Page 7 - nov2012
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NOVEMBER 2012 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
A R L I N G T O N ,
Texas - Families and
friends will have the
opportunity to travel
together and share
the lanes in a variety
of fun and exciting
events with the United States Bowling Con-
gress
nd
Championships both headed to
the same host city for the first time in their storied histo-
ries.
Both championships will be held in Reno, Nev., and the
menu of side events will provide something for bowlers of
all skill levels. In addition to the Storm Bowlers Journal
Championships presented by USBC, there will be two new
side tournaments - the 900 Global Two-Game Challenge
and the Who's Got the Look Baker Bonanza presented by
900
Global.
All three side events will be held inside the one-of-a-
kind National Bowling Stadium.
The Stadium, in the first phase of a multi-million-dollar
renovation and upgrade, will host the Open Champion-
ships, while the Women's Championships will be con-
tested on 44 specially-constructed lanes across town at
the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Here's what's happening along with the USBC Open
and Women's Championships in Reno in 2013:
The first phase of upgrades to the Stadium will include
10
new 900 Global Showcase Lanes on the ground floor.
The lanes will be an expansion of the popular Showcase
Lanes concept USBC introduced during the 2012 Open
Championships in Baton Rouge, La.
*
Competitors can receive coaching from a USBC Sil-
ver coach
*
Bowlers and their teams can practice on the Open
Championships or Women's Championships lane condi-
tions
*
Showcase Lanes access again will be a highlight of
the VIP program
*
Both 900 Global side events will be held on the Show-
case Lanes
Bowlers looking for some quick fun can compete in this
two-game event that puts them against competitors with
similar averages. The payouts are more frequent, and the
fast format can be used as a warm-up before heading
upstairs to bowl in the Open Championships or across
town for the Women's Championships.
*
Three divisions: Eagle (200 and above); Train (176-
199);
Sure Thing (175 and below)
*
Entry fee is only $40
*
Unique two-game format
*
Daily payouts and yearlong prizes in every division
This yearlong event will put an emphasis on team play
and utilize a customized Baker format. Each team will
consist of three players, with each bowling three frames.
The team then will decide "Who's Got the Look" and that
team member will bowl the 10th frame. Each team mem-
ber must bowl at least one 10th frame.
*
Teams will bowl five Baker games
*
Entry fee is $60 per team
*
Three divisions: 600 and above; 526-599; 525 and
below
*
Guaranteed first prize of $3,333 in top division,
$1,111 in 526-599 division and $777 in 525 and below
*
Cash ratio of 1:5
*
Special prize fund for teams consisting of three
women
As the presenting sponsor for the two downstairs side
events, 900 Global also will have the opportunity to show
off its product line. For one hour in the morning (9:30-
10:30
a.m.) and one hour each afternoon (1:30-2:30 p.m.)
on the 900 Global Showcase Lanes, bowlers will have the
chance to learn about and throw the newest 900 Global
balls.
"
As bowlers, we go to the Open Championships for the
competition and the unmatchable environment, and we're
looking forward to helping enhance the tournament experi-
ence this year with more opportunities to compete while in
town," 900 Global's Dave Smart said. "The new side
events offer something for everyone, and the unique for-
mats are going to be a lot of fun. Along with the chance to
win some prize money, the bowlers really will enjoy them-
selves."
Big Names Cruise At Storm National Mixed
Championships
RENO, Nev. - As the final weekend of the 2012 Storm National Mixed Championships nears, the standings are taking
shape as bowlers make their way to the National Bowling Stadium for one last shot at tournament history.
The 2012 event has seen adult, senior and youth competitors’ race towards the top of the leader board, which in-
cludes some of the biggest names in the sport's history.
United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers Betty Morris-Laub of Lincoln, Calif., Virginia Norton of Cypress, Calif.,
and Vesma Grinfelds of San Francisco have all taken to the lanes at the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins" and find themselves
near or in the top spot in several events.
Morris-Laub is leading the Senior Singles Women's Scratch division with a 660 series, and teamed up with Bill Nichols
of Roseville, Calif., to grab the lead in Senior Doubles Scratch with 1,332. She also sits in third place in Senior Singles
Women's Handicap with a 708 handicap score. Karla Alsgood of Rio Linda, Calif., currently leads with 735.
Norton and Grinfelds fell just shy of the All-Events Women's Scratch lead, which is currently held by Brenda Burns of
Peoria, Ariz., with a 1,796 total. Norton sits in second with 1,785, while Grinfelds is third with 1,774.
Norton grabbed two other spots in the top five as she moved into third place of Mixed Doubles Scratch with Goodman
Ng of San Francisco with a 1,271 combined score and took over fourth place in Mixed Singles Women's Scratch with a
625
series.
The National Mixed Championships, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, began on Aug. 1 and came to a close
Sunday, Nov. 4.
Inside A Champion
At 18 years of age Robin Romeo had become the one to watch in the New
York bowling arena when her mother Joan and dad Raymond announced that
the family was moving to California! The Romeo family lived in Mamaroneck,
New York and her mother had an offer to work with a production company in
California. Her father had been in San Diego in the Marines and had always
had a yen to return to California as he was not crazy about the cold New York
winters. After adjusting to the shock and some tearful moments Robin de-
cided she was simply
not going
.
None of this mattered – the family was going
without her. There was a little encouragement from her 21-year old sister
Debbie who also decided to secede and the girls moved in with their grand-
mother.
Robin had been bowling since she was six, starting as a two hander under
her mother’s wing as league coordinator and the taste of winning started with
her first participation in league when her team won the league. She would
later often repeat, ―Winning never gets old.‖ At 13 years old she caught the
eye of Pro Shop owner Bob Materasso and Journalist Pearl Keller who saw
her potential and coached and mentored her and she continued to excel.
―
Robin was a natural athlete and could have been good at anything she tried,‖
said her mother. ―She swam, she played baseball, tennis, field hockey, she
was MVP of her high school bowling team and was always a top performer…
but she loved bowling most.‖ In the early years she would watch her dad
bowl and waitress for extra money – so she could bowl. Born with a floating
kneecap, this came to light as she participated in more competition. A rabid
Jets fan, she was fortunate enough to get an appointment with a noted N.Y
Jets orthopedic surgeon who gave her an extensive exercise program to heal
it.
Materasso says he was not sure about ―natural‖ as far as ability is con-
cerned. The 85-year old Materasso lives in the Bronx in New York and is still
teaching young people because he loves it. A former PBA member and Pro
Shop owner, he said the shop was just to supplement his income as Deputy
Chief of the Explosive Unit for the Fire Department. He felt Robin could do
anything she wanted because she worked at it. If she couldn’t get something
she worked and worked until she got it. More than a natural – he said she
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Continued on page 10)
900
Global Showcase Lanes
