Busy day of striking in Reno at 2024 USBC Women’s Championships

RENO, Nev. – Calling Friday busy at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships might be an understatement, as three bowlers connected for 300 during the day and new leaders emerged in Emerald Doubles at the National Bowling Stadium.

Debbie Ayers of La Mesa, California, got the day started with the ninth 300 of the 2024 event during to start her singles set, and minutes later, Reno’s Stephani Cooksey fired the 10th perfect game in her second game of singles.

On the next squad, Marisol Garcia of Chicago and Cameryn Landers of Calumet Park, Illinois, took the lead in Emerald Doubles with a fantastic score of 1,196.

To cap off the exciting day, Mallory Tobbe of Meridian, Idaho, added to the excitement with her very first 300 game during her team event.
Debbie Ayers at the 2024 USBC Women's Championships

For Ayers, bowling this 300 at the National Bowling Stadium was a dream come true.

“It meant a lot to bowl my 300 here at this historic venue in Reno,” said Ayers, who added games of 217 and 244 to finish with 761 in Diamond Singles. “At my age, shooting one here is just amazing. I turned 60 this year, and it was a good birthday present for me. I’ve still got it.”

Ayers represented Senior Team USA at the 2021 International Bowling Federation World Senior Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earning a bronze medal in the team event. But, she still could not believe she had achieved perfection at the USBC Women’s Championships.

“Yes, I was kind of shaking a little bit,” Ayers said. “Definitely here, I would have never thought, in my dreams or in my whole life, I would ever shoot one here.”

She has been bowling at the Women’s Championships now for 22 years, and she’s been bowling since she was 5 years old.

Her parents got her into bowling and were very supportive of her. The big reason why she got so influenced by bowling is because there was a bowling center down the street from their house that her family would walk to and visit.

“My parents always saw that I had a lot of capabilities to do great things,” said Ayers, who also had sets of 654 in team and 649 in doubles in Reno for an all-events total of 2,064.
Stephani Cooksey at the 2024 USBC Women's Championships

Cooksey heated up during her second game of singles, and she was excited to achieve such a milestone.

“It was really exciting,” Cooksey said. “I’ve had a lot of health issues the last few years, so it felt good to get back and finally do something great like this. It was nice to finally get back in the groove.”

The left-hander was very poised throughout her 300 game.

“I just told myself, one perfectly executed shot at a time,” Cooksey said. “Just don’t think about anything else. Just get my target.”

Cooksey is no stranger to the National Bowling Stadium living in Reno, and she has really enjoyed both of the bowling stadiums in the state of Nevada.

“I love the National Bowling Stadium,” Cooksey said. “This stadium and South Point are my two favorite places to bowl in the world.”

Cooksey added games of 193 and 172 around her perfect performance for a 665 series in Diamond Singles, and she posted 625 in doubles and 533 in team for an all-events score of 1,823.
Marisol Garcia and Cameryn Landers at the 2024 USBC Women's Championships

Garcia and Landers both complimented each other well throughout their doubles set on the way to the lead in the Emerald Division.

Garcia had a nice series score of 575, and Landers pushed the pace with a great series of 621. They combined to pass the 1,179 posted earlier in the week by Michelle Adams of Glendale, Arizona, and Roma Ebel of Sun City, Arizona.

Garcia shot 175 in Game 1 and followed that up in Games 2 and 3 with scores of 200 in each. Landers fired 248 in Game 1, but shot 147 in Game 2. In Game 3, she bounced back with a solid score of 226.

Landers is very happy with how the tournament turned out for her team.

“It feels really good, especially with this being my first time here,” Landers said. “I am so happy I got to experience a fantastic event like this, and I learned how to keep my mind at ease throughout and be relaxed when I am throwing my shots.”

The pair was shocked to find out they had taken the lead.

“We really were not expecting to take the lead,” Landers said. “I am happy with how well we executed our shots, and it’s very humbling to have it happen.”

They will be very happy on the flight home back to Illinois.

“I am really excited to go home and celebrate with my friends and family,” Landers said.

Emerald Doubles features pairs with combined entering averages of 271-310.
Mallory Tobbe at the 2024 USBC Women's Championships

Tobbe bowled the 11th 300 of the 2024 Women’s Championships to extend the tournament record.

She also bowled a great series of 757 in her team event Friday to lead the way for her team – Ten Pin Wigglers – to a 2,480 total in the Diamond Division.

In Game 1, she rolled a score of 215. In Game 2, she fired her 300 game and complimented it well in Game 3 with a score of 242.

This 300 meant a lot to her.

“This was definitely the place to do it,” Tobbe said. “It feels really good. My grandma, Regina, actually passed away a year ago tomorrow. So, it’s kind of bittersweet that I got to do it for her.

“I am here with my mom and my other grandma and our newborn, so it’s really fun to celebrate bowling out here with my friends and family.”

Tobbe has enjoyed competing at the Women’s Championships the last four years.

“This year is definitely a highlight, and it’s one of the places closest to home,” Tobbe said. “So, it was nice to bowl a great game that’s only a couple hours away from home.”

Tobbe, who bowled collegiately at Pikeville, finished her appearance with sets of 741 in doubles and 626 in singles for a 2,124 all-events total.

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