Bowlers find creative ways to get to USBC Women's Championships
April 12, 2011
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Some participants at the USBC Women's Championships are renowned for their resourcefulness and often have entertaining stories about their travels to the tournament, which has been held in 56 cities since its inception in 1916.
Whether bowlers overcome obstacles while flying, or conquer ailments and missing equipment, they are true competitors and sometimes remarkable survivors. That's especially true when it comes to juggling details of their trip and financing the associated expenses.
The Nizhoni-5, a team of Navajo Native Americans from Arizona and New Mexico, is just such a group. Representing the Navajo word meaning pretty or beautiful, the ladies also are good with handling money and making strides to defray costs. In part, that entails piling bowlers, luggage and balls into two cars to head for tournaments, using most of their savings to cover travel expenses such as high gas prices.
"We fundraise all year long," said Kathy Serna of Gallup, N.M. "One method we use is taking cheese enchilada orders twice a year and selling them to our community. We create them from a special recipe that has the world's best sauce, made from Albuquerque peppers. At times, we have sold 120 dozen per fundraiser."
The recipe hails from teammate Kathleen Beck, also of Gallup. The team spends an entire day cooking, and then sells to neighbors, family and colleagues. Members also hold annual raffles before Christmas, with each woman donating handmade items as prizes.
"My son creates flutes - carved with etchings of feathers, buffalo, eagles, butterflies and deer - then he writes music to play on them," said Rosh Foley of Window Rock, Ariz. "We raffle hand-woven rugs and make jewelry, too."
Both Foley and her teammate, Vi Blackman, also of Window Rock, are full-blooded Navajo, and the entire team dons shirts depicting Native American icons. Remaining teammate Betty Johnson is another Gallup resident, while their sixth bowler, Marcy Woody, is from Window Rock.
Team members have attended the Women's Championships from 10-16 years, traveling in all directions.
While in Syracuse, one guaranteed stop was the area casinos. They enjoy comparing other gaming establishments to those owned by their tribes back home.
This year, they competed in the Sapphire Division and posted a 2,139 total with games of 638, 613 and 597. Their division includes teams with a combined average of 749 and below.
Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.
Whether bowlers overcome obstacles while flying, or conquer ailments and missing equipment, they are true competitors and sometimes remarkable survivors. That's especially true when it comes to juggling details of their trip and financing the associated expenses.
The Nizhoni-5, a team of Navajo Native Americans from Arizona and New Mexico, is just such a group. Representing the Navajo word meaning pretty or beautiful, the ladies also are good with handling money and making strides to defray costs. In part, that entails piling bowlers, luggage and balls into two cars to head for tournaments, using most of their savings to cover travel expenses such as high gas prices.
"We fundraise all year long," said Kathy Serna of Gallup, N.M. "One method we use is taking cheese enchilada orders twice a year and selling them to our community. We create them from a special recipe that has the world's best sauce, made from Albuquerque peppers. At times, we have sold 120 dozen per fundraiser."
The recipe hails from teammate Kathleen Beck, also of Gallup. The team spends an entire day cooking, and then sells to neighbors, family and colleagues. Members also hold annual raffles before Christmas, with each woman donating handmade items as prizes.
"My son creates flutes - carved with etchings of feathers, buffalo, eagles, butterflies and deer - then he writes music to play on them," said Rosh Foley of Window Rock, Ariz. "We raffle hand-woven rugs and make jewelry, too."
Both Foley and her teammate, Vi Blackman, also of Window Rock, are full-blooded Navajo, and the entire team dons shirts depicting Native American icons. Remaining teammate Betty Johnson is another Gallup resident, while their sixth bowler, Marcy Woody, is from Window Rock.
Team members have attended the Women's Championships from 10-16 years, traveling in all directions.
While in Syracuse, one guaranteed stop was the area casinos. They enjoy comparing other gaming establishments to those owned by their tribes back home.
This year, they competed in the Sapphire Division and posted a 2,139 total with games of 638, 613 and 597. Their division includes teams with a combined average of 749 and below.
Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.