25 Years Of Bowling Accomplishments. Rewards Mandy Etem-Cirigliano, With Call Into MPUSBC Hall Of Fame. Photo Courtesy Of MPUSBC.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Mesa, AZ. - - - As Sophia Petrillo of the television series 'The Golden Girls' would say: 'Picture It: Mesa, Arizona., Saturday April 14, 2018. It was the opening squad of the Arizona State Women's bowling tournament at Bowlero Mesa. And for one competitor, it would be a day that she would never forget. And neither would those who were in attendance watching the team event unfold.'
The bowling center had just completed a remodeling project, where new synthetic lanes were installed prior to the start of the Women's Open Championships. The new lanes hardly had enough time to get broken in, and just like that, an honor score was rolled on lanes 9 and 10 to kick off the tournament.
The series this competitor rolled included games of: 300-279-224 for an 803 series. And to top this accomplishment off, this same competitor did it again the following week on Sunday April 22, 2018. During the singles and doubles event on lanes 35 and 36, she put together games of: 248-300-268 for an 816 series.
"The 300 in team event was my first and I was blessed to have been bowling with and near many of my good friends who shared in the celebration. It was the first game and I remember I didn’t strike in practice and didn’t know what I was going to do to start," said Mandy Etem-Cirigliano, who was the competitor that rolled the 300 games. "To have my second 300 in the same event was unimaginable. That whole tournament was magical for me with all of the friends I shared the lanes with and I wasn’t really thinking about bowling. Just enjoying the experience."
It was moments like these that got her noticed by her peers, that would eventually lead to a nomination into the Metro Phoenix USBC Hall of Fame. The nomination and induction into the hall came on July 13, 2024, at the MPUSBC annual meeting.
"When I received the letter in the mail from the selection committee, I was quite overcome with emotion that I had qualified to join this prestigious group of bowlers in the Metro Phoenix USBC Hall of Fame," said Mandy, of when she found out she was going into the Hall. "It means a lot to me to join this prestigious group and to join my husband (Dave). My mom, (Debi), is also in the North County USBC Hall of Fame in California. Giving this recognition even more meaning and connection with her."
She knew she had enough points built up from her accomplishments on the lanes, to get into the MPUSBC Hall. But it took a nomination from someone, and an approval from the board of directors to get her enshrined. That someone who nominated her for the Hall, was Shirley Braverman.
"Having my good friend and doubles partner, Shirley Braverman, who I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the lanes with for so many years was very special. She also wrote very kind words in the submission, and when she introduced me at the ceremony," she said, of her nomination. "Bowling with Shirley is an honor. She is a fierce competitor with an incredible heart for our sport and all those around her."
When it came time for her to give her acceptance speech, she wanted to make sure that she had all of her bases covered. Without having an emotional break down, while giving it.
"It was special to give my acceptance speech with my close friends and family there," she said, of her speech. "I was speaking to them and thanking them for all of their support so, I am grateful they were able to be there and be recognized for their contributions, too."
She also credits her husband, Dave Cirigliano, for her success on the lanes as well.
"When I met my husband Dave, he started giving me bowling lessons. This was awkward at first since I had already had numerous coaches in the approximately 25 years I had been bowling," she said, of his coaching. "I normally wouldn’t recommend being coached by someone you are romantically involved with, but he is the best and I wanted the best. Dave transformed my game and as I would say really taught me how to bowl. None of my accomplishments since we met would have been possible without him."
According to Bowl.Com, she has had a composite average of 200+ since 2003-04. Her highest average to date, came during the 2016-17 season. When she averaged 226 for 90 games in the Ebonite Sun City Scratch Classic at Lakeview Lanes.
"The 2016-2017 season was very special. I bowled on a ladies team called the Strike Queens.This was the year of my highest average. I was bowling with three hall of famers and had to rise to the occasion!," she said, of remembering the 2016-17 seadon. "Surrounding myself with amazing coaches and talented bowlers has brought me success. I enjoy team events much more than singles events so, having great teammates who work together and encourage each other and have fun together is key. "The timing of getting into the MPUSBC Hall, was perfect. As I hope to have many years of enjoying bowling ahead of me. As of recently, I’ve had some health issues that have limited my ability to bowl and how I bowl. Hopefully, all of those will be behind us soon, and I can get back out on the lanes."
She says getting elected into any Hall of Fame, is a culmination of years of work and accomplishments. She feels the turning point in her career was winning her first Metro Phoenix USBC Queens at Lakeview Lanes.
"I hadn’t accomplished much before this and shortly after the Queens win, is when I started working with Dave and more success came," she said, of her first major title. "I’ve always looked up to my mom. She started bowling when we were really little and she was very good. I remember a picture of her winning the local queens' tournament and that picture was on my mind the day I woke up and won my first queens. Growing up.The three of us: (mom, Jolene, and I) went everywhere together. We traveled a lot for bowling. Whenever we had a bad day on the lanes, mom would give us five minutes to be upset and then we had to let it go. I think this was good advice because it's not good to hold on to things. It won’t matter a year from now if you bowled bad today."
She has also become quite the fund-raiser off of the lanes in recent years as well. She got into raising money for 'Bowl For The Cure' after one of her co-workers was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I got involved in 'Bowl for the Cure', because my coworker was fighting breast cancer. I honestly thought we were going to have one bowling tournament. Then at the first event, people started asking about next year. So, I started planning to do it again and it's really grown from there," she says, of the two events she holds annually in Phoenix and Tucson. "We recently changed our focus to support all types of cancer and are now 'Bowl Over Cancer Arizona'. We will have the privilege of supporting cancer patients' rights here in Arizona! Our 2024 events are coming together and will take place November 2 and 3 at Bowlero Kyrene and Bowlero Tucson respectively."
2023 was also her best fund-raising year to date. It got her national attention at the USBC convention in Las Vegas this past April.
"Last year, (2023) we raised $23,000 and that has been our highest to date. It felt really good to reach our highest fund-raising amount in our final year benefiting breast cancer," she said, of her efforts. To be recognized at the convention, was an amazing launching point for our team to now support all forms of cancer and cancer patients in Arizona."
What would she like to accomplish in the game of bowling next? That remains to be seen.
"With some recent health issues, I’ve been having, I’m not bowling as much and have switched to bowling left-handed," she said. "This experience has allowed me to experience bowling as a beginner again and it has been so fun, and also very challenging. I hope to be getting back on the lanes more with whichever hand God gives me to bowl with. I’ve been missing all the fun and time with friends!"
And don't be surprised if the next tournament she wins, does in fact, come from her left-hand. We won't be.
Arizona Bowling News - August 11, 2024