Squad times each day of 9a, 12p, and 3p

Click here or on the image to download the entry form for the 2009-2010 Youth Team Tourney

See you on the lanes!

View location, dates and times by clicking right here!

ARLINGTON, Texas - USBC Collegiate has determined sectional-qualifying assignments for the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. Now, the nation’s top men’s and women’s collegiate bowling teams can begin charting their courses toward the 2010 national title.

The four sectional qualifiers will be held March 13-14 at AMF Parkway Lanes in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl-Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Landmark Lanes in Peoria, Ill.; and the South Point Hotel and Casino Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

The top four teams in each division at each sectional will advance to the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, which will be held April 14-17 at the El Paso (Texas) Convention and Performing Arts Center.

On the men’s side, defending national champions Wichita State, the No. 1 program in Team Ranking System points, will compete in the Peoria Sectional. No. 2 Lindenwood will headline the field at the Chattanooga Sectional. No. 3 Fresno State and No. 4 Robert Morris (Ill.) will head to the Las Vegas Sectional, making No. 5 Webber International the lone top-five team at the Allentown Sectional.

In women’s competition, No. 1 Central Florida, which is coming off a victory at the 2010 Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic, will be the featured team at the Chattanooga Sectional. No. 2 Wichita State, the reigning women’s national champions, will head to the Peoria Sectional while No. 3 Pikeville and No. 4 Webber International will compete in the Allentown Sectional. No. 5 Robert Morris (Ill.) will participate in the Las Vegas Sectional.

The complete men’s and women’s 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Sectional Qualifier field (teams listed in alphabetical order):

MEN
Allentown Sectional
Briarcliffe, Erie Community College, George Mason, Hudson Valley Community College, Michigan State, Mohawk Valley Community College, Monmouth, Ohio State, Penn State, Penn State-Berks, Pikeville, Robert Morris (Pa.), Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart, St. John’s, Webber International, William Paterson, Youngstown State.

Chattanooga Sectional
Central Florida, Davenport, Florida State, Houston, Indiana, Lindenwood, Louisiana State, Michigan-Ann Arbor, Missouri Baptist, North Carolina State, Purdue, Rock Valley, Saginaw Valley State, Santa Fe, Urbana, Virginia Tech

Peoria Sectional
Bellarmine, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Delta, Kansas, McKendree, Morehead State, Nebraska-Omaha, Newman, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Toledo, Vincennes, Viterbo, Western Illinois, Wichita State, Wisconsin-Madison, Wright State.

Las Vegas Sectional
Arizona State, Fresno State, Martin Methodist, Nebraska-Lincoln, North Texas, Robert Morris (Ill.), San Jose State, St. Ambrose, UC-Davis, UNLV, West Texas A&M, Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin-Whitewater.

WOMEN
Allentown Sectional
Adrian, Briarcliffe, Erie Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Michigan State, Mohawk Valley Community College, Notre Dame College, Ohio State, Penn State, Penn State-Berks, Pikeville, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Institute of Technology, Webber International.

Chattanooga Sectional
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Central Florida, Davenport, Florida State, Grand Valley State, Houston, Indiana, Lindenwood, Louisiana State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Michigan-Ann Arbor, Missouri Baptist, Missouri State, Purdue, Rock Valley, Southern, Union, Urbana, Virginia Tech.

Peoria Sectional
Bellarmine, Elmhurst, Illinois State, Illinois-Urbana, McKendree, Newman, Robert Morris-Peoria, South Dakota State, Viterbo, Western Illinois, Wichita State, William Penn, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Platteville, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wright State.

Las Vegas Sectional
Arizona, Ball State, Fresno State, Martin Methodist, New Mexico, North Texas, Robert Morris (Ill.), St. Ambrose, San Jose State, Texas A&M, UC-Davis, Washington State, West Texas A&M.

Sectional assignments are based on the Team Ranking System points earned in USBC Collegiate-certified competition throughout the season. USBC Collegiate attempts to place no more than two of the top eight schools and no more than four of the top 16 schools in a sectional based on final TRS totals. Sectional Qualifier fields are determined by taking geographic distance, economics and field size into consideration.

The sectionals will consist of 32 Baker System games each day for a total of 64 Baker games. The top four teams based on total pinfall in each division following the completion of competition at each sectional will advance to the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.

In addition, these four locations will host qualifying for the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships on March 12. All participants will bowl six games with total pinfall determining final standings. The top four finishers in each division (men and women) at each Sectional Qualifier advance to the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships, scheduled for May 16-18 at AMF Euless Lanes in Euless, Texas.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Bowl with US

Shortly after exiting his flight to Reno on Sunday, Johnson put $20 into an airport slot machine, and minutes later, he was the winner of the $10,422,754.08 Megabucks MegaJackpot.

“When it hit, we all kind of looked at each other and wondered what happened,” Johnson said. “I kept telling my wife that something was going to go well this week, whether it was bowling well or winning something, but I never could have imagined winning $10 million.”

“The Biggest Little City in the World” has become a special destination for the 36-year-old Johnson and his teammates. Three of Johnson’s six USBC Open Championships appearances have come at Reno’s National Bowling Stadium, and while in town for the 2007 event, he and his wife, Stephanie were married.

“Three years ago, I married my wife, Stephanie, here in Reno,” Johnson said. “All of us use the Open as a vacation every year, and we just come out to have a good time. Plus, bowling is a big part of my life. It’s really the best of everything.”

Johnson, a mechanical designer for BCER Engineering near Denver, tried not to let his big win and the flurry of media requests that followed distract him from helping Kamikaze Keglers on the tournament lanes Monday. The right-hander posted games of 222, 138 and 192 for a 552 series and helped his team to a 2,566 total. Pandorum of Buford, Ga., leads Regular Team with 3,063.

Johnson was joined on the lanes by Aaron Franks (534), Scott Maakestad (509), Clint Cator IV (492) and Jon Hanson (479).

“I don’t think I shot really well, but all in all, I’m pretty happy with how we did,” Johnson said. “I plan to keep coming to the Open wherever it may be, but for tomorrow, I plan on coming in and winning doubles and singles.”

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah’s Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.

The 2010 event marks the sixth time the tournament has been held at the 78-lane National Bowling Stadium, and 265 bowlers and their friends and families helped usher in the 107th USBC Open Championships on Saturday afternoon.

Reno mayor Bob Cashell, Sparks mayor Geno Martini, USBC Hall of Famers Jim Schroeder and Bob Hart, dignitaries and sponsors took part in the opening festivities, which also included the traditional Mass Ball Shot, ribbon cutting and the crowning of Joe Bowler.

Ted Thomas, 53, of Lafayette, Colo., earned the distinction of Joe Bowler, a tradition that began in 1951, and rolled the ceremonial first ball (a nine count), signifying the official start of the 2010 event. The tournament will run from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily until July 5.

“I actually enjoyed it a lot,” said Thomas, who bowls at Coal Creek Sports Center and made his third appearance at the Open Championships. “I was a little nervous, but I felt very privileged. My mother was an officer in the national tournaments, so it was good to see hall of fame bowlers like Bob Hart and Jimmy Schroeder walk out with me. I will be here every year. I like the competitiveness, camaraderie and having a fun time away with the guys.”

This year, more than 14,000 five-player teams (70,000 bowlers) will test their skills on the championship lanes. The Open Championships has been held at the Stadium every third year since 1995, and previously was held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in 1977, ‘84 and ‘90.

On the lanes Saturday, Pandorum of Buford, Ga., moved into the top spot in Regular Team with a 3,063 three-game effort. The group put together games of 1,028, 1,042 and 993 to pace the 53-team Opening-Day squad. Although all five bowlers bowl league at Brunswick Zone Lilburn (Ga.), Saturday marked the first time they bowled on a team together.

Mark McClung led the way for Pandorum with a 682 set and was followed by Justin Gibbons (666), Leigh Trostel (609), Settee Johnson (582) and Darin Belsito (524).

“We started off slowly, but talked to each other about the adjustments we could make, and it worked out pretty well,” said McClung, who made his fourth Open Championships appearance. “We could’ve finished a little bit stronger, but it still feels good to be in the lead. It was also nice to be a part of the opening and see how everything comes together.”

In the Classified Division, 3 Jokers and 2 Queens, also of Buford, Ga., grabbed the early lead with a 2,536 total. The team, which includes three USBC Board members- Mitch Mitchell, Kayla Chick and Tommy Gann- posted games of 809, 788 and 939.

Jason Reynolds led the way for 3 Jokers and 2 Queens with a 580 series and was followed by Gann, USBC’s second vice-president, (538), Mitchell (532), Susan Pickford (453) and Chick (433).

“I’m happy and excited, since it’s the first time I’ve ever been a part of the lead in 31 years here,” Mitchell said. “We’ll cherish the moment while it lasts. Hopefully, it shows that our leadership team is not only made up of good businessmen and women, but some good bowlers as well.”

To be eligible for the Classified Division, a team must have a combined average of 900 or less.

It’s not too late to enter the 2010 Open Championships. There are still some prime bowling times available. The final entry deadline is April 1.

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah’s Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com

Related articles of Bowling Interest you may find worth reading.

• More on Gender Controversy in Sports (bilerico.com)
• Senior Citizen Rolls 40 Perfectos in Wii Bowling [Bowling] (kotaku.com)

Click image above or here for complete list.

The option will be available Feb. 1 for teams looking to enter the 2011 event, which will be held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. Team captains will be able to enter and pay online in six easy steps.

With the new system, returning team captains will be recognized by their entry numbers from 2010, and their personal information will appear automatically. They’ll simply be asked to edit or add information, select or change their dates, choose the number of doubles and all-events entries and pay the deposit or entire balance by credit card. New captains will have to enter their information manually the first time, but will not have to do so again in the future.

As the automated system continues to evolve, captains soon will be able to sign back into the system and add or change roster information, input participation information and pay remaining balances to lock in doubles and singles times.

Beginning March 1, the automated system will be available for USBC Women’s Championships team captains looking to enter the 2011 event slated for Syracuse, N.Y.

Paper entries still will be accepted for both events.

“Since so much of what we already do revolves around the Internet, the automated online system is the natural next step in the evolution of our tournaments,” said USBC Championships Director Brian Lewis. “We want to make things as convenient as possible for our bowlers, and the new system really streamlines the process.”

ENTRY DEADLINES EXTENDED FOR 2010 OPEN AND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Although the start of the 2010 USBC Open Championships is less than a month away, it’s not too late to enter. The entry deadline has been extended until April 1.

So far, more than 14,000 teams are scheduled to make the trip to Reno’s National Bowling Stadium during the tournament’s 136-day run. It will be the event’s record ninth visit to Reno and the sixth time the tournament will be held at the 78-lane NBS.

For the first time, the Women’s Championships will be held in a convention-center setting. USBC will install 48 lanes and the world’s largest mobile scoreboard inside the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, and the tournament will feature three divisions, instead of five, and an all-handicap format for the first time.
For more information on the USBC Open and Women’s Championships, visit BOWL.com.

Saturday, Feb. 13th from 6-11pm.
ALL YOU CAN EAT!

(click on the image to download a flyer!)

Jingle Bell Bowl is a holiday celebration for children and their families who have little else to celebrate, but the event benefits more than the guests who lace up their bowling shoes at Capri Lanes every year. The entire Miami Valley bowling community comes together for this annual event.

Whether it is the financial support of the bowling proprietors or the enthusiastic volunteers from the Fairmont High School bowling team and the local bowling association or the dedicated Capri Lanes employees who started cooking a Christmas feast early on a Saturday morning, it all comes together for one magical morning.

“It is so uplifting for the spirits of the families in our program,” said Robert Kelley, director of the Dayton area Red Cross Family Living Center. “Our parents can feel very discouraged, especially this time of year, because of what they are going through. This event enables them to have fun with their kids and it is really unique in that way.”

ARLINGTON, Texas, January 6, 2010 – For the first time in the 5,000-year history of the sport, the bowling industry will be united under one roof with the grand opening of the International Bowling Campus (IBC) in Arlington, Texas, an unprecedented event in sports history. The IBC, located at 621 Six Flags Drive, is in close proximity to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the Rangers Ballpark and the Six Flags Over Texas theme park. The 100,000-plus square foot IBC complex will house more than 200 employees. At 2:30 pm on January 25, the campus will open its doors with a historic ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a star-studded gathering of national and local celebrities.

The campus will serve as home to the new and expanded International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. The state-of-the-art museum will feature interactive displays and exhibits along with rare, one-of-a-kind items from the various eras dating back to 3,200 B.C. The IBC will also house the International Training and Research Center (ITRC) and an expansive pro shop making it the premier pro shop of the bowling industry. Additionally, the IBC will act as the central operating facility for the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

“The International Bowling Campus marks a first in sports and its impact on the bowling industry simply cannot be understated. Bringing together all of the leading entities in bowling under a single roof is a tremendous step forward in uniting and strengthening our industry,” said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA. “With already more than 69.3 million bowlers in the U.S. alone, the opening of the IBC sets the stage for a new era of growth for bowling and signifies the incredible worldwide resurgence in popularity that bowling has seen in recent years.”

“The grand opening of the International Bowling Campus is a historic event that ushers in a thrilling new era for bowling. Through the creation of the IBC, which includes the first International Training and Research Center, we have a world-class facility that enables us to offer tremendous resources to help enhance the sport of bowling across all levels of play,” said Stu Upson, executive director of the USBC. “Additionally, working side-by-side with the BPAA will further enable us to enhance and strengthen the sport of bowling on a local level.”

In addition to the BPAA and USBC, the International Bowling Campus will include the:

International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame – Formerly located in St. Louis, Missouri, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects, preserves and displays the 5,000-year history that has lead to the sport of bowling’s worldwide success. In addition to outlining the history of bowling, the completely interactive 21st century International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame will focus on the contemporary era of the sport, specifically its youth programs and international competition. The museum will also house the Celebrity Hall of Fame exhibit, including inductees Lynn Swann, Jerome Bettis and Tom Candiotti. Custom bowling industry merchandise and branded memorabilia will be available at “Spare Partz,” a unique concept in museum stores.

International Training and Research Center (ITRC) – A United States Olympic Committee-recognized training center, the ITRC will serve as a world-class training facility for professional and amateur bowlers, and will include 20 lanes for training, research, testing and television broadcasts (of the 20 lanes, six will be used exclusively to test and certify bowling equipment prior to worldwide distribution, replicating all lane conditions). The center’s research area will include cutting-edge tools such as a robotic ball thrower, a computerized ball tracking system and a state-of-the-art biomechanics package designed to analyze actual bowling movements and test equipment. The center will be the training home for Team USA, Junior Team USA, international teams, numerous college and high school teams and elite coaches.

The campus will also be home to the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA), the School for Bowling Center Management, the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America (BBIA), Bowling News Network (BNN), Strike Ten Entertainment (STE), Bowling Writers’ Association of America (BWAA) and The Bowling Foundation (charitable arm of the industry).

“The new facility will bring events such as the BPAA Bowling Summit, International Bowl Expo in 2011 and numerous nationally televised bowling competitions, which will enhance Arlington’s reputation as a leading Southwestern tourism destination,” said Dr. Robert Cluck, mayor of Arlington.

The grand opening celebration will also include:

• International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and ITRC ribbon-cutting by state and local officials
• Ceremonial “first roll” on the lanes at the ITRC
• Unveiling of the “Walk of Fame” commemorative brick walkway at the main entrance to the IBC
• Grand opening of the ITRC pro shop and “Spare Partz” museum store
• Burying of a historic time capsule
• Open house and touring of the new facilities

The grand opening events will be held in conjunction with the BPAA’s Bowling Summit, which will be attended by proprietors representing thousands of bowling centers from across the United States as well as the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers. For more details about the International Bowling Campus, please visit http://internationalbowlingcampus.com/.

About International Bowling Campus

The International Bowling Campus (IBC) is the headquarters for the bowling industry and directly serves the more than 69 million bowlers in the United States. The IBC houses the resources of the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body and membership organization for the sport; the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, representing the business interests of bowling centers; Strike Ten Entertainment, the marketing arm for the industry; the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame; The Bowling Foundation; the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association; the Bowling Writers’ Association of America; the Bowling News Network; the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America; and the International Training and Research Center.

There were 64 teams competing and the unofficial low score to cash was 3266. Scores will be verified and checks will be written and sent within the next three to four weeks.

Click here for PDF file of complete “OFFICIAL” results.

Thanks to Joe Taylor and the staff for running a great tournament.

Individual Award Scores from the tournament
Eddie Graham 300 Game and 819 Series
Joe Hoelscher 225 300 229 – 754
Ken Hurst 299 235 226 – 760
Andy Bizub – 11 in a row – 279 game
George Gohagen III – Big 4

Ladies Scores above 700
Jane Bloom 234 237 238 – 709
Katie Hale 223 222 263 – 708

(Click on image for a Complete Listing in PDF format)

Click the image for a COMPLETE listing

(PDF file)

So far this season, USBC Collegiate has added 25 new schools to its roster of institutions fielding collegiate bowling teams. Those additions are expected to push USBC Collegiate’s total number of certified schools to 175, which would represent a 16.4-percent increase over the 152 schools that participated in 2008-09.

The current growth spurt has been felt across the country, but spikes have been seen in Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Viterbo University, located in Lacrosse, Wis., is among the schools that are newly-registered this season. Director of Athletics Barry Fried explains what prompted Viterbo’s decision to begin fielding bowling teams.

“One of the primary reasons we decided to add intercollegiate bowling was the increasing popularity of the sport,” Fried said. “It’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country as 46 of 50 states have club or varsity bowling programs in high school. We felt the addition of bowling might give us a recruiting niche and help increase our enrollment.”

Currently, USBC Collegiate has approximately 2,775 registered bowlers in its program. That is nearly 150 more bowlers than it had last season and nearly 300 above its final number from 2007-08.

The current growth pattern can be attributed to many factors, but USBC Collegiate Manager Gary Brown thinks it is largely due to the financial benefits experienced by both schools and bowlers.

“Of the 25 new schools we have added this season, just about half offer at least some form of financial assistance to bowlers,” Brown said. “The student-athletes and their parents definitely see that and want to take advantage of it. Collegiate bowling already offered the opportunity to pursue the sport they love and compete for team and individual national titles. Now, it can help them pay for their educations, too.

“For the schools, bowling costs very little in the way of equipment to buy and facilities to use and maintain, and it boosts enrollment by allowing these schools to tap into the huge number of high school bowlers across the country. It’s a win-win situation for them. I think that’s why we’ve seen this huge spike this year and why we already have schools expressing interest in starting new teams in 2010 and 2011.”

United States Bowling Congress

We here in the Dayton bowling communtiy should be very proud of the Raider teams as their hard work is paying off.

ARLINGTON, Texas – A group of 13 of the country’s top bowlers will lead Team USA into international competition in 2010 as part of the team’s roster was announced Wednesday.

A selection committee of United States Bowling Congress and Professional Bowlers Association representatives picked seven men and six women to join Team USA.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, Wes Malott, Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen, Rhino Page and Bill O’Neill were selected for the men’s team. On the women’s side, Stefanie Nation, Shannon O’Keefe, Shannon Pluhowsky, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard were the selections.

“We are very fortunate that we had such a talented pool of players to choose from,” said Rod Ross, who takes over as Team USA head coach in 2010 in addition to his role as head coach of the International Training and Research Center. “It is extremely difficult for the committee to make these types of decisions, but I feel we have put together a great nucleus of players who will continue to lead Team USA to success next year and in the future.”

Ross said the selection committee elected to go with seven men as the team gears up for the 2010 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Men’s Championships next August in Munich, Germany. Barnes, Jones, Allen, Page and Williams were part of the team that led Team USA to four of six gold medals at the 2008 World Men’s Championships.

All but one of the players selected were members of Team USA in 2009 with the lone exception being Kulick, who has been on the team five times in the past.

Two women picked the past two years elected not to submit their names for consideration this year. Lynda Barnes, a 12-time Team USA, member recently announced her retirement from the team, while Kim Terrell-Kearney has decided to focus her attention on her role as assistant head coach at the International Training and Research Center.

To be considered for selection to 2010 Team USA, men were required to be exempt players on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, while the women must have been on Team USA at least once since 1999 and/or former Professional Women’s Bowling Association/Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour members.

The selections only represent a portion of the final roster of 2010 Team USA players. All USBC members will have a chance to join the team by competing in the 2010 USBC Team USA Trials, scheduled for Dec. 14-18, 2009 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino’s Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

The top three men and top three women finishers at the Team USA Trials will earn automatic spots on Team USA, while the National Selection Committee will pick two additional men and two additional women to join the team.

Team USA will represent the United States in several international events throughout 2010, including the World Men’s Championships, the Pan American Bowling Confederation Women’s Championships and the QubicaAMF World Cup.

For more information on the Team USA program or for entry information for the USBC Team USA Trials, visit BOWL.com.

Congratulations to High Roller Pro Shop, who, to a bowler, averaged around 228 for their combined 12 games. Scratch.

Additional, a hearty congratulations to Andy Parker and Jane Bloom for their 1516 total. It nearly smacked as a walk-away, until Lisa and Kevin Rogers made their near-snatch of the title and fell only 4 pins short,  at 1512.

Congratulations to all participants for a well attended tournament that saw an increase in doubles entries and only a slight decrease in total team entries.

• Click here for complete Official Team Results
• Click here for complete Official Doubles Results

Prize checks will be mailed the week of Nov. 9th. Thanks again to everyone that participated.

The event was designed to give coaches and bowling enthusiasts a closer look at the unique two-handed style that is sweeping the globe and also give participants a chance to revolutionize their own games with on-lane coaching from Belmonte and Kearney as well as United States Bowling Congress coaches Bryan O’Keefe and Stefanie Nation.

The group spent more than an hour on the lanes with youth and adult bowlers of all ages and skill levels from 13 Detroit-area bowling centers, answered questions submitted by the participants and signed autographs. The youth bowlers then returned to the lanes for a scholarship tournament.

The Next Revolution event even featured a few local two-handed bowlers who enjoyed the opportunity to get tips from a two-handed pioneer. In the two-handed approach, the bowler swings the ball with both hands until the release point. This style generates considerably more revolutions as the ball rolls down the lane, resulting in increased pin action.

“It was incredible just to be able to get some feedback from Jason and hear what he thinks,” said Steve Pydyn, a local two-hander who recently watched Belmonte compete at the seven-event Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling in nearby Allen Park, Mich. “He’s a real friendly guy, and this was a great experience.”

The day concluded with a special Baker match that teamed the top two boys and top two girls from each of the scholarship tournament’s two divisions (11 and Under and 12 and Older) with Kearney and Belmonte. Kearney joined the boys, while Belmonte bowled with the girls.

“This was a really fun event,” said 11-year-old Ryan Winters of Livonia. “We worked a little bit on how I push the ball away, which definitely helped. I also was excited about the tournament after.”

Belmonte’s return to the Motor City marked the first of four Next Revolution events scheduled for the Australian. On Sunday, the 26-year-old will team up with Team USA member Diandra Asbaty at Brunswick Zone Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, Ill.

Next Saturday, Belmonte and Colombian star Clara Guerrero will roll into Copperfield Bowling Center in Houston, and then Belmonte will team up with PBA star Chris Barnes at AMF Euless Lanes near Dallas on Sunday.

“The enthusiasm that both the kids and adults here have is more than I ever expected,” Belmonte said. “They just seem to love the game, and they’re so eager to learn, but they’re also here to have fun. Just based on the numbers, I’d say this event is a proven success.”

Belmonte, the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year, became the first two-handed bowler to win a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour event by capturing The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic.

During his journey into the spotlight, Belmonte has competed on six continents, winning on four. He has bowled in more than 30 countries and been named World Bowler of the Year on two occasions.

The schedule for the rest of The Next Revolution events (prices and entry fees have been set by the host bowling centers) is as follows:

SUNDAY, NOV. 1

Brunswick Zone Hawthorn
316 Center Drive
Vernon Hills, IL
367-1600

• Noon – The Next Revolution
  Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty

SATURDAY, NOV. 7

Copperfield Bowling Center
15615 Glen Chase Dr
Houston, TX 77095
550-8710

• Noon – The Next Revolution
  Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Clara Guerrero

SUNDAY, NOV. 8

AMF Euless Lanes
1901 Airport Freeway
Euless, TX 76040
540-0303

• 9 a.m. – USBC Coaching class
• Noon – The Next Revolution
  Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Chris Barnes

For more information about The Next Revolution, visit BOWL.com.

United States Bowling Congress

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.