6
- APRIL 2014
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
New Era Underway At
USBC Women's
Championships
By
and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. -
A new era in
istory was
ushered in Friday at the Reno-Sparks Convention
Center as the 2014 event got underway.
The 95th running of the world's largest participatory
sporting event for women welcomed four-player
teams
for
the first time
and saw the
introduction
of new aver-
age -based
d i v i s i o n s ,
while
the
tournament
made
its
return to an
all -sc ratch
format. The
2014 event
also marks
the first time
the USBC Women's Championships is being held at
the same venue in consecutive years.
The 81-day event is making its record ninth trip to
The Biggest Little City in the World and will run until
the final ball is thrown June 30. A total of 39 teams
competed on the opening squad, and the 44-lane
venue was filled with friends, family members and
bowling fans.
Hundreds were in attendance to participate in the
Opening-Day festivities, which included a ribbon cut-
ting, traditional Mass Ball Shot Ceremony and live
entertainment from the Eldorado's "Ring of Fire," a
musical based on the career of American singer-
songwriter Johnny Cash.
Two of the members of
the
Shan-
non Thompson of Spring
Creek, Nev., and 1999
Classic Team titlist Barb
Demorest of Bellingham,
Wash., threw out the cere-
monial first balls, and both
managed to strike to help
signify the official beginning
of the 2014 event.
The Fabulous Four ex-
perience gave four breast
cancer survivors the
chance to tour the head-
quarters of Susan G. Komen(r) and the International
Bowling Campus and finish the experience by com-
peting in Reno at the Women's Championships. The
four were selected from a pool of hundreds of appli-
cants, who submitted essays for the contest.
"I've bowled off and on, so I kind of knew what to
expect, but I never bowled in a venue that had been
built specifically for it," said Demorest, who made her
eighth Women's Championships appearance. "I was
thrilled to see the venue, but to be part of the open-
ing ceremonies was the best. To be able to throw out
one of the first balls was an honor and privilege I
never expected, and I will treasure it forever."
Competition at the Women's Championships will
continue with doubles and singles Saturday morning
but take a break
for a few days
between April
14-18 to wel-
c o m e
t h e
XBowling Inter-
collegiate Team
and
Singles
Championships
to the RSCC.
The top men's
and women's
collegiate pro-
grams and indi-
viduals will vie
for national ti-
tles, and all qualifying action will be shown live on
BowlTV. The finals will be nationally-televised, airing
on Tuesday nights in May at 8 p.m. EDT on the CBS
Sports Network.
Reno also is home to the 2014
which kicked off at the National Bowling
Stadium on Feb. 28 and will conclude July 13. The
USBC Queens, Senior Queens and Senior Champi-
onships also will take place at the 78-lane NBS in
late June and early July.
Presenting sponsors for the 2014 USBC Women's
Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldo-
rado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort
Casino Reno.
D E L O R E S B . M I L L E R
August 17, 1933 - March 27, 2014
MILLER, DELORES (DEE) BROKEY
Delores, 80, passed away Thursday March 27, 2014 in to
the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Her husband of more than 60 years, Gary Miller held
her hand as her spirit departed her for Heaven. Delores
leaves behind her sister, Juanita Brokey, children Mark
Miller, Dana Miller-Mackie and Mike Miller, grand-
daughter, Adrienne Hare and great grand-daughter,
Ellie Hare, along with their spouses, Jeanne, Steve,
Mary and Brian respectively. She was a teacher/
educator and a beautician before becoming the first
woman professional bowler in New Mexico. Delores was
well-known for her many acts of kindness to family,
friends and strangers alike, always carrying a smile to
brighten one's day. In the past number of years,
Delores remained greatly courageous as she battled ill
health. Through it all, Delores always put on a brave
face, inspiring to all who knew of her struggles. On her
children's social media pages, Delores and the family
has received hundreds of messages from all over Amer-
ica and around the world, indicating how many lives
her positive outlook on life touched in so many ways.
Delores - you are missed now, and will be missed al-
ways. We can't wait to see you in Heaven. Love and
peace be yours now and forever. Thank you for all you
did to make our lives easier to bear on Earth.
guest book:
guestbook.aspx?n=delores-miller&pid=170418086
From The Editor: Dee Miller was an amazing woman.
She touched your heart in a way that I will never for-
get. Class Act a lady that was truly an Ambassador for
the sport of bowling and life itself.
Condolences to her family.
