What better way to kick off a new year of bowling news than to offer some suggestions for resolutions to
be a better bowler in the coming year.
Regular readers will no doubt recall seeing some of these ideas in previous columns, but like most bad
habits, we all sometimes need a reminder.
¥ Resolve to improve your single-pin spare conversions. It’s really sad how many we, this columnist
included, miss considering most single pins can be converted by targeting more than two widths of a
bowling ball. (Nearly a full ball width to the left and right, as well as the entire width of the pin.)
Don’t try to hook the ball at a single pin, use a straight ball delivery.
¥ Resolve to be ready to bowl when it is your turn. It is not fair to anyone to keep people waiting while
you socialize. It is especially rude to any team that might follow on your pair in a following league.
Despite a somewhat common misconception, there is no rule requiring a lead-off bowler to wait until the
anchor on their team bowls the previous frame in order to begin.
¥ Resolve to be a better sport by complimenting all other bowlers on their efforts, and win or lose,
extend a greeting to the opposing team after your match.
¥ Resolve to be careful this winter about tracking snow and ice into the bowling centers, especially the
bowlers’ area. Clean the snow from shoes and boots at the door, and let them dry completely before going
into the bowlers’ area. Remove outside footwear away from the lanes.
¥ Resolve to keep negative emotions in check. Profanity and offensive gestures are not needed, and don’t
improve your game. More importantly, hitting or kicking equipment and fixtures in the bowling center is
totally unacceptable. This would include, but not limited to, ball returns, scoring units, tables,
chairs, etc. Having to pay for the repair or replacement of the bowling center property is a high price
to pay for getting mad
Sweeper results: In a very close finish Jeff Kruzel, Toledo, edged Brent Norris of Bowling Green by four
pins to win the New Year’s Eve Day mini sweeper at Varsity Lanes.
The bowlers were tied entering the fifth and final game of the event. Kruzel shot a final 237 game for a
1,086 total; while Norris concluded with a 233 for 1,082. Norris got off to a slow start at 173, but had
a 279 third game to compensate. The champion also recorded high games of 235 and 216.
Kruzel earned $200; while Norris pocketed $150.
USBC awards: Billy Cook, bowling in the Monday Night Trio at Varsity Lanes, rolled a 290 game last week
and earned the United States Bowling Congress 11-in-row award.
High Rollers:
Bowler (Lanes)
Game Series
House shot
Nick Smith (V) 289 803,
1072
Brian Dimick (A) 300 747
Chris Black (V) 300 –
Brian Close (V) 300 –
Dan Hines (V) – 772
Tyler Gilbert (V) – 750
Billy Cook (V) 290 –
Mark Wolford Sr. (A) 277 –
Roger Pierstorff (A) 275 –
Pancha Melendrez (A)
241,235 678
Yogi Lorenzen (A) 253 653,
837
MaryAnn Dimick (A) 234 647
MaryAnn Dimick (A) 246 633
Yogi Lorenzen (A) 227 –
Cyndee Boyd (A) 226 –
National tourney shot
Steve Etzel (A) – 710
Steve Jakubowski (A) 268 –
