Pluhowsky helps team into lead at USBC Women's
June 21, 2015
By Jessica Gilgor and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Living in the suburbs of Phoenix, Brenda Burns was able to watch Shannon Pluhowsky hone her talents on the lanes as a junior bowler, but she never had the chance to share the lanes with the 15-time Team USA member.
On Friday, Burns not only found herself alongside Pluhowsky on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, she also was able to share the spotlight with the talented left-hander and two-time United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships titlist as they helped AZ Gals of Peoria, Arizona, into the top spot in Diamond Team with a 2,717 total.
AZ Gals put together games of 915, 960 and 842 to surpass the 2,634 posted by defending champion Bowlieve In A Cure of Arlington, Texas. AZ Gals' score also is the third-highest team series since the USBC Women's Championships switched from five-player to four-player teams in 2014.
Pluhowsky, also the 2006 USBC Queens champion, led AZ Gals with a 706 series and was joined by Megan Withey (682), Megan Kelly (668) and Burns (661).
"I think we realized we had a chance about the beginning of the third game," said Burns, a 50-year-old right-hander. "We thought we needed 2,800, but every time we checked the leaderboard, we only saw singles and all-events scores."
The members of AZ Gals came together by chance, when two of Burns' original team members were unable to attend the 2015 event due to injuries.
"I put it on Facebook that I was looking for two bowlers to join, since I had lost two to injury," said Burns, who made her 15th Women's Championships appearance. "I had one friend offer to fill a spot, and then 15 minutes later, Shannon messaged me saying she and Megan would like to bowl. I asked my other friend if she minded me taking up Shannon on her offer, since she had two bowlers, and my friend had no problem."
Even though the group had never bowled together as a team, they found their chemistry was instantaneous.
"The fact that we met early to have a drink and talk made it fun from the start," Burns said. "It was evident very quickly that we had great team chemistry. I think Shannon signed us up for 2016 before we finished the first game."
With the 2015 Women's Championships quickly coming to a close June 30, the team now faces the arduous task of waiting to see if the score holds up.
"I think we gave it our best shot, but we'll just see what happens," Burns said. "The girls are already talking about what teams are coming in behind us."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Living in the suburbs of Phoenix, Brenda Burns was able to watch Shannon Pluhowsky hone her talents on the lanes as a junior bowler, but she never had the chance to share the lanes with the 15-time Team USA member.
On Friday, Burns not only found herself alongside Pluhowsky on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, she also was able to share the spotlight with the talented left-hander and two-time United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships titlist as they helped AZ Gals of Peoria, Arizona, into the top spot in Diamond Team with a 2,717 total.
AZ Gals put together games of 915, 960 and 842 to surpass the 2,634 posted by defending champion Bowlieve In A Cure of Arlington, Texas. AZ Gals' score also is the third-highest team series since the USBC Women's Championships switched from five-player to four-player teams in 2014.
Pluhowsky, also the 2006 USBC Queens champion, led AZ Gals with a 706 series and was joined by Megan Withey (682), Megan Kelly (668) and Burns (661).
"I think we realized we had a chance about the beginning of the third game," said Burns, a 50-year-old right-hander. "We thought we needed 2,800, but every time we checked the leaderboard, we only saw singles and all-events scores."
The members of AZ Gals came together by chance, when two of Burns' original team members were unable to attend the 2015 event due to injuries.
"I put it on Facebook that I was looking for two bowlers to join, since I had lost two to injury," said Burns, who made her 15th Women's Championships appearance. "I had one friend offer to fill a spot, and then 15 minutes later, Shannon messaged me saying she and Megan would like to bowl. I asked my other friend if she minded me taking up Shannon on her offer, since she had two bowlers, and my friend had no problem."
Even though the group had never bowled together as a team, they found their chemistry was instantaneous.
"The fact that we met early to have a drink and talk made it fun from the start," Burns said. "It was evident very quickly that we had great team chemistry. I think Shannon signed us up for 2016 before we finished the first game."
With the 2015 Women's Championships quickly coming to a close June 30, the team now faces the arduous task of waiting to see if the score holds up.
"I think we gave it our best shot, but we'll just see what happens," Burns said. "The girls are already talking about what teams are coming in behind us."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.