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TVASKA EXTENDS PARTICIPATION RECORD AT USBC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

EL PASO, Texas - Mini Tvaska of St. Petersburg, Fla., extended her own participation record at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships as she took to the tournament lanes for her 64th consecutive appearance Tuesday.

 

The 92-year-old right-hander claimed the record during the 2008 event in Detroit when she competed for the 62nd time. Prior to that appearance, she shared the mark with Mary Covell of Chicago, who made her 61st appearance at the 1992 tournament in Lansing, Mich. In the 91-year history of the event, only four bowlers have reached 60 years of participation.

 

Tvaska's tournament career began at the 1947 USBC Women's Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. She has competed in 48 different cities and 28 states.

 

For her ceremonial march down Center Aisle at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, Tvaska was escorted by Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson and offered several words of encouragement as she addressed the bowlers after receiving her commemorative plaque and a gift courtesy of the city of El Paso.

 

"I'm glad to be here this year," said Tvaska, who bowls league at Sunrise Lanes in St. Petersburg. "I hope everybody bowls well today, and I'll see you next year."

 

Although Tvaska has become accustomed to the spotlight she receives at the Women's Championships, she is still humble, gracious and even a little embarrassed about the attention.

 

"I appreciate everybody making a big deal of me, but I still can't believe I'm important," Tvaska said. "I didn't do much in my life. I didn't even bowl good scores. I was a mediocre ball player, ice skater and everything, so I do feel very honored to walk down the Center Aisle."

 

Once the presentations, awards and recognition are aside, Tvaska still puts forth her best effort on the lanes. She enjoys the camaraderie and the chance to talk about bowling with everyone she can.

 

"I still come, and I still try to bowl well, but if you look at my record, I'm sure it's bad," Tvaska said. "But I still come and try every year. I think I make it because I really enjoy it, and its fun, and I just really like to talk about bowling when I'm here."

 

Tvaska keeps active by bowling in two leagues during the winter season and still enjoys the responsibility of handling her duties as team captain for her team, Sunshine Gals.

 

"I still try to be the captain, but I get some help," Tvaska said. "They can't drop me off of the team that way. I keep saying that as a joke, but the girls I bowl with are great."

 

Tvaska has kept her participation streak alive despite a few close calls. She arrived at the 2001 event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., her 55th tournament, without a team. A severely injured shoulder nearly caused her to miss her record-tying 61st appearance in 2007. This year, she needed to ask her teammates what pins she left due to diminishing eyesight.

 

With such circumstances unable to stop her, she has her sights set on the 2011 event in Syracuse, N.Y.

 

"My goal is to always try and make it to the WIBC (now Women's Championships)," said Tvaska, who bowled in Syracuse for the 1954 Women's Championships. "It's gotten so that I have to make it, so I want to make it to Syracuse."

 

Tvaska finished her 2010 trip by completing all nine games of competition for the first time since the 2006 tournament at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. With an entering average of 104, she was placed into the Sapphire Division and received an additional 46 pins of handicap per game.

 

She rolled a 431 series in team, 376 in singles and 366 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,173. All scores include handicap.

 

The Sapphire Division is made up of bowlers with averages of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.

 

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 

For more information on the USBC Women's Championships, visit USBCwomenschampionships.com.

 

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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.

 

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2010 USBC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

At El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, El Paso, Texas

 

(Top 5 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls)

 

SCRATCH

 

Team

1, Bowlers Choice Pro Shop (Sue Jeziorski, Nikki Lunsford, Sue Nawojski, Michelle Sterner, Liz Johnson), Tonawanda, N.Y., 3,424. 2, Great Balls of Fire, Peekskill, N.Y., 3,351. 3 (tie), Barry Ashers Embroidery, Arlington, Texas, and Together Once Again, Keller, Texas, 3,345. 5, BowlersMAP, Grand Prairie, Texas, 3,339.

 

Doubles

1, Carol Gianotti, Henderson, Nev./Missy Klug, Macomb, Mich., 1,431. 2, Jessica Baker, Bel Aire, Kan./Sandra Gongora, Wichita, Kan., 1,407. 3, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas/Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 1,406. 4, Paola Gomez, Weston, Fla./Kari Schwager, Rogers Park, Ill., 1,400. 5, Laurie Soto, Castaic, Calif./Paula Vidad, Sun City, Calif., 1,380.

 

Singles

1, Tennelle Milligan, Arlington, Texas, 779. 2, Sharon Aston, La Grange, Ky., 771. 3, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 750. 4 (tie), April Costa, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Kim Wirth, Hopkins, Minn., 749.

 

All-events

1, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 2,330. 2, Tennelle Milligan, Arlington, Texas, 2,149. 3, Shannon Pluhowsky, Kettering, Ohio, 2,144. 4, Leanne Hulsenberg, Roseville, Calif., 2,136. 5, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,115.

 

DIAMOND

 

Team

(For bowlers with combined averages of 900 and higher, with handicap based on 100 percent of 1,100 for the team set)

1, Bowlers Choice Pro Shop (Sue Jeziorski, Nikki Lunsford, Sue Nawojski, Michelle Sterner, Liz Johnson), Tonawanda, N.Y., 3,436. 2, Brunswick Zone Hawthorn, Waukegan, Ill., 3,390. 3, Great Balls of Fire, Peekskill, N.Y., 3,378. 4, All Mixed Up, Chino Hills, Calif., 3,366. 5, Alaska Belles, Seattle, 3,363.

 

Doubles

(For bowlers with combined averages of 360 and higher, with handicap based on 100 percent of 440 for the doubles set)

1, Renee Graham, Seat Pleasant, Md./Felicia Thorpe, Temple Hills, Md., 1,484. 2, Jacqueline Wilson, Oxon Hill, Md./Amber Casey, Clinton, Md., 1,483. 3 (tie) Jessica Baker, Bel Aire, Kan./Sandra Gongora, Wichita, Kan., and Trish Manna/Suzy Minino, Omaha, Neb., 1,452. 5, Pamela Lawrence, Pflugerville, Texas/Lori Thompson, Cedar Park, Texas, 1,450.

 

Singles

(For bowlers with an average of 180 and higher, with handicap based on 100 percent of 220 for the single set)

1, Kim Wirth, Hopkins, Minn., 785. 2, Tennelle Milligan, Arlington, Texas, 779. 3, Sharon Aston, La Grange, Ky., 777. 4, Kris Higgs, Orangevale, Calif., 769. 5, April Costa, West Palm Beach, Fla., 764.

 

All-events

(For bowlers with an average of 180 and higher, with handicap based on 100 percent of 220 for all nine games)

1, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 2,330. 2, Sandra Gongora, Wichita, Kan., 2,226. 3 (tie) Kriss Higgs, Orangevale, Calif., and Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 2,210. 5 (tie), Andrea Snyder, Pomona, Calif., and Sherri Rhule, Loveland, Colo., 2,177.

 

RUBY

 

Team

(For bowlers with a combined average of 750-899, with handicap based on 100 percent of 900 for the team set)

1, Sportspage (Alice Toivari, Karla Schneider, Doris Parenteau, Celia Heikkila, Kim Pierzina), Embarrass, Minn., 2,790. 2, Hector Legion, Hector, Minn., 2,787. 3 (tie), Comstock House Lipchix, Big Rapids, Mich., and Ampride, Lexington, Neb., 2,772. 5, Ressler Toyota, Belgrade, Mont., 2,771.

 

Doubles

(For bowlers with a combined average of 300-359, with handicap based on 100 percent of 360 for the doubles set)

1, Jennifer Holmes, Cadillac, Mich./Sandy Upleger, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,224. 2, Dena Neill/Tammie Lynde-Adermann, Sedalia, Mo., 1,212. 3, Kimberly Dauer, Mankato, Minn./Vicky Strassburg, Hanska, Minn., 1,201. 4, Karen Bender, Lansing, Ill./Jodi Phillips, Roscoe, Ill., 1,200. 5, Regi Stone, Coon Rapids, Minn./Lynda Blocker, Senoia, Ga., 1,192.

 

Singles

(For bowlers with an average from 150-179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180 for the singles set)

1, Angie Motzko, Watertown, Minn., 672. 2, Terri McFadden, Boulder, Mont., 670. 3, Debbie Birdwell, Huntsville, Texas, 668. 4, Ilean Mattocks, Henderson, N.C., 662. 5, Karen Brooks, Upper Marlboro, Md., 660.

 

All-events

(For bowlers with an average from 150-179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180 for all nine games)

1, Tina Ingram, Dublin, Calif., 1,874. 2, Emily Milbank, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,834. 3, Holly Turrentine, Irving, Texas, 1,833. 4, Dolly Zadina, Omaha, Neb., 1,819. 5, Ilean Mattocks, Henderson, N.C., 1,818.

 

SAPPHIRE

 

Team

(For bowlers with a combined average of 749 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 750 for the team set)

1, Chick-A-Boom, (Illa Hodges, Rosie Martinez, Lissa Currin, Linda Arnold, Mary Ann Martinez), Bloomfield, N.M., 2,424. 2, Just Random, Fremont, Neb., 2,381. 3, Lake Lizards, Champlin, Minn., 2,375. 4, Bootheel Bowlers, Playas, N.M., 2,362. 5, Badgers Babes, Madison, Wis., 2,355.

 

Doubles

(For bowlers with a combined average of 299 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 300 for the doubles set)

1, Rebecca Uraine/ Norine Lehar, Tucson, Ariz., 1,068. 2, Maureen Thate/Dee Craft, Bermuda, 1,044. 3, Linda Kiewel/Tricia Rigsby, Salem, Ore., 1,042. 4, Patti Poillucci, Cadiz, Ohio/Alicia Frey, Saint Clairsville, Ohio, 1,035. 5, Kay Olynec, Shohola, Pa./Jeanne Steuhl, Milford, Pa., 1,032.

 

Singles

(For bowlers with an average of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150 for the singles set)

1, Robin Farrish, El Paso, Texas, 625. 2, Kasey Peed, Craig, Colo., 589. 3 (tie), Melanie Smith, Euless, Texas, and Tami Stockman, Colonie, N.Y., 571. 5 (tie), Ela Palacios, Atwood, Colo., and Karen Milliorn, Las Cruces, N.M., 568.

 

All-events

(For bowlers with an average of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150 for all nine games)

1, Pam Laudenslager, St. Augustine, Fla., 1,653. 2, Robin Farrish, El Paso, Texas, 1,638. 3, Nicole Newman, White Lake, Mich., 1,604. 4, Nancy Prizler, Austin, Minn., 1,602. 5, Michelle Larson, Cozad, Neb., 1,595.

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