Page 31 - bwapr2013

APRIL 2013 -www.bowlingworld.com31
ARLINGTON, Texas - Joey Kopera of Orland Park, Ill., a freshman at St. Ambrose University, has
been selected as the 2013 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award recipient.
The annual award recognizes star qualities, including distinguished bowling performance, aca-
demic achievement and civic involvement, in a male high school or college student who competes in
bowling. The award winner is determined by the United States Bowling Congress Youth Committee.
"It is such an honor, a great privilege and an awesome responsibility to know that I will be in-
cluded in the history of the USBC with so many other important names," Kopera said.
Kopera is the only freshman starter on the men's bowling team at St. Ambrose University in Dav-
enport, Iowa. He recently qualified for the xbowling Intercollegiate Singles Championships and
helped St. Ambrose reach the 16-team men's field for the 2013 xbowling Intercollegiate Team Cham-
pionships.
He is a nursing major at St. Ambrose and, once he receives his RN certification, aims to work
toward a doctorate degree.
"After college, bowling will continue to be an important part of my life," Kopera said. "I want to
bowl in PBA regionals and, hopefully, beyond. I also hope to hold a position within the bowling in-
dustry one day."
Kopera graduated from Carl Sandburg High School in 2012, compiling a 3.29 grade-point aver-
age. He was a four-year starter on the boys bowling team and was team captain his last two sea-
sons. He won the Illinois High School Association state individual title his senior season after a fifth-
place finish his junior year. He also competed in the 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold Championships,
finishing seventh.
He began bowling at age 3 and immediately felt a connection to the sport. He said the self-
confidence, lessons and work ethic learned on the lanes helped him throughout his education.
In addition to bowling, fishing is another passion. Kopera shared his love of both with youngsters
in his hometown. He coached for six years in Orland Bowl's Bowlopolis program for beginning bowl-
ers and participated in the parks program's fishing derby.
"When I was young, I learned early on that with patience and lots of hard work, great goals and
achievements could be attained," Kopera said. "I then learned how important it is to introduce the
next generation to the exciting achievements they can experience. That's why I am especially hon-
ored to receive an award named for a man who dedicated his life toward helping youth bowlers."
The Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award is named for the former Young American Bowling Alli-
ance Executive Director who spent much of his life helping young people through his association
with junior bowling.
For being selected for the award, Anderson will receive a $6,000 scholarship that will be formally
presented at the 2013 USBC Convention in Reno, Nev.
ARLINGTON, Texas - The field of 24 men and 16 women who will compete for individual national
championships was determined Friday at four 2013 xbowling Intercollegiate Singles Championships
sectional qualifiers.
The Intercollegiate Singles Championships will take place April 16 and 20 at Sun Valley Lanes in
Lincoln, Neb., with the men's and women's finals broadcast on CBS Sports Network in May.
Qualifying for the national finals was held in Allentown, Pa.; Fairview Heights, Ill.; Smyrna, Tenn.;
and Las Vegas. All participants bowled six games with the top four women at each site advancing.
The number of men's advancers was based on entries in each sectional. Seven men from Smyrna
and Fairview Heights advanced, while six from Allentown and four from Las Vegas moved on to
bowl for the national title.
Stephen Conn of Morehead State led the men's division in Allentown with 1,367 (227.8 average)
and advanced along with Cody Reichenberger of Webber International, Cruise Webster of Webber
International, Matt Krueger of Viterbo, Jonathan Trzcinski of Webber International and Paul Gar-
wood of William Paterson.
In Smyrna, Andy Mills of Viterbo led the field with 1,396 (232.6 average). Also advancing were
Derek Phillips of Martin Methodist, Jeremy Zimmerly of Lindenwood, Brady Colip of Purdue, Brock
Finch of Urbana, Adam Johnson of McKendree and Graham Fach of Urbana.
In the highest-scoring men's sectional, Aaron Lorincz of Saginaw Valley State totaled 1,474
(245.6 average) to take the top spot in Fairview Heights. Joining Lorincz in Lincoln will be Joey
Kopera of St. Ambrose, Marshall Kent of Robert Morris-Illinois, Brandon Barboza of William Penn,
Tylor Greene of Robert Morris-Illinois, Ronnie Fujita of Lindenwood and Jacob Kent of Robert Morris
-Illinois.
Wichita State's Francois Lavoie earned top honors in Las Vegas with a total of 1,351 (225.1 aver-
age) and advanced along with Christopher Davidson of Fresno State, Devin Bidwell of Wichita State
and Jacob Boresch of Clarke.
On the women's side, Alexa Anderson of Webber International fired a 296 game en route to win-
ning the Allentown sectional with 1,312 (218.6 average). Kaitlin Mayall of Webber International,
Jackie Carbonetto of Sacred Heart and Samantha Morlack of Adelphi also advanced.
Lindenwood's Samantha Johnson shot 1,269 (221.5 average) to lead in Smyrna. Erin
Michelfelder of Lindenwood, Carrie Hopkinson of Florida A&M and Jessica Earnest of Vanderbilt
also moved on.
In Fairview Heights, Morgan O'Brien of Clarke took top honors with a total of 1,319 (219.8) and
advanced along with Breanne Underwood of William Penn, Lizabeth Kuhlkin of Nebraska and Kris-
tina Mickelson of Nebraska.
Wichita State pulled of the sweep of all four spots in Las Vegas with Alexis Ijams taking the top
spot with 1,321 (220.1 average). Her Shockers teammates Daria Kovalova, Jazreel Tan and Tannya
Roumimper also advanced.
For more information and complete results from the xbowling Intercollegiate Singles Champion-
ships and the Sectional Qualifiers, visit BOWL.com/Collegiate.
Field Set For 2013 Xbowling
Intercollegiate Singles Championships
St. Ambrose Freshman Is Chuck Hall
Award Recipient
On her 100th birthday, she
told The Telegraph that she
planned to bowl as long as
she can pick up and throw the
ball.
Senior League Secretary
Jim Tallman recalled when
Gill bowled a triplicate, three
games, each totaling 100,
when she was older than 100.
The feat was made more rare
by the fact that she was a
centenarian when she accom-
plished it.
"She is legally blind," he
said. "She sees the spots on
the floor. We keep track of
her."
Patsy Forbes, a former
neighbor of Gill's, gives her a
ride to the bowling alley. They
were neighbors when Gill
used to own a beauty shop in
her home in Dow.
"I've known her since I was
15," Forbes said. "She used to
be a hairdresser. She's the
only one who could cut it like I
want."
Gill said she was a hair-
dresser at the former Green-
wood Manor nursing home in
Jerseyville for many years,
working until she was 86.
"I get by," she said. "I feel
pretty blessed. I have a pace-
maker and high blood pres-
sure. I take medicine. I have a
nice apartment (in Jersey-
ville)."
Forbes said her friend
knows where to stand when
she is bowling, and she uses
a 10-pound ball.
"Her mind is excellent,"
Forbes said. "She knows what
she did last week, where the
alley is and has an all-white
ball, which is easy to find. She
is really sharp, up on every-
thing."
Forbes thinks her friend is
amazing. She said Gill would
like to bowl more often. She is
in pretty good health, although
she does have a pacemaker.
She is independent.
"She crochets and makes
afghans," Forbes said. "She
has a magnifying glass. She
loves to keep bowling scores."
Her bowling buddies
helped her celebrate her mile-
stone birthday and there was
a potluck meal and a cake.
One of the ministers at the
church she attends, pastor the
Rev. Dennis Hill, sang "Happy
Birthday" to her, which she
enjoyed. She still attends
Jerseyville United Methodist
Church, and said she goes
every Sunday by bus.
Gill married her husband,
Mason, in 1926, and he died
in 1965. Their sons are Ron
and Bob Gill.
"I went to school in Alton,"
she said. "We were married
young. I lived at 1000 State
Street, close to Downtown
Alton."
She worked at Olin, for-
merly Western, for 17 years.
She recalls riding by train and
streetcar.
"We went on the train from
Alton to East Alton," she said.
(Continued from page 30)
Power Of The Pins
1964 Ann Bosworth, Belleville, Ill.
1965 Karen Linton, El Paso, Texas
1966 Betty Jo Crow, Fairway, Kan.
1967 Mildred Ignizio, Rochester, N.Y.
1968 Pamela Carver, Phoenix, Ariz.
1969 Janice Sue Reichley, Dallas
1970 Cheryl Robinson, Destrehan, La.
1971 Rosalyn Raab, San Antonio, Texas
1972 Karen Gustafson, Sunland, Calif.
1973 Leslie Ferris, Arlington, Va.
1974 Pam Dusek, Ontario, Calif.
1975 Donna Adamek, Apple Valley, Calif.
1976 Regina Loveall, Amarillo, Texas
1977 Kathy Kirst, San Antonio, Texas
1978 Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif.
1979 Audrey Gable, Whitehall, Pa.
1980 Tish Johnson, Panorama City, Calif.
1981 Shelley Johnson, Toledo, Ohio
1982 Vicki Parker, Pelham, N.H.
1983 Laura Dulisse, Blauvelt, N.Y.
1984 Kristine Gross, Citrus Heights, Calif.
1985 Becky Kregling, Stratford, Conn.
1986 Lori Benge, Wichita, Kan.
1987 Dionne Lee, Modesto, Calif.
1988 Lynda Norry, Concord, Calif.
1989 Stefanie Marek, Wilmington, Del.
1990 Kelly Everding, Arvada, Colo.
1991 Laura Ross, Mahwah, N.J.
1992 Kari Murph, Dayton, Ohio
1993 Elizabeth Johnson, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
1994 Pamela Inloes, Modesto, Calif.
1995 Kassy Hyman, Dyer, Ind.
1996 Michelle Ewald, St. Claire Shores, Mich.
1997 Kimberly Claus, Mesquite, Texas
1998 Diandra Hyman, Dyer, Ind.
1999 Amy Rocco, Phoenix
2000 Robin Crawford, Hendersonville, Tenn.
2001 Melissa Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.
2002 Anita Manns, Austin, Texas
2003 Lindsey Coulles, Centerville, Ohio
2004 Amanda Burgoyne, Newport, Minn.
2005 Cassandra Leuthold, Blackhawk, S.D.
2006 Josie Earnest, Vandalia, Ill.
2007 Joi Bell, Pflugerville, Texas
2008 Brittni Hamilton, Webster, N.Y.
2009 Ricki Williams, Wichita, Kan.
2010 Heather D'Errico, Rochester, N.Y.
2011 Nicole Mosesso, Centerville, Ohio
2012 Megan Buja, Rockford, Ill.
2013 Melanie Hannon, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
(Continued from page 29)
Alberta E. Crowe Star Of Tomorrow Award