News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local Interest

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
April 14, 2008

In search of tougher competition, Valley female bowlers rolling in male leagues

By Dennis Clark

TERRE HAUTE — hese girls have got serious game.

Years ago, Terre Haute women bowlers Crystal Sullivan, Vicki Rich and Mandy Wilkins — as talented as they are — didn’t have the option to bowl in a traditional “men’s” league. They could only bowl in an all-women’s league or a two-man, two-woman mixed league.

But mercifully, the times they are a changing. While United States Bowling Congress-sanctioned men’s leagues are not required to allow women to compete, a few leagues locally have changed their bylaws to allow women that competitive outlet.

Sullivan recently competed in the Smith Trucking “men’s” league at Imperial Lanes this season, the first year since the league changed its bylaws to allow women.

“They would tease me when the league started … saying, “are you here to bake cookies?’, Sullivan said. “I told them, ‘No, I’m here to bowl.”

And bowl she does. Sullivan, 30, averaged 226 in the league this year, saying, “I’ve averaged 200 or better for about 12 years now.”

She has rolled a pair of 300 games, giving her eight for her career. She also rolled her first 800 series, an 802 (258-244-300).

In the New Year’s Day Sweeper at the Terre Haute Bowling Center5, she averaged 232 and finished third, losing to eventual winner Scott Johnson in match play. She led women’s bowlers in February’s Super Bowl tournament at Imperial Lanes, averaging 231. She has bowled in the area “men’s” travel league for three years.

Last year, Sullivan rolled a 300 game, ironically in the “Men’s” City Tournament at Imperial Lanes. In 2004, she rolled a 300 game in the Women’s State Tournament — only the sixth overall — when it was here at Vigo Bowl.

Sullivan also enjoyed bowling in the PBA experience league at the Bowling Center. “That was tough … I hope they do that again this year.

“Most of the guys know me. Most of them don’t care one way or the other [if she bowls],” Sullivan stated. “A few of the older generation seem to have a problem, but it’s a sign of the times.

“I still bowl in mixed leagues for fun … to be with my family. But I prefer men’s leagues over women’s leagues. [Men] are there to bowl, not talking all the time about Tupperware,” Sullivan laughed. “I’m there for the competition.”

Sullivan is currently an English instructor at Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College. She plans to finish her master’s in English this year, and soon will be going for her Ph.D.

Rich, 30, is a teacher at Sarah Scott Middle School. She is also a talented bowler, a past member of the Indiana University women’s bowling team.

Rich rolled her first 800 series on July 11, 2005 in the Huff Amusement League at Vigo Bowl, earning her the prestigious United States Bowling Congress Bev Ortner Award for the highest 800 series by a woman — nationally — for the 2004-05 season.

Last year, Rich averaged 224 in the Springhill Wholesale “men’s” league at Vigo Bowl, with a high game of 299 and a high series of “about” 790.

“Competition, absolutely,” Rich quickly said of why she prefers to bowl in a men’s league. “When I was in Bloomington, it just wasn’t not done. But when I came to Terre Haute, I thought, wow!

“For the guys, [bowling] is a little bit more higher stakes. Most of the guys I’ve bowled with have accepted me. … didn’t question whether I should be there. I just like to bowl with people I like [guys or girls]. I really don’t think about it.”

Rich has a 300 game and four 800 series to her credit. She is not bowling in a men’s league this year, but is averaging 230 in the Monday Mixed League at Imperial Lanes.

Rich also pointed out that Lindsay Jarvis (formerly Chandler), a former Wichita State University bowler, Melissa Dressler and Anya Fisher as other local women having bowled in traditional “men’s” leagues.

Mandy Wilkins (formerly Bedwell) is another standout women’s bowler, a past three-time All-American (second team once, honorable mention twice) on the Indiana State University women’s bowling team.

“I won’t bowl in women’s leagues,” stated Wilkins. “They are there more to socialize, not so much to bowl. The pace is too slow … sometimes they don’t know where their bowlers are [when it’s their turn].”

Wilkins has bowled in a “men’s” scratch league every year, usually at Vigo Bowl, for the past eight years.

She bowled in the Tuesday doubles scratch league at Vigo Bowl this year, her team placing third overall while individually recording a 222 average.

By her count, Wilkins has had a pair of 800 series (high of 813), eight 300 games, three 299 games and a pair of 298 games.

Wilkins regularly bowls in the “Men’s” Shootouts at Vigo Bowl and Imperial Lanes, but noted that the Bowling Center’s Men’s Shootout is still, by rule, for men only. She has also bowled in the USBC National Tournament — formerly the ABC Tournament — four times.

All three compete with talented men’s bowlers in their personal lives — Sullivan (fiancee Jason Hiddle), Rich (husband Richard, who has bowled in PBA Regional events), Wilkins (husband Matt).

Sullivan and Hiddle have come very close twice the past two years of getting 300’s on the same team in the same game. Both times, Hiddle blinked (Crystal getting 300 games on those two occasions, Hiddle scoring 286 and 279).

“One of these days, we’ll do it if her partner ever shows up,” Hiddle predicted with a laugh.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local Interest
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death Snow Strands Italian Towns 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life 'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Today in History for Tuesday, February 12th Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
NDN Video
Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital Lusetich: AT&T Recap 'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space 2012 Grammys: Rihanna 2.12: Pebble Beach Pro-Am -- Phil Mickelson 2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop Peek inside Barbie's closet Absolute Lin-sanity Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News