming one day after Scott Sorenson of Bozeman, Mont., also rolled one in doubles.

Using an extreme outside line, the right-handed Genalo said he had two frames that could have stopped his strike string. "I threw two balls that I really didn’t think were strikes,” said Genalo, who with Dick were members of the K.J. Excavating quintet that shared the 2001 ABC Tournament Regular Team title. “In the 9th frame, I pulled one way inside my target. I thought it would be split but I got lucky and it took the 4-pin."

“In the fifth frame, I threw one I thought was going in the gutter. I don’t know how it held on. When it came off my hand, I said, ‘Oh, God, I just threw a gutter on a 4-bagger’. So, in the 10th, I thought if I don’t throw a 300 now, I never will. Those two breaks were so tremendous.”

Genalo hoped that the 300 might help to relax Dick, who started his first game with three strikes and finished with 198. "Brian’s first game could have been a lot better. He had a couple solid 9-pins, great shots that just didn’t carry,” Genalo said. This is their first time in the ABC Tournament as a doubles team although they bowled together once for a city tournament.

Dick said he had a difficult time finding and staying with the best line. “I had trouble with the shot,” Dick said. “The lanes were definitely playable, but I just couldn’t get it going. Shortly after Genalo bowled his perfect game, Travis Patchen, a 22-year old electrician from Oregon, Ohio, just missed his first career 300, as he left the 10-pin shaking on his final ball in the 10th.

Patchen was bowling doubles with his father, David, who also was a member of the 2001 Regular Division co-championship team, K.J. Excavating. “My goal was to shoot an all-events score of 1,800,” Travis Patchen said. “I shot 1,852 this weekend so that turned out all right. Bowling with my dad is great. He got me into bowling and did a lot of teaching. Now, it’s finally paying off.”

For complete results and information, visit bowl.com.

Sorenson rolls first perfect game at 2002 ABC Championships Tournament

A modern-day Rip Van Winkle made an appearance at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament on Feb. 16 and wowed the spectators at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont., with the tournament’s first 300 game.

Scott Sorenson of Bozeman, Mont., rolled his perfect game to end his doubles event with 678 after rolling 219 and 159 games. What made his feat interesting is that this year’s tournament was the first ABC he’s competed in since 1982 in Baltimore. He had entered the tournament the past five years before pulling out at the last minute each time.

“I pay for the spot for the team to bowl, but I always end up having to work,” the Bozeman Bowl proprietor said. “This year I had people cover for me so I could come out and bowl. I’m glad I did.”

“I wasn’t worried or nervous on the last shot. It was just another shot for me,” said Sorenson, who had a 15-strike string at one point. “I came to have a good time, and I think I’ve accomplished that. If you’re not going to have a good time, what’s the point of doing it?”

Hometown bowler takes ABC Tournament Regular Singles lead

Mike Sampson found the MetraPark Expo Center in his hometown of Billings, Mont., much to his liking as he moved into the Regular Singles lead Feb. 11 at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at the MetraPark Expo Center.

Sampson, a 26-year-old heating and cooling systems salesman bowling in his first ABC, rolled 254, 231 and 256 games for 741. After bowling only 473 in team and 493 in doubles, taking over the singles lead was about the furthest thing from his mind. “I was nervous and was really just lost,” Sampson said. “I was joking with my teammates after doubles that I’m really not that bad.”

Sampson moved past Wes Pye of Layton, Utah, who rolled 723 on Feb. 10. After slowing his approach and throwing more of an outside shot in the first game of singles, Sampson started striking. "It was like night and day,” he said. “I felt that with any breaks I could have easily had an 800 series.”

Sampson has only bowled sporadically over the past three years mainly because of his work commitments. “I’ve been bowling as a substitute in league and that’s about it,” he said. “But bowling the ABC Tournament here in Billings was something I’ve really been looking forward to.”

New Yorker moves atop ABC Tournament Regular All-Events standings

Vinny D’Ambrosio III of Staten, Island, N.Y., took the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament Regular All-Events lead Feb. 11 with 2,074 at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

D’Ambrosio, a 32-year-old pro shop operator and bowling center manager, shot 705 in team, 717 in doubles and 652 in singles. “I know it’s early and I don’t know how long it will last but this is one of the highlights of my career,” D’Ambrosio said. “This has been a great experience.”

D’Ambrosio also is a Professional Bowlers Association member who competes in regional events on a regular basis. With one regional title to his credit, he hopes to compete in some national tour stops this fall. “I still have some work to do on my game until then, but the way I bowled here is giving me a lot of encouragement,” he added.

Mixed team from North Dakota is new leader in ABC Tournament Classified Team

Led by four series of more than 500, T-R and The Tots of Jamestown, N.D., climbed to the top of the leader board in the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament Classified Team division by rolling 2,802 on Feb. 17 at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

Terrence Gruchalla anchored the winning total with his 647 series. April Lange was next with 598 followed by Tami Severance with 581, Ramona Gruchalla 500 and Dawn Irion, Battle Mountain, Nev., 476. T-R and The Tots jumped ahead of fellow North Dakotans K&K Motel of Enderlin. North Dakota bowlers took over the top four places in the Classified Team rankings.

The ABC Classified Division is for five-person teams with averages of 900 or less, doubles teams with 360 or less averages and individuals with a 180 or less average. Elsewhere in the Classified Division, Les Reemts of Kimball, Neb., squeaked by Susan Rantz, Stockton, Md., by one pin Feb. 17 to move atop singles. Reemtz used 196, 193 and 242 games for 631.

ABC Championships Tournament takes pride in community involvement

When the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament arrives in the host city, it literally becomes part of the community. Over the years, the tournament has increased its community involvement by hosting special events and working with charities.

The ABC Tournament installation in the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont., was host to several special events leading up to the start of 99th Tournament.

On Feb. 6, 192 Young American Bowling Alliance youth bowlers from Montana and surrounding states experienced the thrill of a lifetime by competing on the ABC Tournament lanes. More than $3,000 in scholarships were awarded and champions were crowned in five divisions.

On Feb. 7-8, the ABC Tournament once again hosted the Special Olympics Unified Bowling Tournament. The 12th annual event pairs athletes with and without mental retardation. Special Olympic athletes and their partners build physical skills while also building friendships, character and leadership. This year more than 200 bowlers from nine states competed in four-player team and doubles competition.

Also on Feb. 8, ABC hosted the “Bowlers Care For Kids” bowling event that benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Billings and Yellowstone County, the Boys and Girls Club Endowment Foundation and the Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship Fund.

A full house of 48 five-player teams, which paid $500 each, raised more than $20,000 for the charity. To make the event even more special bowling greats Dick Weber of St. Louis and Bill Lillard of Houston were celebrity participants.

Just prior to the ABC Tournament opening on Feb. 9, ABC, along with Artemis Rubber Technologies, teamed up with Very Special Arts of Montana to create the “Art of Bowling” community art program. The “Art of Bowling” assists VSA of Montana in encouraging people of all abilities to come together and create art while also promoting the creative powers of people with disabilities.

Artemis Rubber donated more than 2,000 Twister synthetic pins to be used as art projects by local artisans. More than 30 Montana groups were invited to participate in the program and the pins will eventually go on display during the May Artwalk in various Billings galleries in May.

Another example of ABC’s charity involvement is donations made through bracket play. Last year, more than $80,000 was donated to the Bowlers to Veterans Link Fund. And, when the ABC Tournament concludes in June, ABC hopes to be able to donate lumber used for the installation to the local Habitat For Humanity chapter in Billings.

Nebraska women, Western Illinois men top Bowling Writers seconf collegiate poll

The Bowling Writers Association of America’s Collegiate Committee has completed its second poll and the University of Nebraska women and the Western Illinois University men are atop the leader boards.

The Lady Huskers picked up five first-place votes from the BWAA pollsters to help them to a 324-point total. In second place was Morehead State (Ky.) University with 274 points followed by Wichita State University with 254 points.

Western Illinois continues its leadership on the men’s side, picking up 334 points with six first-place votes. Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) University also continues as the No. 2 team in the land, garnering 304 points and three first-place tallies. Wichita State also got a first-place vote to hold third place with 248 points.

The next BWAA poll will come after sectional competition in March.