TERRE HAUTE — In past years, bowling was probably not on high on the list of activities for typical New Year’s Eve revelers. But that trend changed this year — to be exact, last year (Dec. 31) and this year (Jan. 1).
More than 50 bowlers entered the New Year’s Eve no-tap doubles tournament at Vigo Bowl. Then on New Year’s Day, nearly 60 bowlers — some coming from as far away as Evansville and Fort Wayne — competed in the initial New Year’s Day Sweeper at the Terre Haute Bowling Center.
That’s not to say these bowlers didn’t celebrate the arrival of the new year. It might be a coincidence, but I did notice from the listings of these tournament’s results that there were no bowlers competing in both of these tournaments.
Being that as it may, on to the scoreboard.
At Vigo Bowl, the doubles duo of Rufus Pace Jr.-George Garcia edged the talented duo of Bill Chance Jr.-Brian Carapezza 1,595-1,582.
Rounding out the top seven (all cashed) were Sarah Lenges-Zach Long (1,539), Ryan Hayes-Chuck Fields (1,484), Rufus Pace Sr.-Tim Brickey (1,478), Toby Fields-Stephen Fields (1,475) and Harold Travioli-Megan Carty (1,454).
Meanwhile at the Bowling Center, Scott Johnson slipped past veteran bowler Jay Scamihorn 1,475-1,466 to claim the $500 first prize in their scratch sweeper. Johnson averaged 246.8 in his six games, including lines of 279, 257, 203, 266, 215 and 255.
Rounding out the top 10 — the top 21 cashed — were Danny Travelstead (1,465), Brian Taylor (1,429), John McWilliams (1,409), Ryan Nichols (1,395), Scott Hill (1,391), J.C. Dressler (1,377), Roy Kneeves (1,371) and Todd Hart (1,370).
The rest of the top 21 included Dave Paulin, Bryan Barton, Richard Rich, Chris Drake, Harold Costello, Jeff Acord, Tom Brown, Guy Johnson, Mike Fisher Sr. and Charles Kane.
High games in this event included Scamihorn (299), Nichols (290), Travelstead (289, 278), Joe Jefferies (289), Scott Johnson and Hart (279).
The next big event for local bowling’s version of “holiday revelers” is the Imperial Lanes Super Bowl Tournament on Feb. 4.
• Who’s hot — Most leagues have already started the second half of their winter seasons as we have reached 2007.
Although the following list is incomplete — some leagues are not reporting this week because of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays — the following is a sampling of the top average league bowlers thus far this season. We’ll have a more complete listing, including Imperial Lanes, later this season.
At the Bowling Center, top men with average/league name include Bryan Barton (235/Guarantee Roofing), Scott Johnson (232/Guarantee Roofing), Matt Lugar (224/Gartland Foundry), Luke Ruble (226/Toyota of Terre Haute), Guy Johnson (219/Toyota of Terre Haute), Jay Scamihorn (213/Prime Timer) and Tom Rottmann (212/Wabash Valley Christian).
THBC top women include Heather Jones (234/Affordable Awards Ladies), Elnora Murrell (194/Gartland Foundry), Mary Jones (193/Affordable Awards Ladies), Jean Liggett (167/Prime Timer) and Debra Rottmann (163/Wabash Valley Christian).
At Vigo Bowl, top men include Jason Hiddle (220/Eagles Mixed), Marlon Watson and Harold Welker (both 210/Eagles Mixed), Chris Salyer (200/Vigo Bowl Seniors), John Smith (195/Church) and Matt Lugar (195/School Staff).
Vigo Bowl top women include Brittany Foster (213/Vigo Bowl Seniors), Crystal Sullivan (201/Eagles Mixed), Dawn Rayhel (194/Eagles Mixed), Lisa Watson (179/Eagles Mixed), Nan Lammers (179/Distributor’s Terminal), Alusta Kneeves (177/Mic’s Pics and 174/Springhill Wholesale) and Marilyn Daniel (174/School Staff).
At the Elks, top men are Phil Cooper (209/Tuesday Men) and Brian Carapezza (204/Thursday Men).
Oh, by the way, Gene Bedwell rolled a 300 game in the Guarantee Roofing league at the Bowling Center on Wednesday.
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Now for a quick journey around the wacky world of bowling:
• Tattoos and license plates — Bowlers can publicly display their love for bowling for a nominal fee with a unique tattoo — along with a little pain — or for the more squeamish, a vanity license plate with a bowling theme.
Bowl.com is just chock full of ideas for bowlers. From the home page of this Web site, at the far right side, simply click on bowl.com extras.
In there — among other things — are a series of more than 40 thumbnail photographs apiece submitted by bowlers from all over the country of their tattoos and license plates.
You’ll have to see the tattoos to believe them; words give them no justice.
Just thought you’d want to know.
• No SI jinx for bowling — Some interesting numbers can be extracted from Sports Illustrated’s recent year-end special edition, “50 Years of Faces in the Crowd,” which is “celebrating SI’s most enduring feature.”
Did you know? In a breakdown by sport of every “Faces in the Crowd” over 50 years, bowling was the No. 10-ranked sport with 444.
Bowling trails track and field (1,980), basketball (1,124), golf (1,016), football (991), baseball (962), swimming (874), tennis (840), soccer (631) and wrestling (514).
Bowling “outperformed” softball (11th), ice hockey (12th) and such obscure “sports” as yo-yoing, bird calling (also turkey, cow, goose and hog calling), spear fishing, camel racing, contour plowing, pogo stick and, last but not least, underwater hockey.
• Bowling is ageless — In an earlier column this year, I noted the accomplishment of a 94-year-old legally blind female bowler from Washington, bowling a 244 game.
Well, now we move to the other end of the age spectrum.
Chaz Dennis officially is the youngest bowler approved by the USBC with a 300 game, accomplishing this feat on Dec. 6 in a junior league in Columbus, Ohio.
Dennis, who bowls with two hands no less, broke the record set by Michael Tang of San Francisco (March 11, 2006) by 20 days, bowling his perfect game at age 10 years, two months, 27 days.
Dennis Clark can be reached by e-mail at dennis.clark@tribstar.com; by mail at P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN 47808; or by fax at (812) 231-4321.
Vigo County bowling leagues
Vigo Bowl
Wolfe’s Auto Auction — High games: Mary Lou Fugate 210, Petland Pinsters 848. High series: Linda Campbell 550, Affordable Awards 2,415.
Bush Restaurant Senior — High games: Dave Paulin 268, Anita Maxwell 225, Jane’s Gang 832. High series: Mike Zebrowski Sr. 692, Maxwell 608, Jane’s Gang 2,295.
Vigo Bowl Bantams — High games: Cameron Stephens 89, Gabrielle Yeager 74, Dark Dragons 280. High series: Stephens 148, Yeager 132, Dark Dragons 547.
Vigo Bowl Preps — High games: Logan Yates 154, Lacey Cooksey 116, Team 3,480. High series: Levi Elrod 339, Taylor Troye 319, Team 3 1,405.
Vigo Bowl Juniors — High games: Nicholas Fields 225, Marlee Yeager 179, Da Patriots 734. High series: Fields 585, Yeager 463, Da Patriots 2,080.
Vigo Bowl Seniors — High games: Zachery Perry 247, Audrey Nelson and Brittany Foster 268, Smooth Operators 1,030. High series: Perry 714, Foster 668, Smooth Operators 3,001.
School Staff — High games: Ed Beasley 234, Shirley Kaperak 206, Union Hospital 734. High series: Matt Lugar 611, Marilyn Daniel 509, Union Hospital 2,134.
Church — High games: Ken Smith 279, Nan Ryder 182, Foursquare No. 2 808. High series: Smith 738, Ryder 484, Foursquare No. 2 2,151.
Mic’s Pics — High games: Carolyn Wilkins 211, Bell’s Gals 523. High series: Barbara Hills 538, Barnes Construction 1,489.
Eagles Mixed — High games: Marlon Watson 259, Lisa Watson 247, C&E; Environmental 828. High series: Jim Shepherd 691, L.Watson 670, C&E; Environmental 2,417.
Springhill Wholesale — High games: Clarene Fisher 189, Bell’s Bowlers 678. High series: Mary Lou Fugate 506, Bell’s Bowlers 1,878.
Distributor’s Terminal — High games: Mary Shake 207, Distributor’s Terminal 644. High series: Nan Lammers 532, Distributor’s Terminal 1,794.
Terre Haute Bowling Center
Gartland Foundry — High games: Matt Lugar 269, Margie Elder 251, The Next Level 839. High series: Lugar 663, Elder 603, The Next Level 2,398.
Toyota of Terre Haute — High games: Eldon Blubaum Jr. 279, Pro Shop 1,100. High series: Dale Liggett 727, Prop Shop 3,245.
Affordable Awards Ladies — High games: Heather Jones 289, The Pro Shop 962. High series: Jones 703, The Pro Shop 2,612.
Guarantee Roofing — High games: Gene Bedwell 300, Team 6 1,138. High series: Bedwell 772, Affordable Awards 3,329.
Prime Timer — High games: Bill Meng 247, Jeannette Borchert and Bert Hoffman 193. High series: Guy Belzile 264, Jean Liggett 502.
Wabash Valley Christian — High games: Tom Rottmann and David Rottmann 226, Brandy Gum 224, OBC 6 720. High series: T.Rottmann 632, Gum 643, OBC 6 2,036.
Imperial Lanes
Archie’s Sports Bar — High games: Lary Knight 297, CROCK/Budweiser 1,163. High series: Knight 788, CROCK/Budweiser 3,401.
Tuesday Morning Ladies — High games: Phyllis Grover 214, We Try Harder 439. High series: Grover 556, We Try Harder 1,263.
Austins Bar Thursday Mixed — High games: Robbie Wilson 278, Lissa Dressler 268, Could Be Worse 1,062. High series: Rich Gregory 730, Dressler 697, Could Be Worse 2,959.
Smith Trucking — High games: Brent Hoopingarner 269, Honey Creek Machine 1,154. High series: J.C. Dressler 746, Honey Creek Machine 3,310.
John Curry Lanes (Elks)
Tuesday Men — High games: Phil Cooper, Chuck Overpeck and Brian Carapezza 233, Greenleaf 958. High series: Cooper 613, Greenleaf 2,711.
Thursday Men — High games: Tim Tennant 276, Pro Finish 1,034. High series: Tennant 648, Pro Finish 2,789.
Kegler's Korner
January 7, 2007
Kegler's Korner: Bowlers bring in 2007 with tournaments
- Kegler's Korner
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KEGLER’S KORNER: New members of GTHBA Hall of Fame
The “winter” bowling season has come to a close, and with that realization, it’s time to find out who are the newest inductees to the Greater Terre Haute Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: GTHMBA takes interesting new approach to men’s city tourney
When I served on the Greater Terre Haute Men’s Bowling Association Board many, many moons ago, much discussion was devoted to increasing participation in the annual Men’s City Tournament.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: Valley bowlers in Women’s State Championship
No members of the Greater Terre Haute Women’s Bowling Association are atop any of the leaderboards, but several teams and individuals are listed in the top five of the ongoing 84th Indiana Women’s State Bowling Championship.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: Indiana Women’s State tourney continues today at Vigo Bowl
The 84th Indiana Women’s State Tournament will complete its third weekend of bowling competition at Vigo Bowl (team) and Terre Haute Bowling Center (doubles/singles) today.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: City has history as state tourney host
The 84th Indiana State Women’s Championship Tournament began its lengthy run in Terre Haute on Saturday and will run each weekend — except Easter weekend — until May 8.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Spare nothing trying to get those extra pins
Throwing strikes are sexy and glamorous, but converting spares (ho-hum) is still the difference between winning and losing — at all levels of bowling.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: South team fourth at state finals
Terre Haute South’s boys team capped off a standout season with a fourth-place finish at the Indiana High School Bowling team state finals at Cooper’s Sport Bowl in Anderson last weekend.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Bowlers still rolling on ice
While many sporting events around the Wabash Valley fell victim to the recent snow and ice storm, not so for bowlers. But we’re not surprised. Bowlers are a hardy breed.
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Kegler's Korner: South Vermillion boys secure sectional title
South Vermillion extended its recent success in the Indiana High School Bowling Sectional competition, both individually and collectively, last week.
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KRGLER'S KORNER: Tournament action abounds over Turkey Day holiday week
The days leading up to and including the Thanksgiving holiday found Vigo Bowl busy with tournament action.
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Kegler's Korner: Team Drake wins THBC Shootout
Nine teams competed in the 20th Terre Haute Bowling Center Shootout last weekend (Oct. 30-31) with Team Drake emerging as the champion by a slim nine-pin margin.
Team members Chris Drake, Rick Fugate, Sean Pepper and Trevor Monroney had a score of 8,663. Second place went to Team Nichols (Ryan Nichols, David Paulin, David Monroney, Mike Gambill) at 8,554. -
Kegler's Korner: Team Drake takes THBC Shootout
Nine teams competed in the 20th Terre Haute Bowling Center Shootout last weekend (Oct. 30-31) with Team Drake emerging as the champion by a slim nine-pin margin.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Team Shootout at THBC coming this weekend
Hard to believe, but the Terre Haute Bowling Center is ready to run its 20th — count ’em — 20th Team Shootout next Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 30-31).
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Kegler's Korner: Leturgez, Russell and Bolinger members of TH Bowlers Hall 41st class
A trio of local bowlers were inducted to the Terre Haute Bowlers Hall of Fame in their 41st recognition dinner at the Excalibur in West Terre Haute on May 10. Brandy Leturgez was the lone men’s inductee (bowling achievement). Jeri Russell (achievement) and Lynn Bolinger (meritorious service) were the women’s inductees.
- Kegler's Korner: U.S. Open returns to Hoosier state The U.S. Open returned to the Hoosier state this week at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, with the nationally-televised finals (ESPN) scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today.
- Kegler's Korner: A little snow can’t stop bowlers from getting in their rounds While a little snow has slowed down the process of playing boys and girls high school basketball games around the Wabash Valley recently, the white stuff rarely keeps bowlers from their appointed rounds.
- Kegler's Korner: Kulick becomes first woman to win PBA event If you missed it, female professional bowler Kelly Kulick defeated Chris Barnes 265-195 in the championship game of the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions. The victory marked the first female to win a PBA national tour event in, well, ever.
- KEGLER'S KORNER: PBA TH Open set to roll June 10-12
- KEGLER'S KORNER: Crystal Sullivan shoots 299 on tough Greencastle lanes Crystal Sullivan has been a dominate force among women bowlers in Terre Haute through the years. In fact, just as good, if not better at times, than the male bowlers she regularly bowls alongside.
- Kegler's Korner: Scamihorn still a force around lanes Jay Scamihorn has been a frequent high scorer in senior — that’s older folks! — leagues in recent years, frequently recognized for high game or high series (usually both).
- Kegler's Korner: TH Open Pro-Am set for June 12 The Greater Terre Haute Open Pro-Am will be at 7 p.m. on June 12 at the Terre Haute Bowling Center. This is being run in conjunction with that weekend’s (June 13-14) Professional Bowling Association Midwest/Central Regional Tournament.
- Kegler's Korner: TH bowlers hold their own with best in Indiana at Women’s State
- Kegler's Korner: Professional bowling returning to Wabash Valley this summer Professional bowling returns to the Wabash Valley in the form of the PBA Central/Midwest Region Terre Haute Open at the Terre Haute Bowling Center on June 12-14.
- Kegler's Korner: Vincennes University defends championship It must be spring. Vincennes University wins the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s bowling championship and their coach, Gary Sparks, is named NJCAA Coach of the Year.
- Kegler's Korner: TH native Marc Pruett takes on some of PBA’s finest While perusing daily standings from this week’s Professional Bowlers Association Etonic Marathon Open at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis this week, I happened upon the name of Terre Haute bowler Marc Pruett.
- Kegler's Korner: Valley high school bowlers rolling along in state tournament Wabash Valley high school bowlers excelled at the Indiana High School Bowling Association regional at Laurel Lanes in Washington on Feb. 7.
- Kegler's Korner: South’s Dowell rolls 234 to defeat South Vermillion’s Johansen for sectional crown Austin Dowell of Terre Haute South defeated South Vermillion’s Scott Johansen 234-226 to win the high-scoring championship match of the Indiana High School Bowling boys individual sectional tournament at Vigo Bowl on Friday.
- Kegler's Korner: Wabash Valley High School Travel League holds singles tournament As mentioned in last week’s column, a monthly Wabash Valley High School Travel League singles tournament was hosted by Terre Haute Bowling Center last Saturday.
- Kegler's Korner: Unlike NFL, no ties on lanes Take note Philadelphia Eagles quarterback — there ARE ties in regular season National Football League games, but there are NO ties in bowling. Ryan Nichols emerged victorious and claimed the $500 first prize in the 3rd New Year’s Day Sweeper at the Terre Haute Bowling Center. But not after settling a championship match deadlock against long-time bowler Dave Paulin.
- Kegler's Korner: The Landing now offers latest in boutique bowling The Landing at Fort Harrison mini-resort opened to the public last week and its eight-lane bowling facility is nestled right in the midst of this ambitious business undertaking.
- More Kegler's Korner Headlines
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KEGLER’S KORNER: New members of GTHBA Hall of Fame
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Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
Today in History for May 20th
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Obama Exhorts Good Deeds by Morehouse Graduates
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Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
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NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in Florida
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New 'Anchorman 2' Trailer, Drake Joins List of Rumored Cameos
Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window
Justin Bieber Gets Booed
Eva Longoria's Wardrobe Malfunction
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Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem
Who is $600M Powerball winner in Fla.?
Top 5 Plays of the Day
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
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Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
