Early excitement at 2024 USBC Women’s Championships
April 30, 2024
Pictured above: The members of It's In Our DNA of Wood Dale, Illinois.
RENO, Nev. – It’s been a fast start for big scores at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, and two teams set the early pace Sunday in their respective divisions.
In the Ruby Division, the team of It’s In Our DNA of Wood Dale, Illinois, struck down the competition at the National Bowling Stadium. After starting competition with games of 780 and 739, the team caught fire in Game 3 for a 936 total to finish with a 2,455 series.
The team consisted of Michele Pochay, Nicole Soja, Kelly Blecke and Nadine Blecke.
Soja was the team’s high scorer, rattling off games of 205, 216 and 268 for a 689 series. She knew her team was going to come into this tournament and bowl well, since the team had been successful in the past.
Kelly Blecke shot games of 212, 184 and 246 for a series of 642. Nadine Blecke helped with games of 168, 169 and 233 for a 570 series. Pochay had games of 195, 170 and 189 for a 554 series.
“It feels great,” Soja said. “We had a different person on our team this year, compared to last year. Coming together like we did, in this last game especially, felt amazing.”
It's In Our DNA has built a relationship through bowling together for a while now.
Soja has been bowling most of her life. Her grandmother bowled, and bowling was passed down to her mother as well.
“So, our team grew up together,” Soja said. “We bowled through high school and college together, besides my mom, of course. But, we all knew each other’s styles and techniques, so it’s easy to be on a good rhythm bowling together.”
Ruby Team features four-player groups with combined entering averages of 621-700.
During the same squad Sunday, the team known as City of Gold 7 of Oroville, California, bowled three stellar games to take the lead in the Sapphire Division with 1,847.
The team had games of 594, 636 and 617 at the National Bowling Stadium.
Three of the teammates – Debra Miller, JoAnne Jircitano and Betty Horton – are from Orville, and Tracie Cvitkovich is from Chico, California.
Horton led the teammates with games of 209, 199 and 192 for a solid series of 600. Cvitkovich had a series of 466, Jircitano rolled to a series of 419 and Miller had a series of 362.
“Well, it was kind of a surprise, however, it’s possible that it’s going to be short-lived because there are a bunch of wonderful bowlers here,” Cvitkovich said. “There will be more to come all the way through June.”
Cvitkovich and her teammates have enjoyed their time so far in Reno and the team felt a great sense of accomplishment, especially with some of them experiencing their first time at the USBC Women’s Championships. Reno has a great place in their hearts.
“I have been to Reno several times before, because I am from California anyways, so it is close by,” Cvitkovich said. “But, being here with the team has been a fun event. It’s mine and Debra Miller’s first time being at the championships.”
The Sapphire Division features teams with combined entering averages of 540 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – It’s been a fast start for big scores at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, and two teams set the early pace Sunday in their respective divisions.
In the Ruby Division, the team of It’s In Our DNA of Wood Dale, Illinois, struck down the competition at the National Bowling Stadium. After starting competition with games of 780 and 739, the team caught fire in Game 3 for a 936 total to finish with a 2,455 series.
The team consisted of Michele Pochay, Nicole Soja, Kelly Blecke and Nadine Blecke.
Soja was the team’s high scorer, rattling off games of 205, 216 and 268 for a 689 series. She knew her team was going to come into this tournament and bowl well, since the team had been successful in the past.
Kelly Blecke shot games of 212, 184 and 246 for a series of 642. Nadine Blecke helped with games of 168, 169 and 233 for a 570 series. Pochay had games of 195, 170 and 189 for a 554 series.
“It feels great,” Soja said. “We had a different person on our team this year, compared to last year. Coming together like we did, in this last game especially, felt amazing.”
It's In Our DNA has built a relationship through bowling together for a while now.
Soja has been bowling most of her life. Her grandmother bowled, and bowling was passed down to her mother as well.
“So, our team grew up together,” Soja said. “We bowled through high school and college together, besides my mom, of course. But, we all knew each other’s styles and techniques, so it’s easy to be on a good rhythm bowling together.”
Ruby Team features four-player groups with combined entering averages of 621-700.
During the same squad Sunday, the team known as City of Gold 7 of Oroville, California, bowled three stellar games to take the lead in the Sapphire Division with 1,847.
The team had games of 594, 636 and 617 at the National Bowling Stadium.
Three of the teammates – Debra Miller, JoAnne Jircitano and Betty Horton – are from Orville, and Tracie Cvitkovich is from Chico, California.
Horton led the teammates with games of 209, 199 and 192 for a solid series of 600. Cvitkovich had a series of 466, Jircitano rolled to a series of 419 and Miller had a series of 362.
“Well, it was kind of a surprise, however, it’s possible that it’s going to be short-lived because there are a bunch of wonderful bowlers here,” Cvitkovich said. “There will be more to come all the way through June.”
Cvitkovich and her teammates have enjoyed their time so far in Reno and the team felt a great sense of accomplishment, especially with some of them experiencing their first time at the USBC Women’s Championships. Reno has a great place in their hearts.
“I have been to Reno several times before, because I am from California anyways, so it is close by,” Cvitkovich said. “But, being here with the team has been a fun event. It’s mine and Debra Miller’s first time being at the championships.”
The Sapphire Division features teams with combined entering averages of 540 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.