New Jersey bowler joins 50-Year Club at Women's Championships
June 21, 2016
LAS VEGAS - The United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships has helped Alicia Straka of Bridgewater, New Jersey, travel across the country and build countless friendships, and her trek in 2016 gave her another memory to cherish as she celebrated her 50th tournament appearance.
The 89-year-old right-hander was recognized for her fifth decade on the championship lanes Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and she was awarded a plaque, chevron and pendant to commemorate the milestone and celebrate her dedication and longevity to the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
Straka began her journey at the 1966 USBC Women's Championships in New Orleans, and it did not take much convincing after her visit to Pelican Lanes to continue on.
"I had a good friend who told me that I was going to be on her team for the national bowling tournament," said Straka, who has made an annual appearance at the tournament each year since 1984. "She said I needed to travel and have a vacation away from the kids. I told her I'd have to wait to find out if I had the money to go, and she said, 'knowing you, you'll figure it out.' That's how I ended up going to my first tournament. After seeing all New Orleans had to offer, I was hooked. I didn't have to be talked into going again."
The Women's Championships has taken Straka to 36 cities and 24 states, but her travel schedule often did not end after she packed away her bowling equipment following her time on the lanes.
She has visited 48 states in total, and Straka's trips to the 1980 event in Seattle and 1986 tournament in Orange County, California, allowed her the opportunity to check Alaska and Hawaii off her list.
"We went to Seattle after the eruption at Mount St. Helens, and there wasn't much we could do because of the ash and everything, so we went to Anchorage, Alaska," said Straka, a member of the Somerset-Hunterdon Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "When we went to Orange County, we figured since we already were that far west, we should go to Hawaii. The only states I haven't seen are Montana and Nebraska."
Straka also has enjoyed the chance to meet new people and develop friendships with bowlers from all across the country.
"I love the game of bowling for not only the competition, but the camaraderie," Straka said. "One of the women in the stands today came from Phoenix to cheer me on, since we bowled together in New Jersey. After she moved to Arizona, she would put together a team, I would have my team, and we would travel to nationals together. That's the kind of friendship that can be developed through the sport."
Now that the anxious wait for her 50th appearance is over, Straka already is looking forward to returning to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the 2017 event. The tournament is making its first visit to Red Stick since 1993.
"I had this angst and anticipation going because I hoped I would make it," said Straka, who rolled sets of 384 in doubles, 374 in singles and 314 in team for a 1,072 all-events total. "When you're 89 years old, every day is a blessing. I'm looking forward to Baton Rouge. Last time we were there, we had a great time."
Four other competitors joined Straka in reaching the 50-year plateau at the 2016 event, including Alyce Hansen of Port Ludlow, Washington, Martha Johnson of Johnson City, Tennessee, Linda Prattini of New Orleans and Jelemia Sanders of Richmond, Kentucky.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 89-year-old right-hander was recognized for her fifth decade on the championship lanes Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and she was awarded a plaque, chevron and pendant to commemorate the milestone and celebrate her dedication and longevity to the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
Straka began her journey at the 1966 USBC Women's Championships in New Orleans, and it did not take much convincing after her visit to Pelican Lanes to continue on.
"I had a good friend who told me that I was going to be on her team for the national bowling tournament," said Straka, who has made an annual appearance at the tournament each year since 1984. "She said I needed to travel and have a vacation away from the kids. I told her I'd have to wait to find out if I had the money to go, and she said, 'knowing you, you'll figure it out.' That's how I ended up going to my first tournament. After seeing all New Orleans had to offer, I was hooked. I didn't have to be talked into going again."
The Women's Championships has taken Straka to 36 cities and 24 states, but her travel schedule often did not end after she packed away her bowling equipment following her time on the lanes.
She has visited 48 states in total, and Straka's trips to the 1980 event in Seattle and 1986 tournament in Orange County, California, allowed her the opportunity to check Alaska and Hawaii off her list.
"We went to Seattle after the eruption at Mount St. Helens, and there wasn't much we could do because of the ash and everything, so we went to Anchorage, Alaska," said Straka, a member of the Somerset-Hunterdon Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "When we went to Orange County, we figured since we already were that far west, we should go to Hawaii. The only states I haven't seen are Montana and Nebraska."
Straka also has enjoyed the chance to meet new people and develop friendships with bowlers from all across the country.
"I love the game of bowling for not only the competition, but the camaraderie," Straka said. "One of the women in the stands today came from Phoenix to cheer me on, since we bowled together in New Jersey. After she moved to Arizona, she would put together a team, I would have my team, and we would travel to nationals together. That's the kind of friendship that can be developed through the sport."
Now that the anxious wait for her 50th appearance is over, Straka already is looking forward to returning to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the 2017 event. The tournament is making its first visit to Red Stick since 1993.
"I had this angst and anticipation going because I hoped I would make it," said Straka, who rolled sets of 384 in doubles, 374 in singles and 314 in team for a 1,072 all-events total. "When you're 89 years old, every day is a blessing. I'm looking forward to Baton Rouge. Last time we were there, we had a great time."
Four other competitors joined Straka in reaching the 50-year plateau at the 2016 event, including Alyce Hansen of Port Ludlow, Washington, Martha Johnson of Johnson City, Tennessee, Linda Prattini of New Orleans and Jelemia Sanders of Richmond, Kentucky.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.