Illinois bowler makes 48th consecutive WC appearance
May 13, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - After 47 consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearances, Mary Lou Baird of Steger, Ill., found herself without a team for the 2010 event and was in danger of having her participation streak broken.
A friendship that developed on the lanes more than 40 years ago, however, helped to bring Baird to the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Tuesday evening for her 48th consecutive tournament.
The 74-year-old right-hander is a member of the 1971 and 1977 Classic Division team champions at the Women's Championships, but a near-miss at another title helped her to develop a lifelong friendship.
At the 1968 event in San Antonio, Baird was leading in Classic Singles as the end of the tournament drew near. In the final days of the tournament, Norma Parks of Raytown, Mo., topped her score to win the title.
Although Baird did not win the crown, her performance granted her an opportunity to compete in the United States/Canada Friendship Match later that year in Vancouver, British Columbia. The special event brought 10 amateurs from each country to compete in team, doubles, singles and all-events competition.
"I was lucky to be a part of such an event," said Baird, who bowls league at Classic Lanes in South Chicago Heights, Ill. "They flew us out to Seattle first. They took us sightseeing, which was followed by exhibition matches. From there, we went to Vancouver, where we saw some more sights before taking the lanes. It was the chance of a lifetime."
Baird performed well in the tournament, which included a doubles victory with Parks, but she took home something more special than any tournament crown. She found a friendship that would last a lifetime with Canadian counterpart Maryon Lewis of Black Creek, British Columbia.
The two remained friends as the years passed and visited each other whenever they could. They also would write each other every Christmas to see how the other was doing and to talk about their upcoming Women's Championships appearance. Lewis made her 38th tournament appearance in El Paso.
In her most recent letter, Baird delivered some unfortunate news to Lewis.
"When I wrote her, I told her I didn't have a team for this year," Baird said. "We had some things happen that caused my team to not make the trip this year. A few weeks ago, Maryon called me to see if I could sub for her team, and I was able to put everything together in time."
Lewis knew exactly who she was going to call when a spot on her team opened up.
"I couldn't stand the thought of her not making the tournament," said Lewis. "When she wrote me at Christmas, I was devastated to hear she didn't have a team. When a spot became available on my team, she was the first person I thought of."
With her 48th Women's Championships in the books, Baird looks forward to reaching her goal of 50 tournament appearances.
"That's my goal," Baird said. "I would love to make 50 years. I love it, not only for the competition, but because it's the largest participatory sporting event for women, and it's amazing to be a part of that."
Both Baird and Lewis competed in the Ruby Division. Baird finished her competition with a 552 series in doubles, 534 in team and 430 in singles for a 1,516 all-events total. Lewis rolled 542 in team, 485 in singles and 482 in doubles for a final all-events total of 1,509. All scores include handicap.
The Ruby Division is made up of bowlers with averages between 150 and 179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A friendship that developed on the lanes more than 40 years ago, however, helped to bring Baird to the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Tuesday evening for her 48th consecutive tournament.
The 74-year-old right-hander is a member of the 1971 and 1977 Classic Division team champions at the Women's Championships, but a near-miss at another title helped her to develop a lifelong friendship.
At the 1968 event in San Antonio, Baird was leading in Classic Singles as the end of the tournament drew near. In the final days of the tournament, Norma Parks of Raytown, Mo., topped her score to win the title.
Although Baird did not win the crown, her performance granted her an opportunity to compete in the United States/Canada Friendship Match later that year in Vancouver, British Columbia. The special event brought 10 amateurs from each country to compete in team, doubles, singles and all-events competition.
"I was lucky to be a part of such an event," said Baird, who bowls league at Classic Lanes in South Chicago Heights, Ill. "They flew us out to Seattle first. They took us sightseeing, which was followed by exhibition matches. From there, we went to Vancouver, where we saw some more sights before taking the lanes. It was the chance of a lifetime."
Baird performed well in the tournament, which included a doubles victory with Parks, but she took home something more special than any tournament crown. She found a friendship that would last a lifetime with Canadian counterpart Maryon Lewis of Black Creek, British Columbia.
The two remained friends as the years passed and visited each other whenever they could. They also would write each other every Christmas to see how the other was doing and to talk about their upcoming Women's Championships appearance. Lewis made her 38th tournament appearance in El Paso.
In her most recent letter, Baird delivered some unfortunate news to Lewis.
"When I wrote her, I told her I didn't have a team for this year," Baird said. "We had some things happen that caused my team to not make the trip this year. A few weeks ago, Maryon called me to see if I could sub for her team, and I was able to put everything together in time."
Lewis knew exactly who she was going to call when a spot on her team opened up.
"I couldn't stand the thought of her not making the tournament," said Lewis. "When she wrote me at Christmas, I was devastated to hear she didn't have a team. When a spot became available on my team, she was the first person I thought of."
With her 48th Women's Championships in the books, Baird looks forward to reaching her goal of 50 tournament appearances.
"That's my goal," Baird said. "I would love to make 50 years. I love it, not only for the competition, but because it's the largest participatory sporting event for women, and it's amazing to be a part of that."
Both Baird and Lewis competed in the Ruby Division. Baird finished her competition with a 552 series in doubles, 534 in team and 430 in singles for a 1,516 all-events total. Lewis rolled 542 in team, 485 in singles and 482 in doubles for a final all-events total of 1,509. All scores include handicap.
The Ruby Division is made up of bowlers with averages between 150 and 179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.