New all-events, singles leaders at 2021 USBC Women's Championships

By Barbara Ponsock and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev.
- Two competitors rolled big singles sets this week at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships to take over the lead in multiple events at the National Bowling Stadium, while a bowler making her first appearance moved into the top spot in Topaz All-Events.

Shalanda Nunn of Lafayette, Indiana, rolled a 671 series in her singles set at the NBS to help her claim the lead in Sapphire Singles and Sapphire All-Events (1,740).

Rose Waters of Auburn Hills, Michigan, followed a similar path to take the lead in Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events, rolling 704 in singles on the way to a 1,950 total.

Julia Fugitt of Grapevine, Texas, made her USBC Women's Championships debut this week in Reno, and she left the NBS with the top score in Topaz All-Events with 1,406.

The Ruby division features bowlers with entering averages of 161-174, while Sapphire includes bowlers with entering averages of 138-148. Topaz features bowlers with entering averages of 124 and below.

Nunn, a 43-year-old right-hander making her eighth tournament appearance, rolled the three highest sets of her tournament career on the way to the top of the leaderboard.

After starting her 2021 event with sets of 587 in team and 482 in doubles, Nunn rolled games of 237, 253 and 181 to cruise into the lead in Sapphire Singles. Alisha Stahler of Pine Island, Minnesota, previously led with 605.

Nunn's all-events total passed her previous high total at the Women's Championships by 399 pins to pass Tori King of Cedar City, Utah, who had held the top spot with 1,685.

Waters, who made her 13th consecutive tournament appearance, also set personal bests at the Women's Championships to capture the lead in two divisions.

She got stronger with each set at the NBS, starting with 582 in team and 664 in doubles before eclipsing the 700 mark in singles. Waters finished her 2021 appearance with games of 257, 229 and 218 to break a tie at the top of the leaderboard in Ruby Singles.

Jennifer Nusbaum of Leonardtown, Maryland, and Gay Socha of Fayetteville, Georgia, had shared the lead with 696.

Waters finished her final game with four consecutive strikes to take the lead by eight pins.

Deborah Manthey of Dearborn, Michigan, previously held the Ruby All-Events lead with 1,915.

060721_JuliaFugittFugitt, a 19-year-old right-hander, was consistent in her first appearance at the Women's Championships. She rolled sets of 494 in doubles, 462 in singles and 450 in team. Diane Searles of Macomb, Michigan, previously led Topaz All-Events with a 1,362 total.

Fugitt's steady performance also helped her move into the top 20 in each event. She's currently fourth in Emerald Team, sixth in Sapphire Doubles and 16th in Topaz Singles.