Courtesy Of Mark Kerr Tucson Metro USBC - Photo From Tucson Metro USBC.
HEIDI WOODS AND BENNIE GEMELLO INDUCTED INTO TUCSON METRO USBC HALL OF FAME
By Mark R. Kerr
Tucson Metro USBC President
TUCSON - Tucson Metro USBC held their annual Hall of Fame Ceremony March 1, inducting Heidi Woods and Bennie Gemello for Superior Performance.
The ceremony took place after the conclusion of the final team squad for the 81st Annual Tucson Metro USBC City Open Championships and 75th Annual Women’s Championships at Lucky Strike Bowl.
Both Bennie and Heidi thanked their families, friends, coachesand others for their bowling careers and successes.
BENNIE GEMELLO
Bennie began bowling at the age of 11, encouraged by her father Benedicto and her mother, Virginia. Her competitive fires were lit when her brother came home with a bowling trophy.
It was league bowling, with her parents, where Bennie began to develop her bowling skills.
Bennie bowled City, California State and the Women’s International Bowling Congress Tournament with her mom.
Bennie took part in the California State Queens tournaments and one of her highlights was finishing as the runner-up to Hall of Fame bowler Tish Johnson.
The Western Women’s Professional Tour (WWPT) was next on Bennie’s bowling journey.
She became friends with Hall of Famer Donna “Mighty Mite” Adamek, bowling and cashing in many events on this tour. In addition to Adamek, Bennie bowled with Tish Johnson, Mary Ann Dugan and other women Hall of Fame bowlers on the WWPT. Bennie’s high game on the WWPT was 290.
Bennie came to Tucson in 1993, and it was Hall of Fame bowler, Linda Wallace, who opened doors for her to bowl in the Old Pueblo. Bennie was part of the team of Linda, her husband Eric Hew and Carol Waterick. Her highest score in league play in Tucson was a 299!
Bennie has won an impressive ten City titles. She said her most memorable was the doubles title with JoAnn Warren and the several team titles she won.
Here is Bennie’s record of wins in Tucson tournaments (Tucson Women’s Bowling Association and Tucson Metro USBC):
Women’s City Doubles – Handicap - 2004.
Senior Women’s City All Events Scratch - 2008.
Senior Women’s City Double Event Scratch - 2008.
Senior Women’s City Single Event Scratch - 2008.
Senior Women’s City Single Event - Handicap - 2010.
Women’s City Team Event – Handicap - 2012.
Senior Women’s City Team Event – Scratch - 2015.
Senior Women’s City Doubles Event – Scratch - 2017.
Senior Women’s City Team Event – Scratch - 2017.
Senior Women’s City Team Event – Scratch - 2018.
Bennie continued to bowl on other circuits, cashing in many events, including the Golden Ladies Classic Tournaments. In addition, Bennie has bowled in Nationals for 24 years!
Her daughter Lisa and James Sullivan are two people who still inspire Bennie to continue her bowling career. In addition to bowling, she coached youth bowlers at Tucson Bowl, citing it as one of her memorable experiences.
Bennie has done Tucson proud, as the Old Pueblo’s Mighty Mite of the lanes!
Tucson Metro USBC is proud to induct Bennie Gemello to the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, for her Superior Performance in bowling.
HEIDI WOODS
Heidi started bowling at the age of 6 She made a deal that she would get her first pair of bowling shoes when she had bowled her first 200 game, which occurred at the age of 8.
In 1994, Heidi won the Washington State Queens tournament, as well as the Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour Regional Event that took place in Everett, Washington.
Heidi wanted to continue her education, as well as bowl, so she made a phone call to Wichita State and as fate would have it, was able to talk directly to Gordon Vadakin, the head coach of Wichita State, and made arrangements for a visit and from 1995 through 1999, Heidi bowled for the prestigious Wichita State Shockers bowling program.
At Wichita State, Heidi was a Four Year Academic All American. In 1997, Heidi was named First Team All American, and in 1999, named Great Plains Conference Player of the Year. After college, Heidi moved to Tucson, bowled in league and tournaments.
Heidi has won an amazing 26 Tucson City Titles, including:
Women’s City All Events - Scratch - 2008.
Tucson Metro Queens - 2008.
Women’s City Singles Event - Scratch - 2009.
Women’s City Team Event - Scratch - 2010.
Women’s City Single Event - Scratch - 2010.
Women’s City Doubles Event – Scratch - 2012.
Women’s City Doubles Event – Scratch and Handicap - 2013.
Women’s City All Events – Scratch and Handicap - 2013.
Women’s City Team Event – Scratch and Handicap - 2013.
Women’s City Team Event – Scratch - 2014.
Women’s City Team Event – Scratch and Handicap - 2015.
Women’s City Team Event – Scratch - 2016.
Women’s City Team Event – Handicap - 2018.
Women’s City Singles Event – Scratch - 2019.
Women’s Senior Team Event – Scratch - 2022.
Women’s Senior Doubles Event – Scratch - 2022.
Women’s Senior All Events – Scratch - 2022.
Women’s City Team Event - Scratch - 2023.
Women’s City Singles Events – Scratch - 2024.
Women’s City Team - 2025.
Women’s City Team - Scratch - 2025.
Women’s City Doubles - Scratch 2025.
In addition to her bowling titles, Heidi has bowled seven 300 games, and one 800 series. In 2008, Heidi was awarded the AMAFAC High Average Merit (Highest Avg for an Adult female) award with a 227 Average.
Heidi’s bowling success would not have been possible without the love and support of her Mom and Dad. She says she is very competitive and her biggest love in bowling is to get to bowl with her best friends, which she says is the “greatest thing that bowling has given to me.”
The greatest thing for bowling in Tucson is to get to see Heidi Woods take the lanes and bowl!
Tucson Metro USBC is proud to induct Heidi Woods to the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, for her Superior Performance in bowling.
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Virtue Bowling Supply To Open Its Ninth Location - From Virtue Bowling Supply.
BIG NEWS! We’re expanding!
Scottsdale - - - We’re excited to announce that Virtue Bowling Supply is coming to Bowlero Via Linda! This will be our ninth location in Arizona, and we can’t wait to bring our passion for bowling and top-tier service to Scottsdale!
We’re working hard to open by the end of March with a Grand Opening in April—stay tuned for more details!
We also want to acknowledge and thank the previous shop for their contributions to the bowling community. They’ve been very open and communicative throughout this process, and we’re grateful for the insights they’ve shared. As we transition into this space and welcome many of their past customers, we’re committed to keeping an open mind and learning from what bowlers loved about their experience there.
We’re also excited to announce that Josh Molloy will be the store manager at Bowlero Via Linda! Josh has been with Virtue for nearly 5 years now, has earned our master technician title (the highest title we have) and has been a driving force in the Arizona bowling community. If you know Josh, you know you’re in good hands!
We appreciate all the love and support over the years that has made things like this possible, and we can’t wait to serve even more bowlers in Scottsdale! See you soon at Bowlero Via Linda!
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SFT News - Courtesy Of SFT.
Chandler - - - Congrats to Alec Johnson on picking up his first SFT AHT win this weekend, February 23, at AMF McRay Via! This was our first non-nail biter finish of the season, but was still entertaining as Alec tried to make history as the first bowler to shoot 300 in the finals. We had another great turn out and another step of progress with our new member services portal and online payment and registration options. Thanks to all of the members for their feedback along the way! We are looking to add check-in staff to the Strike Force Tour Aht team. If you are interested, you can apply here:
https://docs.google.com/.../10OYfzHB06PrtVY1QdgbQOVg.../edit
You can watch the final match from this event on our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3KRqjqDO9w
We will be able to start going live there once we hit 50 subs, so if you can sub, we appreciate it (18 away)! We made this switch to make it easier for us to archive and organize matches and for members to be able to find their match.
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Unnofficial Results.
MMA 68th Open Championship.
Event Bowled At Bowlero Kyrene Lanes.
Dates Bowled: February 15-16, 22-23, 2025.
For Full Results Visit Bowl Mesa.com
TEAM, A (841 & above), Handicapped surprise, AZ 1 No Mercy 42 2,902 Maricopa, AZ 2 Empire Strikes Alot 48 2,879 Sun City West, AZ 3 Go Bowl X 20 2,816 Chandler, AZ 4 Just Do That 1 2,804 Gilbert, AZ 5 Spinner 13 2,803 Maricopa, AZ 6 Kyle's Royalty 82 2,798 Mesa, AZ 7 Young & The Old 62 2,776 Maricopa, AZ 8 Chimera 47 2,739 Avondale, AZ 9 Somethings not like the other 63 2,722 Maricopa, AZ 10 Entry 77 77 2,706 San Tan Valley, AZ 11 ENTRY 4 4 2,699 Peoria, AZ.
TEAM, B (781 - 840), Handicapped Casa Grande, AZ 1 Bowl Better Grumpy 23 2,842 Gilbert, AZ 2Monsta Mode 1 70 2,828 Chandler, AZ 3 1st Impressions 2 2,822 Gilbert, AZ 4Monsta Mode 4 84 2,798 Mesa, AZ 5 Traveshamockery 56 2,766 Mesa, AZ 6 Reed Firearms 33 2,762 Tempe, AZ 7 Allens Landscape 29 2,753 Queen Creek, AZ 8 Clown Show 32 2,721 Maricopa, AZ 9 Harris/Hanna 4 Eva 76 2,689 Chandler, AZ 10 Get It Done 78 2,665 Avondale, AZ 11 YBanez Pilot Strikers 7 2,663 Maricopa, AZ.
TEAM, C (701 - 780), Handicapped Gilbert, AZ 1Monsta Mode 3 83 2,902 Maricopa, AZ 2 Pin Crushers 74 2,778 Tempe, AZ 3 Puzzles 54 2,751 Chandler, AZ 4 The Royal Family 90 2,746 Mesa, AZ 5 Fibonacci Sequence 17 2,740 Casa Grande, AZ 6 Casa Grande Crew 41 2,738 Casa Grande, AZ 7 Throw It Better 24 2,728 Mesa, AZ 7 Raised Hackles 16 2,728 Maricopa, AZ 9 Greatness Never Settles 75 2,718 Phoenix, AZ 10 Poker Face 85 2,706 Chandler, AZ 11We Amateur Professionals 11 2,694 Payson, AZ.
TEAM, D (700 & lower), Handicapped Tempe, AZ 1 Rice Bowls 53 2,930 Mesa, AZ 2Monsta Mode XXX 88 2,808 Mesa, AZ 3Misery Loves Company 21 2,748 Desert Hills, AZ 4 Hambone Hooligans 45 2,720 Mesa, AZ 5 Spare Witches 27 2,689 Mesa, AZ 6 Rollin Wit Da Homies 68 2,659 Queen Creek, AZ 7 Brooklyn Bombers 67 2,647 Scottsdale, AZ.
TEAM, E (841 & above), Scratch Maricopa, AZ 1 Empire Strikes Alot 48 2,874 surprise, AZ 2 No Mercy 42 2,873 Sun City West, AZ 3 Go Bowl X 20 2,816 Maricopa, AZ 4 Kyle's Royalty 82 2,769 Gilbert, AZ 5 Spinner 13 2,753 Maricopa, AZ 6 Chimera 47 2,737 Mesa, AZ 7 Young & The Old 62 2,723 Chandler, AZ 8 Just Do That 1 2,711 Peoria, AZ 9 Fist McGhee 3 2,677 Avondale, AZ 10 Somethings not like the other 63 2,674 Chandler, AZ 11 Bowling Dynamics 31 2,673 Maricopa, AZ 12 Entry 77 77 2,633 Mesa, AZ.
TEAM, F (781 - 840), Scratch Chandler, AZ 1 1st Impressions 2 2,676 Casa Grande, AZ 2 Bowl Better Grumpy 23 2,652 Mesa, AZ 3 Traveshamockery 56 2,641 Tempe, AZ 4 Allens Landscape 29 2,636 Mesa, AZ 5 Reed Firearms 33 2,580 Gilbert, AZ 6Monsta Mode 1 70 2,573 Queen Creek, AZ 7 Clown Show 32 2,561 Gilbert, AZ 8Monsta Mode 4 84 2,544 Maricopa, AZ 9 Harris/Hanna 4 Eva 76 2,511 Chandler, AZ 10 Get It Done 78 2,457 Mesa, AZ 10 Get A Rope 60 2,457 Maricopa, AZ 12We R Like Dat 81 2,447 Queen Creek, AZ.
TEAM, G (701 - 780), Scratch Gilbert, AZ 1Monsta Mode 3 83 2,496 Mesa, AZ 2 Raised Hackles 16 2,455 Maricopa, AZ 3 Greatness Never Settles 75 2,443 Mesa, AZ 4 Fibonacci Sequence 17 2,440 Tempe, AZ 5 Puzzles 54 2,426 Casa Grande, AZ 6 Casa Grande Crew 41 2,413 Apache Junction, AZ 7 AZZ Klownz 61 2,401 Mesa, AZ 8 Vickman Floor Care 55 2,366 Gilbert, AZ 9 Strike Hunters 38 2,364 Payson, AZ 10 Rim Country Bowl 35 2,359 Chandler, AZ 11We Amateur Professionals 11 2,356 Maricopa, AZ 12 Pin Crushers 74 2,304 Casa Grande, AZ 13 Throw It Better 24 2,298 Chandler, AZ.
TEAM, H (700 & lower), Scratch Mesa, AZ 2Misery Loves Company 21 2,258 Mesa, AZ 3Monsta Mode XXX 88 2,175 Mesa, AZ 4 Rollin Wit Da Homies 68 2,126 Desert Hills, AZ 5 Hambone Hooligans 45 2,120 Queen Creek, AZ 6 Brooklyn Bombers 67 2,119 Scottsdale, AZ 7 NCC - 1701 44 2,110 Goodyear, AZ 8 Unexpected 72 2,053 Phoenix, AZ 9 Clean Sweepers 28 2,018 Gilbert, AZ 10Monsta Mode 2 71 1,999 Mesa, AZ 11 Sports Nation 39 1,903 Mesa, AZ.
Team (Optional with Prize Fund), Team, Scratch Maricopa, AZ 1 Empire Strikes Alot 48 2,874 surprise, AZ 2 No Mercy 42 2,873 Sun City West, AZ 3 Go Bowl X 20 2,816 Maricopa, AZ 4 Kyle's Royalty 82 2,769 Gilbert, AZ 5 Spinner 13 2,753 Maricopa, AZ 6 Chimera 47 2,737 Mesa, AZ 7 Young & The Old 62 2,723 Chandler, AZ 8 Just Do That 1 2,711 Peoria, AZ 9 Fist McGhee 3 2,677 Chandler, AZ 10 1st Impressions 2 2,676 Avondale, AZ 11 Somethings not like the other 63 2,674 Chandler, AZ 12 Bowling Dynamics 31 2,673 Mesa, AZ.
DOUBLES, A (421 & above), Handicapped Peoria, AZ 1 Dirmyer Mike S. \ Smaglik Edward J. 3 1,521 Avondale, AZ 2 Perry Benjamin K. \ Jacob Tim 64 1,489 Mesa, AZ 3 Taylor Dylan P. \ Schloss Ronald J. 30 1,454 Chandler, AZ 3 Jenkins Kevin \ Klerk Chris T. 31 1,454 surprise, AZ 5 LaPointe Greg \ Marema Wes A. 42 1,451 Maricopa, AZ 6 Jones Michael A. \ Perry Benjamin K. 48 1,447 Laveen, AZ 7 Ellis Calvin W. \ Foster Russell D. 79 1,437 Sun City West, AZ 8 Aemisegger Curtis \ Graham William 20 1,424 Avondale, AZ 9 Trzaskowski Sean W. \ Jones Mathew D. 64 1,423 Avondale, AZ 10 Trzaskowski Sean W. \ Wolfe Brett W. 63 1,422 Phoenix, AZ 11 Nosbusch Jessica \ Mayer Jonathan R. 19 1,420 Mesa, AZ.
DOUBLES, B (392-420), Handicapped Chandler, AZ 1Mueller Chris A. \ Riley Ron Jr 78 1,522 Casa Grande, AZ 2McDonald Ron \ Waugh Brian 23 1,467 Avondale, AZ 3 Albano Connie L. \ Riley Lena P. 7 1,447 Chandler, AZ 4 Dominik Michael J. \ Morgan Kevin R. 2 1,414 Arizona City, AZ 5 Hamilton Teri D. \ Nedry William A. 40 1,408 Gilbert, AZ 6Martinez Zachary G. \ Dogans Autry L. 73 1,389 Casa Grande, AZ 7 Franko James L. \ Rodman Jeff W. 9 1,387 Tempe, AZ 8 Allen Brian L. \ Hamm Derek R. 29 1,386 Maricopa, AZ 9 Harris Antrell A. \ Harris Arthur D. 75 1,377 Chandler, AZ 10 Barrett TJ Jr \ Armstrong Richard B. II 51 1,373 Chandler, AZ 11 Riley Lena P. \ Wiley Shawn M. 78 1,356 Maricopa, AZ 12Mrosko Mathew G. \ Dum Anthony J. 8 1,346 Tempe, AZ.
DOUBLES, C (351-390), Handicapped Queen Creek, AZ 1Muller Les \ Stoffer Chuck D. 67 1,503 Desert Hills, AZ 2Moore Nancy L. \ Moore James F. 45 1,494 Maricopa, AZ 3 Harris Kishonda \ Johnson Renard 75 1,456 Payson, AZ 4 Beltran Anthony L. \ Willis Malachi (Joe) J. Jr 35 1,410 Maricopa, AZ 5 Hanna Arica M. \ Harris Kishonda 76 1,401 Gilbert, AZ 6 Lockett Dion D. \ Stewart Christopher (Stewie) A. 71 1,395 Scottsdale, AZ 7 Cail Brian \ Sullivan Christina L. 44 1,390 Chandler, AZ 8Weyrauch Rachel M. \ Foos Justin A. 50 1,374 Gilbert, AZ 9 Fest Patty \ Habel Larry W. 38 1,368 Surprise, AZ 10 Smythe Terrence D. \ Halse Charles 6 1,366 Tempe, AZ 11 Croxton Jessie Jr \ Leneair Verlandas S. 18 1,365 Mesa, AZ 12 Leavitt Joshua M. \ Meyer Frank A. 21 1,359 Maricopa, AZ.
DOUBLES, D (350 & lower), Handicapped Desert Hills, AZ 1 Hasselbring Tracie \ Boltz Ryan C. 45 1,649 Gilbert, AZ 2 Lockett Dion D. \ Cook Vidale M. 83 1,493 Laveen, AZ 3 Ellis Alexandria T. \ Ellis Wesley E. 79 1,415 Tempe, AZ 4 Liang David A. \ Nguyen Michael D. 53 1,402 Chandler, AZ 5 Villanueva Cheryl A. \ Horton Rita R. 34 1,401 Mesa, AZ 6 Gordon Matt D. \ Almy Kaylene D. 21 1,378 Apache Junction, AZ 7 Harnish Joan T. \ Brickey Warren M. 43 1,370 San Tan Valley, AZ 8 Stoll Mark J. Jr \ Stoll Mark J. III 25 1,368 Maricopa, AZ 9Maciejewski Rhonda \ McClain Kath 74 1,359 Gilbert, AZ 10 Smith Edmond (Smitty) \ Cook Vidale M.71 1,338 Mesa, AZ 11 Abel Jenn \ Shiel Colleen A. 27 1,331 Mesa, AZ 12 Burns Leo Paul \ Burns Debby A. 59 1,325 Mesa, AZ 13 James Heather R. \ Walters Christine M. 39 1,318 Queen Creek, AZ.
DOUBLES, E (421 & above), Scratch Peoria, AZ 1 Dirmyer Mike S. \ Smaglik Edward J. 3 1,516 Avondale, AZ 2 Perry Benjamin K. \ Jacob Tim 64 1,489 Mesa, AZ 3 Taylor Dylan P. \ Schloss Ronald J. 30 1,454 Chandler, AZ 3 Jenkins Kevin \ Klerk Chris T. 31 1,454 surprise, AZ 5 LaPointe Greg \ Marema Wes A. 42 1,446 Maricopa, AZ 6 Jones Michael A. \ Perry Benjamin K. 48 1,442 Sun City West, AZ 7 Aemisegger Curtis \ Graham William 20 1,424 Avondale, AZ 8 Trzaskowski Sean W. \ Jones Mathew D. 64 1,423 Avondale, AZ 9 Trzaskowski Sean W. \ Wolfe Brett W. 63 1,422 Phoenix, AZ 10 Nosbusch Jessica \ Mayer Jonathan R. 19 1,405 Laveen, AZ 11 Ellis Calvin W. \ Foster Russell D. 79 1,397 Mesa, AZ 12 Anthony Joshua M. \ Loss Brandon 30 1,384 Queen Creek, AZ 13 DeMary Dalen T. \ McIntyre Travis B. 46 1,381 Maricopa, AZ.
DOUBLES, F (392-420), Scratch Chandler, AZ 1Mueller Chris A. \ Riley Ron Jr 78 1,434 Casa Grande, AZ 2McDonald Ron \ Waugh Brian 23 1,368 Chandler, AZ 3 Dominik Michael J. \ Morgan Kevin R. 2 1,337 Avondale, AZ 4 Albano Connie L. \ Riley Lena P. 7 1,324 Tempe, AZ 5 Allen Brian L. \ Hamm Derek R. 29 1,322 Casa Grande, AZ 6 Franko James L. \ Rodman Jeff W. 9 1,315 Gilbert, AZ 6Martinez Zachary G. \ Dogans Autry L. 73 1,315 Tempe, AZ 8 Templeton Richard J. \ Ormrod Kevin M. 29 1,285 Maricopa, AZ 9 Harris Antrell A. \ Harris Arthur D. 75 1,284 Arizona City, AZ 10 Hamilton Teri D. \ Nedry William A. 40 1,282 Chandler, AZ 11 Foster James R. \ Gosper Gregory E. 11 1,255 Chandler, AZ.
DOUBLES, G (351-390), Scratch Queen Creek, AZ 1Muller Les \ Stoffer Chuck D. 67 1,290 Maricopa, AZ 2 Harris Kishonda \ Johnson Renard 75 1,274 Payson, AZ 3 Beltran Anthony L. \ Willis Malachi (Joe) J. Jr 35 1,262 Desert Hills, AZ 4Moore Nancy L. \ Moore James F. 45 1,255 Chandler, AZ 5Weyrauch Rachel M. \ Foos Justin A. 50 1,237 Maricopa, AZ 6 Hanna Arica M. \ Harris Kishonda 76 1,235 Tempe, AZ 7 Croxton Jessie Jr \ Leneair Verlandas S. 18 1,214 Tempe, AZ 8Marks Dan J. \ Hawes Erika R. 54 1,207 Mesa, AZ 9 Leavitt Joshua M. \ Meyer Frank A. 21 1,203 Surprise, AZ 10 Smythe Terrence D. \ Halse Charles 6 1,202 Gilbert, AZ 11 Lockett Dion D. \ Stewart Christopher (Stewie) A. 71 1,199 Gilbert, AZ 12 Han Justin Y. \ Jones Nicholas "Nick" C. 10 1,190 Chandler, AZ.