Members Of The Guthrie General Bowling Team. Spend Their Summer Vacation, By Winning The Division A AZ State Open Team Title At Brunswick Via Linda Lanes In Scottsdale.
Thanks To Rolling A 3,593 In The Tournament On June 4. This Is Turning Out To Be The Highlight Of All Of Their Bowling Careers Thus Far.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor the tenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Scottsdale - - - If you had heard a big sigh of relief resonating from the East Valley at least twice, and within a span of 30 days. Chances are it was coming from Mike DeCarlo, who is the team captain of Guthrie General.
And, the two reasons why he let these big sighs of relief go, were completely understandable. The first one came around 6:30 pm on Sunday June 18, after AZ State Association Manager, Harold Smith, posted the final unofficial results of the event on its website. The unofficial results showed that Guthrie General was still leading the standings of the Division A team event. The second came on or around 30 days later, when the tournament was finally certified and the final standings were made official.
"We are still a bit stunned about it. We enjoy bowling with each other, so to accomplish this is truly special," said Mike, of his teams performance in the AZ State Open. "To be known as the best team in the state for this year's tournament is a dream come true for all of us. So far, it is the highlight of our bowling careers to date. With the caliber of bowling talent in the state, and the opportunity for people to have multiple re-entries this year, this was a huge accomplishment for each of us. This Championship trumps all the past championships won."
The AZ State Open which is generally bowled for six weeks, runs from mid-May to mid-June. It typically showcases the top bowlers that Arizona has to offer. As well as other recreational bowlers from all walks of life. The tournament was held at AMF Christown in 2016, and Brunswick Via Linda Lanes in Scottsdale this past year.
"We talk about winning every tournament we enter. That is ALWAYS the goal. All of us bowl in at least two leagues a week, with a few guys bowling in three," said Mike, of Guthrie General's pre-tournament prep. "Most of us also find the time to get some practice in, so we can stay sharp and improve. When we practice together, even that becomes a competition."
Guthrie General is a construction general contractor that works mostly in the healthcare sector of the industry. They are a leading contractor in the imaging portion of the industry. Mike DeCarlo is the Field Operations Manager for Guthrie General. Teammates: Tim Borrow is a mechanical engineer. Scott Klein is a General Manager for a supply company. Jacob Meyer works for SRP in the water sector, and Steve Steele is retired.
"We bowled the weekend of June 3 and 4. We didn't think our score of 3,593 would hold up, because of the tremendous talent in the state," said Mike, of Guthrie General's performance in the AZ State Open. "But, when we left Via Linda Lanes that day, we were happy to be leading the event for at least one weekend."
Rounding out the top five in the Division A team event was: Re-Rack, from Tucson 3,559; Ernies Pro Shop, from Sierra Vista 3,530; Pruitts Fine Furniture, from Mesa 3,523; and High Peaks 1 also from Mesa, 3,513. Guthrie General also won the Division A Scratch title as well with a 3,447.
The AZ State Open is not the only bowling tournament you will find Guthrie General bowling in tournaments around Arizona. They have bowled the AZ Senior Tournament, where Mike and Steve Brusso won their Doubles Division. They have bowled in the MMA Senior and Open Tournaments. And The Sun City Open. In 2016 Mike and Tim won the doubles event, while Mike also took home the singles title. They have also bowled in the Valley of the Sun, as well as the Phoenix Senior and Open Tournaments where they have had varying degrees of success.
"We have bowled as a team for the past two years, but in tournaments for four to five, and have been successful together in that time. What makes us click, is that we get along great and genuinely like each other," explained Mike, of Guthrie General's success. "Yet, we are more concerned with bowling against each other than the team we are bowling against. We are all very competitive, and no one wants to be low man and hear about it for a whole week. Yet again, we encourage and support each other every frame."
It was a good year scoring wise for bowlers who bowled in state tournaments this year. At the AZ State Women's 65th event in April at AMF McRay Lanes in Chandler, there was a 300 and 299 rolled by Emily Orneales of Phoenix, and a 299 rolled by Amanda Falk of Tucson. In the AZ State Open at Via Linda, seven perfect games and two 800 series were rolled. Those who rolled 300 games were: Scott Klein of Guthrie General, Andrew Cain, Clifford Adams, Dennis Nemec, Michael Grzybowski, Bill Spiva, and Eric Trujillo. Brett Wolfe, and Dave Grether shot 800s. Scott finished with a 757 series in the team event. Scott also won the Division A all-events title with a 2,239, and Mike finished fourth at 2,223.
"We found the shot to be challenging. We had to make consistent shots, with consistent speed, or we paid a big price on the back end. Managing the transition was the key," said Mike, of the shot the state put out for the event. "During Scott's 300 game he and I started out with the front nine. Neither of us wanted to lose to the other and thought how great it would be if we both shot a 300 game. I had a split in the ninth, but Scott kept it going. It was an awesome accomplishment for Scott, and the whole team was thrilled for him. The fact that his dad was there watching made it even more special."
As always there is always one shot or one game, that a bowlers would like to have back during a course of a tournament.
"The middle game we shot our lowest score of 1,093," said Mike, of the game he would like to have a second shot at. "Jacob Meyer has been our leader all year, and the guy the rest of us are always chasing. He was having uncharacteristic difficulty with the lane transition that game, but as a team, we battled enough to still have a decent game."
And even though a particular game might not go as well as they would like it to sometimes, they just take it with the grain of salt and move on.
"We think every tournament is a learning experience, even from one day to another. We, like everyone else who is bowling, try to come up with a game plan on how to attack the lanes. But, the best plan seems to be just read your bowling balls reaction," said Mike, of a tournaments ups and downs. "Select the ball you are most comfortable with. Have the most confidence in, and then adjust to what the lanes are telling you."
The five guys are all sanctioned through the Mesa Metro Association in the East Valley of Phoenix. As a team they do their league bowling on Tuesday night in the Construction A Men's League at Brunswick Zone Gilbert XL. And as individuals in the Metro 880 League at Brunswick Zone Mesa, in Mesa on Thursday nights. They finished in second place in the first-half, and in first place the second-half. They were the overall points winner in the Tuesday night league, but lost in the league championship.
"I believe we will approach it like we do every tournament. We will try our best for those days on the lanes, and hope for the best," says Mike, on how GG preps for a tournament. "I know none of us will think that because we won this year, and it will come into play next year. We always believed we could do something like this, but to actually do it is special."
And, what about when they learned they finally had won the Division A Team Championship?
"When we heard the Open was finalized, it was not a relief, but time to celebrate an amazing accomplishment. Most of us have won numerous championships, but we all agree that this was the most special one," said Mike, of being the best team in the State of Arizona in Division A for a year. "Because of what it represents...the best in the State of Arizona for one year... amazing!".
Proof that when the going gets tough in a bowling tournament, the tough always find a way to finish on top of the leader board.
Mesa Bowling News - September 19, 2017