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CALIFORNIA BOWLER COMPETES IN 55TH USBC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

EL PASO, Texas - Shirley Schmardel of San Diego joined an elite club at the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships as she made her 55th tournament appearance at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Wednesday.

The 90-year-old right-hander started her USBC Women's Championships career at the 1952 event in St. Louis. During her career, Schmardel has competed in 40 cities and 26 states.

Schmardel, who was inducted in the San Diego USBC Association Hall of Fame in 1970, received her 55-year plaque, a pendant and flowers to commemorate her accomplishment on the tournament lanes. She accepted those awards while wearing the necklace and pendant she received for her 50th tournament appearance in Tulsa, Okla., in 2005.

"I can't believe the flowers," said Schmardel, who also is a member of the Southern California Bowling Writers Hall of Fame. "I don't think I've taken off the necklace I received for 50 years, which is special because it was the last year of the WIBC (Women's International Bowling Congress). I'll have to find a way to get them both on and show them off."

Schmardel recalls her first tournament experience and finds it hard to believe how far she has come over the years.

"Another gal and I drove to St. Louis," said Schmardel, who bowls at Kearny Mesa Bowl in San Diego. "I had heard about the national tournament and just knew I wanted to bowl. I jumped at any chance I had to bowl, but I never thought this day would come. It's been such a fantastic journey."

She has been a director for the San Diego USBC Association for nearly as long as she has competed at the Women's Championships. She was appointed in 1956, and worked alongside a historian to help maintain the record books. She also has spent time as a bowling coach.

Between her years of service to the bowling community and her dedication on the lanes, Schmardel has developed a bond with every bowler she meets. She enjoys the camaraderie and generosity they exhibit.

"I was at the hotel by myself for one of the tournaments, and a group of bowlers just asked me to go out and eat with them," Schmardel said. "When the tournament came around the next year, I ended up bowling with them. The people I've met in bowling have been amazing."

On the tournament lanes in 2010, Schmardel rolled a 400 series in singles, 399 in team and 395 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,194. All scores include handicap.

Schmardel entered the tournament with an average of 138, so she was placed into the Sapphire Division. The Sapphire Division is made up of bowlers with averages of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.

Even at the age of the 90, she still knows what she needs to do to produce on the lanes, and is looking to show off those skills at the 2011 Women's Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.

"When my timing is right, I can bowl pretty well," Schmardel said. "My first shot of team was a beautiful strike. But I'm looking forward to Syracuse. Anything that has to do with bowling, I'll be there."

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 pinfall)

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, Dena Neill/Tammie Lynde-Adermann, Sedalia, Mo., 1,212. 2, Kimberly Dauer, Mankato, Minn./Vicky Strassburg, Hanska, Minn., 1,201. 3, Karen Bender, Lansing, Ill./Jodi Phillips, Roscoe, Ill., 1,200. 4, Regi Stone, Coon Rapids, Minn./Lynda Blocker, Senoia, Ga., 1,192. 5, Gale Bretzke, New Braunfels, Texas/Marjorie Spaeth, San Antonio, 1,191.

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, Ilean Mattocks, Henderson, N.C., 662. 4, Marilyn Campeaux, Covington, La., 652. 5, Marcia Noble, Fort Washington, Md., 651.

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, Dolly Zadina, Omaha, Neb., 1,819. 4, Ilean Mattocks, Henderson, N.C., 1,818. 5 (tie) Cindy Smith, Towanda, Kan., and Kathrine Turner, Clarksville, Mo., 1,812.

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, Applied Controls (Frances Havel, Kathryn McGowan, Stephanie Karsten, Judy Trausch, Marcia Almquist), Grand Island, Neb., 2,584. 2, Chick-A-Boom, Bloomfield, N.M., 2,424. 3, Just Random, Fremont, Neb., 2,381. 4, Lake Lizards, Champlin, Minn., 2,375. 5, Bootheel Bowlers, Playas, N.M., 2,362.

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, Melanie Smith, Euless, Texas, 571. 4, Ela Palacios, Atwood, Colo., 568. 5 (tie), Dawn Palmer, Surprise, Ariz., and Elizabeth Wiggins, Brunswick, Ga., 567

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, Nancy Prizler, Austin, Minn., 1,602. 4, Michelle Larson, Cozad, Neb., 1,595. 5, Elizabeth Wiggins, Brunswick, Ga., 1,587.