Publication of the Iowa State USBC iowabowl.com Vol. 46, No. 18, April, 2019

Please share this newsletter with all your bowling friends.Friend us on Facebook.

1

IN THIS ISSUE...

1 Five Inducted into State Hall of Fame2 Board of Directors Our New Memorial Service3 Registered Volunteer Program and Safe Sport Training Registered Volunteer Roles4 50 Year Club5 We Can’t Thank You Enough 2018 BVL Mail-In Tournament Sees Huge Increase6 Veterans Showcase Their Talent in Des Moines My First Year...for BVL7 2018 Iowa 600 Club Mail-In Tournament 2019 Iowa 600 Club Annual Meeting8 Youth Update Clinton Hosts First Iowa State USBC Annual Meeting9 Iowa State USBC Bowling Assoc. to Induct 5 New Members into the State Hall of Fame10 Hall of Fame (cont’d.)11 What is the Future of our Iowa State 700 Clubs? 2019 ISUSBCWBA Bowl for the Cure Mail-In Tournament12 Women’s Senior Tournament Prepares to Roll In Adel13 Camanche USBC & Clinton USBC Hosts 2019 Women’s State Tournament14 Muscatine Hosts Open Tournament

Five Inducted into State Hall of Fameby Sally Reighard

One hundred eighty-four people attended the first Iowa state-merged annual Hall of Fame banquet held at the Wild Rose Casino in Clinton on March 16, 2019 to induct one female and four male recipients into the Iowa State USBC Class of 2019 Hall of Fame.

The lone female was Margo DeBar who was inducted for Superior Performance. She is from Council Bluffs.

For the men, Ed Budzyn, Jr. of Burlington was inducted for Meritorious Service and Matt Weggen of Muscatine was honored for Superior Performance. Michael Jordan of Cedar Rapids was inducted in the Special Category and Lysle Musgrove was inducted posthumously in the Special Category.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, all current Hall of Fame members who were present were introduced and came to the front. They were seated in front of the podium and were the first to congratulate the new Hall of Fame members as they departed the stage.

Hall of Fame chairperson Sue Jensen introduced each inductee who personally had some special person in their life escort them to the stage and read a resume that included a short biography of their life in bowling and of their accomplishments. Each honoree was presented with a Hall of Fame plaque, a pin, a patch and a jacket. The men still received the famous gold blazer previously presented by the men’s association, but all, including DeBar and all past and future recipients, will receive the new jacket selected by the now merged Board of Directors.

Cake and other refreshments were served at the conclusion of the ceremonies as everyone congratulated the new Hall of Famers and mingled to visit with the families and friends who had come to witness their induction.

THE

BOWLER

2

IOWA STATE USBC

Board of Directors

2018-2019

President Rommel, Connie Waterloo crbowler@aol.com

1st Vice President Birnbaum, Chris Fort Dodge peartree01@frontiernet.net

2nd Vice President McHugh, Shannon Jefferson mchugh@netins.net

Sgt-at-Arms Jensen, Sue Marion sstras57@gmail.com

Director #1 Christensen, Laura Ankeny ljpmc2009@gmail.com

Director #2 Budzyn, Edmund Jr Burlington ebudzyn@yahoo.com

Director #3 Robinson, Jerry Marion jrobinson@housby.com

Director #4 Naber, Randy Muscatine retiredmay2013@gmail.com

Director #4 Naber, Randy Muscatine rnaber@machlink.com

Director #5 Kutsch, Shellie Dubuque bowl703@aol.com

Director #6 Reighard, Sally Washington sallyreighard@gmail.com

Director #7 Heatherington, LeRoy Shenandoah l.heatherington@mchsi.com

Director #8 Powers, Jack Crescent jackdaddyas@aol.com

Youth Director #1 Brown, Larry Illinois City chalkela@gmail.com

Youth Director #2 Stanley, Elizabeth Altoona lizstanley.bowling@gmail.com

Youth Director #3 McCormick, Cody Pleasantville desmoinesyouthbowling@gmail.com

Director At-Large Jensen, Danny Marion baberann1@q.com

Director At-Large Angi Fangman Waterloo angi.fangman@gmail.com

Assn. Mgr. Charla Green Fort Dodge iowastateusbc@frontier.com

Director of Web

Services Jerry Everett Ames jerry.everett.web@gmail.com

Youth Coordinator Ketelsen, Jolene DeWitt isyaba@windstream.net

Our New Memorial Service

By Laura Christensen

It was my honor to create this new Memorial Service for our bowling friends and family that have past away this last year. We have year after year held this service to pay tribute to them. We will continue to acknowledge our friends at our Annual meeting.

So, please continue to maintain a list of your deceased members, with name and date of passing, and send to me, Laura Christensen, or to Charla Green, who will then forward to me. My email address is ljpmc2009@gmail.com If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask me.

Let us continue to pay homage to those who have gone before us.

3

REGISTERED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RVP) ANDSAFE SPORT TRAINING

Pre-printed information from Richard Stewart, Education and Marketing, USBC

RVP/SafeSportAnyone in a Registered Volunteer Role was required to complete the SafeSport training and a background screening by the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) by January 1, 2019.

This is a very important initiative for USBC and the sport of bowling. Keeping our members safe from abuse and inappropriate behavior of any kind is a positive thing for our sport and we are reaching out to you, our leaders, to help in this endeavor.

Anyone in a Registered Volunteer Role that has not completed the RVP process by August 1, 2019 will not be eligible to serve in that role/position and must be formally removed. To be eligible one must complete both the SafeSport training and go through the background screen conducted by NCSI for USBC.

Anyone in a Registered Volunteer Role that does not wish to participate should be asked to resign. If they do not want to resign, formal removal procedures must be undertaken per governing policy.

Anyone new to a Registered Volunteer Role after August 1, 2019 will have 45 days from the date they take office or before contact with a USBC Youth member, whichever occurs first, to become a Registered Volunteer.

4

50 YEAR CLUBBy Charla Green, Association Manager

Following the merger of the three Iowa State bowling associations, awards and programs were reviewed, some were continued, some were eliminated, and some were changed.

One of the programs/awards from the BA that was continued is the presentation of a 50 Year Plaque for those individuals (men and now women) who have bowled in 50 or more state tournaments. These bowlers are also introduced during their squads at the state tournaments.

In 2019 these bowlers were honored for their years of participation:

Harvey Lichtenberg Storm Lake 52 consecutive tournaments Bruce Pals Waterloo 54 tournaments Richard Crowe Ottumwa 50 tournaments Virgil Cerveny Cedar Rapids 51 tournaments Garl McLaughlin Iowa City 55 tournaments Charlie Kutsch Dubuque 63 tournaments Dick Welch Des Moines 55 tournaments Tom Scott Fort Dodge 52 consecutive tournaments Laird Trusler Newton 52 tournaments Bill Ward Newton 64 tournaments Bobby Phillips Mt. Pleasant 57 consecutive tournaments Arden Schoep Ames 55 tournaments Harold Petersen Davenport 58 tournaments Danny Gordon Des Moines 55 tournaments Chuck Rutledge Camanche 59 consecutive tournaments

The first female to join this elite group is Dorothy Goers of Clinton. Dorothy bowled March 2nd and 3rd in her 60th women’s state tournament. Dorothy is pictured here receiving her plaque to commemorate her great achievement from Charla Green, Iowa State USBC Association Manager.

A space for reporting 50 of more tournaments has now been included on both the Open and the Women’s entry forms.

5

2018 BVL MAIL-IN TOURNAMENTSEES HUGE INCREASE

By Laura Christensen, Iowa State USBC Director & BVL Chairperson

This year was outstanding!

We had some associations working on the BVL tournament for the first time and had a big increase in bowlers. In 2017 we had 3124 entries, this year, 4445. I can’t thank you all enough for your time and effort in making this so successful. I hope this will continue in the future. There is no better cause than helping our Veterans. They have shown courage and honor throughout their careers to make this country free.

Some statistics from this year:

Division Entries Prize Fees First Place Winners FromWomen Div. 1 611 $1,222.00 Tracey Thompson Marion Women Div. 2 551 $1,102.00 Cindy Briner CrestonWomen Div. 3 563 $1,126.00 Debora Strunk MarionMen Div. 1 761 $1,522.00 Ernie Davenport AdelMen Div. 2 794 $1588.00 Brett Kasal AdelMen Div. 3 1165 $2,330.00 Brett Young MarionTotals 4445 $8,890.00

This year the tournament raised $9,779.00 for the BVL and with extra donations given from individuals, associations, and tournament checks returned as donations, we will have approximately $13,000.00 to present to BVL this year.

I hope you will all consider helping with this Singles Mail- in Tournament. Next year’s tournament will be Nov. 3 - 9 (or the following week if needed). The entry fee will again be $5, with an entry deadline of Nov. 2. Score verifications must be returned and postmarked by December 2nd. All pertinent information will be on the rules and entry forms.

Reach out to all the presidents and secretaries in your association, for their help. Passing the entry form and an envelope around on their league night is very simple. The secretaries should have their bowlers sanction numbers and last year’s averages. Please, we need your help to Brighten Veterans Lives.

This was my first year as the BVL director and I had a lot to learn. With much needed help from Connie Rommel, Shannon McHugh and Charla Green I made it through my first year and now eager to work next year even harder to make this tournament grow.

We can’t THANK YOU enoughSubmitted by Laura Christensen, Iowa State USBC Director & BVL Chairperson

This year at the Iowa State USBC’s first merged meeting in March, we were fortunate to receive donated gifts for our raffle table. Each year we hold raffles to add to the funds raised from the Mail-In -Tournaments for Bowl for the Cure and BVL.

To those who took time out of your busy lives to help with donated items for the raffle table, THANK YOU. There are so many talented people among our state bowlers. All the gifts were absolutely beautiful. You helped us raise an additional $995.00 for both our causes. We could not have done this without you. Thank you so much for your donations.

6

VETERANS SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT IN DES MOINESBy Laura Christensen, Iowa State USBC Director & BVL Chairperson

I’d like to thank Mary Harrar, Executive Director of the BVL, and Connie Rommel the President of the Iowa State USBC for giving me the opportunity to attend this great show and awards ceremony.

On Sunday November 4, I was fortunate to attend the 2018 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in Des Moines, Iowa. This was the live stage show with the gold medal winners in a variety of categories from the Performing Arts divisions of music, drama and dance. This stage show was held at the historical Hoyt Sherman Place, to a full house.

During the show they shared a video of the gold medal winners of the art divisions and of the creative writers. This was all showcased at the Capital Square in downtown Des Moines, all week starting on October 29th. These Veterans, 130 of them, were the gold medal winners, all gold medal winners were present. This year over 3,500 Veterans from 128 VA medical facilities entered the art, music, drama, dance and creative writing competitions.

The week-long activities were hosted by the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, with Suzanne Anderson as the Host Site Coordinator and the American Legion Auxiliary, with Kathy Dungan the National President.

This was an amazing week for the veterans and all those attendees. Michael Peterson, a multiple Grammy and Country Music Award nominee was the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s stage show. This was his ninth year as emcee.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, please make sure you go. This is what America is all about. Helping our veterans become all they can be.

Next year the host is Battle Creek VA Medical Center and held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. October 28-November 3.

The BVL Mission:

“To brighten the lives of America’s Veterans and active duty men and women through recreational and therapeutic programs and services.”

The BVL is a Gold sponsor of the National Creative Arts Festival.

My First Year……. for BVLBy Laura Christensen

This has been quite an eye opener. It takes many hours, days even months from start to finish to coordinate tournaments. I have even more respect for Connie, Shannon and Charla for all their work on each tournament we hold. This was my first WinLabs experience and I’ve never coordinated any type of tournament before. I’m getting to understand how things all come together and it is very rewarding to be running this BVL Mail-In tournament for our veterans.

This year we had 4,445 entries. I want to thank each of you that have worked on collecting entries and those who are participating. What a great first year for me, and I hope next year will be even more successful.

There are many worthy causes out there and I believe that working for our veterans and active duty men and women, is the right fit for me. I’m thankful to be part of the BVL to help Brighten Veterans Lives.

Thank you all again for participating in the past and for this 2018 BVL tournament.

7

2019 Iowa 600 Club Annual MeetingBy Shannon McHugh, Secretary-Treasurer

The Iowa 600 Bowling Club met on Saturday, March 16, in Clinton, with 26 members attending. Pat Hutchins, Stuart USBC, was re-elected President, and Terri Carriere, Ames Area USBC, was re-elected as Sergeant-at-Arms.

Donations were approved of $50.00 to each of the three VA facilities, $350.00 to the Iowa Bowling Council for their scholarship fund, and $100.00 to the Iowa Hall of Pride for the bowling exhibit. The donations totaled $600.00.

Plaques were presented for “Bowler of the Year” awards for high game and high series – honor scores for the 2017-2018 season (honor scores that were reported). The high game award was presented to Tabitha Bieri, Muscatine USBC, and Kim Lyons, Marshall County USBC, for their games of 299, and the high series plaque was awarded to Bieri for her high series of 794.

The 2019 Doubles and Singles Tournament will be held in October at Spare Time Lanes in Jefferson, with the entry fee at $15.00 per event, and $1.00 optional all events handicap fee and $1.00 optional all events scratch fee.

The Mail-in tournament will be held November 24 – November 30; if you miss the first week, then can use second week of December 1-7), with entry deadline of November 23. You will be able to send in your highest score of the two-week time frame – so you will have 2 chances of scoring. Entry fee is $5.00 per certified league, and allows multiple participation in as many leagues as you participate (only one entry per league, and are not transferrable to a different league or bowler). You must submit scores from the league you send in for your entry. Bowlers will be allowed to cash multiple times.

Committees for the 2019-2020 season: Nominating Committee is Kala Wisecup, Teri Jennings and Jeanne Staley; Rules Committee is Cindi Tippett, Vicky Farrington-Howrey and Carri Danker.

Membership in the Iowa 600 Bowling Club is open to any female rolling a scratch 600+ series in USBC certified league or tournament play. The first 3 games of a 4-game series will be recognized. You do not have to bowl a 600 every year to be a member.

For information or questions concerning the 600 Club, please contact Shannon McHugh, 700 West South Street, Jefferson, Iowa 50129, phone 515-386-2043, fax 515-386-8531, email mchugh@netins.net, or contact any officer.

NOTE: Iowa 600 Club forms can be found at www.iowabowl.com, and we also have a FaceBook page (Iowa 600 Bowling Club).

2018 IOWA 600 CLUB MAIL-IN TOURNAMENTBy Shannon McHugh, Iowa 600 Club Secretary-Treasurer

The Iowa 600 Bowling Club held its annual mail-in tournament in November/December. The tournament features league scores from a specific two-week time frame, and the highest score(s) is used from that two-week period, from any USBC women’s or mixed certified leagues, with entry paid ahead of the participation week. 1st place went to Terri Carriere, Ames Area USBC – 801, 2nd place – Eleanore Martin, New Hampton USBC – 799, 3rd place – Sharon Porter, Fort Dodge Area USBC – 789, 4th and 5th places went to Kate McFadden with scores of 777 and 775. We had 102 entries and paid down 25 places. Thank you to all who participated!!!

8

Youth UpdateBy Jolene Ketelsen, Youth Coordinator

With the coming of spring, that means the youth state championship is getting ready to start. We have about 1,100 kids and their families who will converge on Waterloo over the course of four weekends. In the past we have always had our youth convention and annual meeting each summer. This year will bring on a new change! It is now going to be called the “Iowa State Youth Conference”. It will again be in Cedar Rapids, but some of the details are still being worked out. We will still have our Youth 9 pin tournament on Saturday afternoon along with the awards ceremony. On Saturday evening we will hold the Youth/Adult blind draw tournament. We do still need to have four committee meetings – Family Doubles, state Tournament, Pepsi and dress code. These committees which are made up of both youth and adults will lay out the foundation for the tournaments in the 2019-2020 bowling season. More details about this will be forthcoming!

Remember to turn in your Coach and Volunteer of the Year and Youth bowler of the Year

nominations by May 1st.

Clinton Hosts First Iowa State USBC Annual Meetingby Sally Reighard

One hundred and one delegates, representing thirty-one local associations, gathered at the Wild Rose Casino in Clinton the weekend of March 16-17, 2019, for the first annual meeting of the newly merged Iowa State USBC Association, Inc.

Board members arrived on Friday and held two committee meetings Friday night, The committee meetings continued as the board meeting convened at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and did not adjourn until noon.

Two representatives from USBC, Richard Stewart, Director of Training and Education, and Roger Petrin, the Midwest Regional Manager replacing George Lambert, conducted the Saturday afternoon workshop. They covered various topics, such as the upcoming requirements that will change how lane certification is done and about the elimination of “weight” holes in bowling balls.

Saturday evening was all about recognizing outstanding bowlers as the first annual Hall of Fame banquet was held. Five members of the bowling community were recognized for their performance on the lanes and their administrative skills and service to the sport. Honorees were Margo DeBar, Council Bluffs, for Superior Performance; Ed Butzyn, Jr., of Burlington for Meritorious Service, Matt Weggen, Muscatine, for Superior Performance; Michael Jordan, Cedar Rapids, in the Special category; and Lysle Musgrove, Ames, posthumously in the Special Category.

The Sunday morning session opened with a Memorial Service for those of the bowling community who have passed on during the previous year. A slide show with the names of the associations and the deceased members scrolled across the screen with beautiful music playing in the background.

The business meeting convened immediately following the Memorial Service and after a few speeches of welcome, the report of the credentials committee stated there were 101 attendees registered and eligible to vote.

Invitations were heard from representatives of the hosting cities for the 2020 tournaments, reports of the president, association manager and financial manager were noted in the delegate’s packets, and the committee chairs gave their reports.

The report of the legislative committee included a proposed amendment to allow the appointment of two directors-at-large. USBC representatives Richard Stewart and Roger Petrin had brought electronic voting devices from headquarters and as each delegate entered the room, they received a device, After testing the devices and instructions from Stewart, delegates voted to approve or reject the amendment. Ninety percent approved, ten percent rejected and the amendment was approved.

Club reports were heard from the 500, 600, 700 and Writers clubs. It was noted by both the men’s and women’s 700 clubs they are having low participation in their tournaments and will try one more year to keep the clubs active. The Writers club stated they had amended their bylaws by changing the name to the Iowa State Bowling Writers, and men and youth are now eligible to join.

Delegates were reminded of the Fall Jamboree to be held October 5-6 in Jefferson and that the 2020 Annual Meeting will be March 28-29 at the Pzazz in Burlington.

During elections, Shannon McHugh, 2nd vice president, LeRoy Heatherington and Jack Powers, directors #7 and #8 respectively, and Cody McCormick, youth director #3 were unopposed and re re-elected by acclamation. Sally Reighard, director #6, defeated Lane Lafler 57% to 43%.

9

For delegates to the 2020 USBC convention, Connie Rommel, president (37%), and Charla Green, association manager (39%), were elected as the delegates. Chris Birnbaum and McHugh, 1st and 2nd vice president respectively, each received 12% and will be the alternates.

The BVL and Bowl for the Cure raffle items were distributed. The joint proceeds were $955.00.The cash raffle winner was Sandy Isch of Greater Mason City.The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

Author’s Note. If you are a member of one of the 60 associations (the 2017-18 season had a total of 91 associations for women) that did not have a delegate present in Clinton, you are not having a voice in the decisions being made about the sport of bowling in Iowa. Please consider electing delegates to the 2020 Annual Meeting in Burlington at your annual meeting this spring. All associations are entitled to at least two delegates, depending on membership numbers from the previous season.

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD. ELECT DELEGATES.

Iowa State USBC Bowling Association to Induct 5 New Members into the State Hall of Fame

The Iowa State USBC Bowling Association will be inducting 5 new members into the State Hall of Fame on March 16, 2019. This year’s Hall of Fame class are; Margo DeBar (Special Category), Michael Jordan of Marion (Special Category), Ed Budzyn of Burlington (Meritorious Category), Lysle Musgrove of Ames (Posthumous) and Matt Weggen of Muscatine (Skills Category).

Margo DeBar

Margo DeBar has had a much decorated career and considered one of the premier bowlers in the State WBIC history as she accumulated numerous titles not just in Iowa but also in Nebraska and Colorado. In Colorado, she won the State Doubles title in 1994, in Nebraska, she won State Team titles in 2001 and 2009 and the Doubles title in 2001.

Her Iowa titles include the following State titles; 1999 All Events and Doubles, 2002 Team (Set the division 1 record), 2004 Doubles and Team titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She also won association titles, All Events in 1999 (Scratch) and 2007, Doubles in 2000, Singles in 2007 and Team in 2015 and 2016.

Margo has carried 200+ average for over 20 years (217 highest), has 2 800 series’ (803 and 817), 3 300 games, 2 299 games and over 50 700 series’.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan served on the Cedar Rapids USBC Bowling Association Board of Directors from 1981 to 2016 serving as President, Vice President and Association Secretary. He has been a Certified Lane Inspector since 1982 (37 years). Michael has been on the State Association Board and had risen through the ranks up to serving as President 2013-2014.

Jordan’s personal highs include, 1-299, 1-300’s and a 765 being his highest series. When you think of Michael Jordan’s name, you think about bowling. He has participated in 39 Association Tournaments, over 40 State Tournaments and more than 36 National Tournaments.

He had finishes of 14th in doubles during State in Fort Dodge and finished as doubles champion with his partner Ed Wise during a City Senior Tournament. He has been a busy person as he served as a delegate for 20 National Meetings and to the State Jamboree since 1981.

Michael was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Frank Stanek award in 2016. Bowling has been a huge part of his life and he has given back to the sport of bowling.

Ed Budzyn

Ed Budzyn had a great youth career as he won The Hardees Junior Pro-Am in Davenport while in junior leagues. While in High School he was on the teams that qualified for the State Tournament 1974, 1975 and 1976. The 1974 team finished 2nd place and the 1975 finished in 13th place. He honed his skills at Southeastern Community College in Burlington for their bowling team and they won the NJCCA title in 1977.

10

In 1976 Ed started bowling in adult leagues and little did he know that he was about to set the bar and set it high for all bowlers in Burlington. Championships seem to rack up one after the other in league, association and numerous local/regional/national tournaments.

Ed took the tournaments by storm as he amassed great success in the Association with 7 titles and 2 second place finishes, State he had 2 titles, 5 other top 25 finishes and highlighted 1992 with a 300 game in Des Moines, National tournaments he finished 88th out of 43,000 bowlers in 1992 and in other numerous tournaments (Area and Regional), he accumulated 7 other titles and 3 second place finishes.

His personal bests are second to none, 3 300 games, 12 299 games, 3 298 games, 15 11 in a row, 2 800 series’ 803, 400+ 700 series’, 218 highest average. Ed was on the All Star teams, 13 first team, 7 second team, 4 third team and 2 fourth team. Was Bowler of the Year 5 times (1987, 1989, 1992, 1997 and 1998) and inducted in the Burlington Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1992.

Ed served the sport of bowling like none other as he has held numerous positions locally for both adult and youth associations since 1980 with the highest being President in both and then numerous positions for the State Association since 2009 with being the President 2016-2017 and recently served as the Association Manager for the 2017-2018 season.

Lysle Musgrove

Lysle Musgrove was one special person who had an infectious smile and positive attitude and was a friend to anyone and everyone he came in contact with in his bowling career. He was still bowling at the young age of 102 during the 2014-2015 season.

He started his career in 1974 while living in Modesto/Turlock California and continued while he lived in Ames. All the while he held his highest average of 183 in the mid 1980’s and still carried a 175 average in 2000 at the age of 88. He held the high average in the Senior Leagues each year from 1991-2001.

Lysle hasn’t won a bunch of championships as that is not who he was. He won the league team titles in his first year in California (1974) and again in Ames in 2013. He also won the silver medal twice and the bronze medal four times all while participating in the Iowa Games and he had 10 strikes in a row at the age of 84 in 1996.

He was elected into the Ames Area USBC Hall of Fame in 2005. He never had the numbers of championships or honor scores, but that didn’t matter to Lysle, who was a champion in his own way, with the love for the game, smile and warm positive personality.

Matt Weggen

Where does one start with a bowler of Matt Weggen’s caliber and skill? Let’s start from the beginning as Matt started bowling at the age of 8. Little did Matt know that his career was about to get a BIG kick start as he won 4 Greater Iowa, 4 Heart of Illinois and 1 Greater Wisconsin State Tournaments, Iowa State Doubles Title in 1996 and finished eleventh in the 2000 Junior Olympic Gold Tournament that helped earn him $10,000 in scholarships

His adult career was an ongoing extension of his youth career as he kept winning at the Local/Area/National/PBA levels. At the State level he has been just as successful, holding championships in the Team Event with Trophy King (2011-2014), second place doubles in 2009. Weggen was also part of the Trophy King Team that set and holds the record team series of 3678 in 2011, he also has 2 300 games and 2 800 series’ with 857 being his highest that was held as a record for highest three game set in 2009.

Matt has held massive success at the national levels as well. At the USBC National Tournament he won two titles (Eagles) in 2011 for Singles (826) and All Events (2268) and has been the first ever bowler to roll back to back 800 series’ (2011) and a fourth place finish in the Team event with Trophy King in 2002.

In other tournaments he holds titles in the following; five time Scratch for Cash Champion in Iowa/Illinois, Team Champion in the Waterloo Greater Iowa 4 Man Tournament in 2012, three time Mississippi Valley Scratch Champion in Iowa/Illinois and

11

4th Place finish in the 2007 Bowlers Journal Classic Division. Weggen also has participated in the regional PBA tournaments with a highest finish of sixth place in the Blue Spring Missouri Regional and has 1 PBA 300 game.

Matt was elected into the Muscatine USBC Hall of Fame i n 2008 and the Tri City Classic League Hall of Fame in 2012. His personal highs are, 55 300 games, 20 299 games, 5 298 games and 55 800 series’ with the high of 857 (Twice), he has held an average over 230 for 15 consecutive years, with the highest being 244 in 2012-2013 season.

Article submitted for The Iowa Bowler newsletter by Lane Lafler, PR committee member with the Cedar Rapids USBC Bowling Association Board and Hall of Fame committee member.

What is the Future of Our Iowa State 700 Clubs?by Shellie Kutsch

At the Annual Meeting of the Iowa State USBC it was reported that the state 700 clubs both have a questionable future. Both the men’s and women’s 700 clubs are having very little participation in the club tournaments. The lack of interest from members is a concern. The men and women’s clubs will both be on a trial basis this next bowling season (2019-2020) before any decision is made. Jerry Robinson and I talked a little about the possibility of merging these two clubs. We are looking for input from our members, especially on what sort of tournament you’d participate.

The Men’s 700 Club will hold their tournament October 19-20, 2019 at May City in Cedar Rapids. This is a four-man team and singles event. Six games on the same pair of lanes.

The Women’s 700 Club will hold their Doubles Invite on September 28, 2019, site TBD. A 700- club member invites non-700 friend to bowl doubles. We will also hold our 700 Mail-In tournament in January 2020.Please support your club and join the friendly competition these tournaments provide!

Contact Jerry or Shellie with your ideas on making the club(s) stronger.

jrobinson@housby.combowl703@aol.com

2019 ISUSBCWBA Bowl for the Cure Mail-In TournamentBy Shannon McHugh, BFTC Tournament Chair

The 16th Annual Bowl for the Cure Mail-In Tournament had another fantastic year of entries! Iowa bowlers – THANK YOU!!!! You are AWESOME!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s tournament such a great success. You made it happen with your efforts to collect entries (and donations) from your leagues, tournaments and associations. YOU make it work!!!!! We had a record-setting 4,158 entries this year!

We appreciate those of you that participated and donated, and support our State Association and the Susan Komen Foundation in honor of loved ones or family members. For those who didn’t enter, please consider doing so next year for a very worthwhile cause.

This tournament has provided us with a way to make a difference in the fight against the beast we all know as breast cancer. It’s not really about winning a tournament; it’s about winning this fight!

So far this year’s donation is over $12,000 and will be mailed to USBC for the “Komen for the Cure” presentation at the USBC convention in April.

The 2019 winners were: WBA: Division 1 – Debra Morris, 881, Ames Area USBC Division 2 – Shannon Hocken, 915, Cedar Rapids USBC Division 3 – Kayla Skidmore, 860, Muscatine USBC BA: Division 1 – Drew Hopkins, 923, Greene County USBC Division 2 – David Rhine, 918, Creston USBC Division 3 – Pete Haggin, 898, Cedar Rapids USBC

On behalf of our state association, thank you again for your much needed and always appreciated support!!!!

12

WOMEN’S SENIOR TOURNAMENT PREPARES TO ROLL IN ADELBy Charla Green

May 4 is the opening day of the 2019 Iowa State USBC Women’s Senior State Tournament.

Adel Family Fun Center in Adel, just west of Des Moines is hosting the event and the Greater Des Moines USBC is assisting with the operation of the tournament.

Doubles and Singles will be bowled by the participants and they also can enter the optional handicap All Events.

The tournament features two divisions which are determined by AGE rather than by average!

New this year, the age limit was change from 55 years young in previous years to 50 years of age and older. Bowlers ages 50-64 are Division 2 for Singles and All Events, while those 65 and older are Division 1.

To determine the proper division for Doubles, the ages of the two partners are combined and if the total is 100 – 129, that is Division 2, and if the sum is 130 or more, they will bowl in Division 1.

The tournament is handicapped at 100% of a 220 base.

Entries closed April 1 but if you’re reading this and want to bowl, call the state office and see what is available for squad dates and times. Late entries will be accepted until the tournament starts on May 4.

Dates are May 4, 5, 11, 18 and 19. Saturday squads bowl at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Sundays feature just one squad at 11:00 a.m.

There is plenty of fun to be had at Adel Family Fun Center with bowling and a great lunch counter. Adel has small town charm you won’t want to miss.

Des Moines is just a short drive to the east of Adel so if its big city shopping or fare that you’re looking for, bowling the 2019 Senior Women’s State Tournament can provide a fun day out and maybe even a reason for an overnight trip too!

Can’t make it this year? Darn! Well, make plans now for 2020 when the tournament returns to Spare Time Lanes in Jefferson with the Greene County USBC handling the operational duties.

CAMANCHE USBC AND CLINTON USBCHOSTS 2019 WOMEN’S STATE TOURNAMENT

By Charla Green

March 2 was the first day of bowling for the 2019 Iowa State USBC Women’s State Championship Tournament.

Team event is being rolled at Imperial Lanes in Camanche while Plaza Bowl of Clinton is handling the Doubles and Singles.

The tournament is hosting 473 Teams, 916 Doubles, 1,832 Singles, 226 Scratch Singles, 1,763 All Events and 229 Scratch All Events.

The ladies’ tournament features one division in all the events. Handicap is based at 220 and is 100% in the handicap events.

Up to 60 teams will be bowling each weekend; the tournament will conclude on May 5.

As of this writing, the high game rolled is a 279 from Melissa Kremer rolled during her team event. Lori Easterla bowled a 278 in her doubles and Jenny Lessenger shot a 277 also in her doubles. Kremer also shot a 277 in her singles.

723 is the high series so far, rolled by Kremer during her team bowling, she also had a 704 in her doubles. Lori Easterla shot an even 700 in her doubles competition.

Lots of good bowling by the ladies so far!

Clinton USBC and Camanche USBC are doing a great job with the operational duties of the tournament and the communities themselves have been very welcoming and accommodating as the bowlers visit.

Clinton & Camanche teamed together for their first time as co-hosting for the ladies in 2016. They enjoyed it so much, they invited the gals back in 2019.

The Iowa State USBC, as a merged association, has made a few changes in the awarding of state tournaments. The process of selecting the tournament host city or cities is one of those changes.

Because the bid process which was used for many years had become increasing unpopular, the state tournament committee for the Iowa State USBC established a yearly rotation for the Open State Tournament, the Women’s State Tournament as well as the Youth State Tournament.

The 2020 tournaments were awarded using the previous bid process. The ladies will be bowling in Muscatine while the Open tournament will be held in Mt. Pleasant (team) and Burlington (doubles & singles).

The site for the 2021 tournaments, using the established rotation system, will be Cedar Rapids for the women’s tournament and Greater Cedar Valley (Waterloo) will handle the Open.

13

MUSCATINE HOSTS OPEN TOURNAMENT

The Open State Championship Tournament commenced on February 2 and will conclude on May 19.

The 2019 Open is hosting 950 5-person Teams, 2,413 Doubles, 4,826 Singles and 4,642 All Events.

The tournament features three divisions, Open which is scratch-no handicap, Standard, and Booster.

Handicap is based from the top average of the division at 90% of the difference between the bowler’s average and the top average of the division.

Rose Bowl is the host center and features 36 synthetic lanes, full-service lounge and snack bar along with a state-of-the-art pro shop on site.

The Muscatine USBC is doing a marvelous job hosting and handling the operation of the tournament.

There have been many very impressive scores bowled in the tournament and at the time of this writing, the tournament is only 2/3 done!

18 300 games have been bowled so far along with eight 299’s, two 298’s, one 297 and a 296.

Top series to date is 805 by Paul Nebel. Matt Schlueter bowled an 804 in his singles event. Jeff Ross and Jesse Owen both recorded an 803 and both during their singles events. Brad Mason rolled an even 800 in his doubles event.

It was been several years since the Open visited Muscatine and there have been several changes since our last visit.

The Merrill Hotel located on Mississippi Drive is a wonderful addition to the amenities in Muscatine. A first-rate hotel facility with wonderful views of the Mississippi River, you’ll want to check it out.

There are many downtown restaurants, bars, and shops anxious for the pleasure of serving the bowlers.

Muscatine is truly a “hot spot” for bowling! The Muscatine USBC hosted the Youth State Tournament in 2018, the Open State Championship Tournament in 2019 and they’re already planning for the 2019 Iowa State Mixed Tournament in October/November and the women’s State tournament in 2020.

If you haven’t already made your plans for the women’s tournament, or your reservation or plans for the Open tournament, give it some thought! You don’t want to miss out on a great weekend of fun with friends and bowling!

14

935 South 26th StreetFort Dodge, IA 50501