By: Jim Howell/GCU Club Sports Information Director. Photo Courtesy Of GCU.
Seven months. To the day.
Phoenix - - - The Grand Canyon University Bowling team was literally loading the vans to head to Dallas, Texas and the ITC Sectionals Tournament last March when word came down that the COVID-19 pandemic had scuttled that plan and the rest of their (and every other club sport’s) season at GCU.
Seven months later, at the Lopes’ first official day of practice Monday at Thunder Alley on the GCU campus, it wasn’t just ‘masks up’. It was “spirit and motivation up”, too.
“It feels great to be back, and having the new students interact with the returners is always fun,” said Lopes’ Head Bowling Coach Ben Canfield. “This is what they love, and I love to coach, so I’m just glad we have the resources to do this, since not every school has six lanes on campus.”
The extra month delaying the first practice is far from the only adjustment the team has had to make. While Thunder Alley has been a ‘home venue’ for the Lopes, due to its lack of lanes, the team’s main practices are normally held at Glenfair Lanes in Glendale. However, since there are no organized practices allowed off-campus during the fall, that possibility was negated. In addition, besides constant wearing of masks and no sharing of bowling balls, Canfield has mandated that bowlers must stay on the same lane the entire practice, which is uncommon.
“It’s a bit of an adjustment, but we’ll make it work,” said Lopes’ sophomore bowler and returner Nathan Ryan. “Since we’re in smaller groups, it makes it much easier to get to know people, talk with the newer kids, and see how we can help them. It’s exciting.”
“It was nice to see – from our first informational meeting on – how there was no groaning or mumbling (about the new guidelines),” said Canfield. “They all had the mindset of, ‘This is what we have to do to be able to bowl, and we’re going to do it.’”
While the ‘new normal’ has taken he and his teammates out of their old comfort zones, Ryan is just happy to interact with them again after an all-too-quiet summer.
“Being from Ohio, I didn’t have a lot of contact with them – other than some phone and Zoom meeting calls,” Ryan said. “But having some of the guys room with me and knowing some of the newer guys has definitely made the adjustment easier.”
Even though practice time has been lost due to the new rules, Canfield, a star bowler in his playing days, realizes that harder drills should still be eased into.
“This week is just about letting them get back into a rhythm,” said Canfield. “I’m aware they haven’t bowled in a while, so their games aren’t close to where they normally are. So the biggest thing I can do is just remind that this is fun, and to just let their games get naturally back into the swing of things.”
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Quinten Bell wins 1st title for $1,200 at AMF Chandler Lanes!!!
SFT News Courtesy Of SFT.
Chandler - - - Our event this weekend was at AMF Chandler Lanes and we had great turnout! We had 101 total entries (77 qualifying and 24 economy parlay), 27 total cashers, and a 1 in 3.7 cash ratio and paid out over $5,600.00 in main and side event prize funds. Players bowled of the Kegel 42ft Autobahn oil pattern. Most of the players played in the middle of the lane trying to push their ball out past the 2nd arrow and trying to blend out the pattern for higher scores. This house typically has a lot of friction and we did some higher scoring than the previous tournaments. Congrats to Eddie Thompson on shooting his very 1st 300 game with his newly drilled Track Proof Pearl. Since Eddie used a Track bowling ball to shoot his honor score, he will receive a free Track bowling ball of his choice. Thank you to Track bowling for the continued support and sponsorship of our tournament club.
As always, we want to welcome our first-time bowlers to the SFT AHT family! Welcome Jadeyn Mabry to our little bowling family! We hope you all had a good time at your first event and we look forward to seeing you at the next one! Congrats to Quinten Bell, Jeff Bell, Robert Pellegrino, Norris Richards, Garrett Strehl and Conner Bell on advancing to their first quarterfinals! Also, congrats to Ernie Mendoza and Eric Flick on advancing to the quarterfinals through the economy parlay! We almost always have one bowler that advances by winning the parlay and bowling well again. Your winner of the free Track plastic ball raffle, with an option to upgrade to any Track High Performance ball for $85.00, was Ron McDonald. Also, congrats to Brandon Bailey for winning Momma’s Mystery Score for $295 with a 195 game.
The quarterfinals, like the rest of the event, was medium to high scoring with the standings tight and being determined by the final game of the quarters. In the A Division, your #1 seed would be Ernie Mendoza (+136) and he would have to face off against Shawna Strause (+120). In the B Division, you would see SFT veteran, and #1 seed overall, Ron Gonzales (+150) versus Eric Flick (+84). The C Division was led by Quinten Bell (+111) and he would face off with Willy Vuong (+93).
In the Semi-Finals, Ernie and Shawna would go back and forth with each one not backing down one bit. Unfortunately for Ernie a pocket 7-10 in the ninth frame would give Shawna the opening that she needed as she was able to punch out and win, 246 to 203. The B Division semi-final would see Ron and Eric stay close as they both had the same amount of handicap. Eric would catch fire in the fifth frame and striking out the rest of the match to win, 278 to 229. The C Division semi-final would see Willy Vuong struggle with lane transition as Quinten Bell was able to defeat him, 257 to 192.
In the Finals it would look like it was going to be a shootout with all three Division winners posting big games in their semi-final matches. The favorite to win would have to be Eric Flick, who had been bowling well all day and was looking for his 4th SFT AHT title and the $1,200.00 prize. Both Shawna and Quinten were both looking for their first titles.
The Final match would start off with Eric and Shawna struggling with carry to start out. Quinten was uniquely calm for this being his first Finals appearance and he was able to crush the pocket and get lined up very quickly. Midway through the match and it looked like Shawna and Eric were bowling for 2nd place as Quinten would strike in four of his first five frames. Eric and Shawna would adjust and trying to string some strikes to try to catch Quinten. It wouldn’t help as Quinten would go one to punch out for a very impressive 279 scratch game, 319 with handicap, giving him his very 1st SFT AHT title and $1,200.00!!! Eric and Shawna would finish out the match Eric edging out Shawn, 224 to 214. Congrats to Eric for 2nd place and also to Shawna for 3rd place.
Thank you to everyone for coming out this weekend and supporting the event. We are taking next weekend off and look forward to seeing you all in two weeks at AMF McRay for our Standard 3 squad event! Hope you all enjoy the break and have a great week!
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*Second Annual Military Team Tournament Unnofficial Results. September 26-27 Ten Pins Down. Harrah's Ak Chin.
Team Handicap Division: Luke All-Stars, 2,503; - Family Affair Customs, 2,459; - Chino Bandido, MDX-Nix, 2,432; - Friedline, 2,394.
Team Scratch Division: Chino Bandino, 2,391; - Family Affair Customs, 2,368; - Luke All-Stars, 2,155; - Friedline, 2,133; - Four Saken, 2,017.
Handicap Doubles: Frazier Domas - Purnell Martin, 1,327; Mark Wojtusiak - Mike Barrett, 1,306; Lee Fitzgerald - John Fitzgerald, 1,291.
Doubles Scratch: Gary Kresse - Barry Gilitiuk, 1,225; Chris Coffman - James Kraykovich, 1,181; Mark Wojtusiak - Mike Barrett, 1,128.
All Events Handicap: Brian Richardson, 1,366 - Mike Lane, 1,342.
All Events Scratch: Barry Gilitiuk, 1,302 - James Kraykovich, 1,255.
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*Mesa Metro Annual Meeting To Take Place On October 24.
Mesa - - - The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2020 at the Pablo J Cortez American Legion Post 26 located at 505 W. 2nd Ave., Mesa @ 2:00 pm
We have secured the big hall which will allow us more that adequate space for social distancing (maximum capacity is 350 ppl).
There will be snacks and refreshments available.
We are also going to present the Youth Bowlers of the Year and induct new Hall of Fame members.
Please join us!
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Congrats To Rachel Berg On Rolling Her First 300 Game. Post Courtesy Of Rachel Berg. October 12, 2020.
I’m still in shock. Yesterday I shot a 300 for the first time ever. I’ve come close two other times, but I finally connected them all. The first shot was close to not making it. I had a late 4-9 trip. And the others were pretty solid. I haven’t felt confident in my swing lately, but it must be getting better! I’m so thankful my family and friends were there to see it. I love that my first one happened at JBT, since that’s is where I got my start I’m everything. I was able to make semis in 3rd and make it through my first round of Battle Bag 3-1 (and winning a roll off. Sorry Christopher!). In the second round I did lose 2-1 to Lucas. I still had womens, and I won that one fir my first title of the season. It was an eventual day yesterday! I should place about 5th. Saturday was a hot mess, and I missed cut by 2 pins! Oh well it happens! Thank you Jeff and Tara for another amazing tourney! Can’t wait to see everyone in Mesa! I’ve loved my Storm IQ Tour for since I got it, and now I love it even more!!
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Complete Bowling Events News. Courtesy Of CBE.
Sun City - - - Apologies for the late post. The weekend was exhausting. From CBE October 5, 2020.
Congrats once again to Cortez Schenck and Warren Eales picking up the win in the CBE Doubles this past weekend. They were able to defeat a strong team charging up the ladder with Brett Wolfe and Michael Haugen Jr
Your top 5 was as follows:
1. Schenck/ Eales
2. Wolfe/ Haugen
3. Jeremy Opp/ Rick Oswald
5. Jimmie Montgomery/ Kevin Jenkins
Great to bowling all of the bowlers in the finals and match play. Lots of great feedback on the format, pattern and everything.
Thanks to all of our great sponsors this weekend:
Kevin Jenkins with AVTECH
Chuck Lucas with Chuck’s Painting
Dennis Brummitt in the name of BVL
IOur next Open/Women’s CBE is scheduled for November 8th at Bowlero Mesa. Watch for the flyer. Seniors/Super Seniors, we have some dates that are just waiting to be confirmed. Keep a look out.
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E/BC 'Classic Worlds Handicap' Tournament Event. Courtesy Of E/BC
Scottsdale - - - Bringing back to your attention:
E&BC “Classic Worlds Handicap” Tournament event
When: Saturday, October 17, 2020
Time: 12:30am Check In, Bowl at 1:30pm (Only one squad);
Location: Bowlero Via Linda at 9027 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Cost $55 Per Bowler (cash only please)
Pattern: 41’ Rome (WTB)
Cash Ratio: 1 in 5 Bowlers
No limit of bowlers.
This event is with handicap. Handicap will be based on my sport converted average table from your composite league average from the 2019-2020 season. If you do not have a 2019-2020 season composite average, we will use your composite league average from the 2018-2019 season. In the case you have no composite average, you will be bowling scratch, which is zero handicap. The handicap amount will be 215 at 85% per game.
Side Action will be available:
1. Series Sweeper w/handicap- $10; payout to the top 1 in 4 entries
2. Handicapped Brackets - $3 each bracket (unlimited)
3. High Game Pot w/handicap - $5 payout for highest one game, but if more than 16 entries, will payout high game for each of the 4 games.
You will be bowling 4 games. I will cut to the cashers (1 in 5). The cashers will bowl two additional games with pins carrying over to seed our top 3 bowlers to compete in our eliminator round. All pins will carry over into the eliminator round throughout the final game. There will be no re-oil. Brackets will start game 2 for each squad.
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