ROSSFORD – Bowling has long been considered a family sport and Sue Pinski knows that as well as anyone.
Her devotion to the family business recently earned her selection as the 2015 United States Bowling
Congress Proprietor of the Year.
With nearly 5,000 bowling centers across the country, Pinski, the owner/operator of Interstate Lanes in
Rossford, was the one chosen.
"It’s a huge honor for Sue," said Pat Marazzi, executive director for Bowling Centers
Association of Ohio.
Pinski, a Perrysburg resident, said she repeatedly asked, "Are you sure you have the right
person?" Adding, "I could name hundreds of proprietors more deserving."
Almost apologizing, Pinski said, "It’s surreal. I’m blown away by it. I still can’t wrap my head
around it."
Marazzi appreciates the efforts of Pinski at all levels of the sport and rattled off a litany of reasons
she earned the distinction.
She cited Pinski’s progressive ideas, her work within the community, and her investment of time and money
in the center.
"She is devoted to customer service there. She knows her bowlers." Marazzi said. "She’s
out in the community and supports community projects – that’s huge."
All of those together, along with Pinski’s talent on the lanes, helps give her credibility according to
Marazzi.
"I’m a huge Sue Pinski fan. When people look at her, they see she’s the total package."
The USBC award annually recognizes a bowling center proprietor for outstanding support of USBC local,
state and/or national association programs as selected by the USBC Board of Directors based on submitted
nominations.
Beyond the bowling center, Pinski has stepped up as a leader in the industry.
Interstate Lanes has served as host to local and state tournaments, including the Ohio State USBC
Championship team event, and the team event and Queens for the Ohio USBC WBA. The center actively
promotes programs to draw in new bowlers and provides incentives to retain current members. In the late
1990s, Pinski was instrumental in having Interstate Lanes be the first center in Ohio to host a national
tournament for what was then the Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour.
She also was among the first proprietors in Ohio to implement the "After School Bus and Bowl"
program and is active in the high school bowling program in Ohio. Her husband, Al, is the coach of the
Perrysburg High School teams. Interstate has hosted countless Northern Lakes League matches and is
regularly a site for sectional and district tournaments for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Howard Teifke, proprietor of Timbers Lanes in Maumee, originally built Interstate and hired Pinski as one
of its managers shortly after it was built.
"She was and still is a people person. You have to like people in the bowling business. You have to
keep up to date and do what is best for the bowlers," Teifke said. "She got to be very active
as a proprietor, and is very interested in promoting bowling."
Personally, Pinski has served as president of the Greater Toledo Bowling Council, was previously selected
as the 2012 Ohio Proprietor of the Year by the BCAO and is an Ohio Bowling Hall of Fame member. She is
currently involved as a trustee for the newly formed Rossford Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Marazzi says she knows the challenges of being a woman in the industry.
"We work in a male-dominated world. This award is chosen by that group so that makes Sue a notch
above," Marazzi said.
She noted various offices and committees toward which Pinski has devoted her time. "At all levels
she stepped up and filled those slots for us."
Beyond the business side, the award strikes a personal chord for Pinski. Her mother, Jerry Trzcinski, got
her started in the sport. Trzcinski served on the state board of directors in her younger days.
Despite some recent health challenges, Trzcinski has promised to be on hand for the award presentation at
the national convention in April in Omaha, Nebraska.
"My family has always been involved in bowling. It seems odd to receive an award for something that
is in your blood and that you enjoy doing," Pinski said."
