Iowa bowler reaches 50 years at WC in El Paso
May 18, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Jeanne Wilkens of Davenport, Iowa, made her first USBC Women's Championships appearance at the 1960 event in Denver, and this week, she logged her 50th year of participation at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
Since her debut, the energetic right-hander has been to every tournament except the 2005 event in Tulsa, Okla., which she missed because her husband had fallen ill. In all, she has competed in 40 different cities and 27 states.
For her ceremonial march down Center Aisle on Monday, Wilkens was escorted by Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson. She was awarded a plaque and bouquet of flowers to commemorate the achievement as well as a standing ovation from the squad's bowlers and spectators.
"I didn't expect any of this," said Wilkens, who bowls league at 30 Lanes in Davenport. "I didn't think about celebrating at all. I like this when it happens to other people, but not me. But this is great. I had a lot of bowlers congratulating me."
Wilkens attended her first tournament after receiving an invitation from a Women's International Bowling Congress board member whom she bowled with in a league. From that first time, the tournament became a part of her annual routine as she and her husband compete at the Women's and Open Championships, respectively. Although her husband passed away two years ago, she continues to make her journey to the event.
"The tournament became a habit," Wilkens said. "My husband would bowl at the ABC (now Open Championships), while I watched our son, and then he would watch our son when I went to the Women's. I never dreamed it would turn into 50 tournaments, though. The time has gone by in a hurry."
Wilkens has enjoyed the chance to visit many different cities during the course of her tournament career and also likes to take the chance to watch as many bowlers as she can.
"It's been a lot of fun going from city to city," Wilkens said. "But I really like to watch the way people bowl. There are so many different ways to bowl. Today, there was a girl on our pair who had a real big backswing. I just love to watch how people roll the ball."
Although she is unsure on whether she will be able to make it to the 2011 Women's Championships in Syracuse, N.Y., Wilkens knows if she does make it, she'll have a great time like she has had at every other tournament.
"Well, I know for sure that I won't make 50 more tournaments, but I would really like to," she said. "I'll have to see about Syracuse, but I've always had a fun time at the tournament, each and every one of them. There is always something different, and I've made so many friends over the years."
Wilkens only bowled in the team event this year, electing to sit out doubles and singles. She rolled a 375 series and helped the Sapphire Division's Here We Are Again to a 1,975 team total. Chick-A-Boom of Bloomfield, N.M., leads Sapphire Team with 2,424. All scores include handicap.
Sapphire Team is made up of teams with combined averages of 749 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 750.
Two other bowlers are scheduled to reach the 50-year mark at the 2010 Women's Championships. Dorothy Williams of Lakewood, Colo., will add her name to the list on Friday, while Mary Lackey of Camden, Ohio, will make her 50th tournament appearance on June 20.
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.
Since her debut, the energetic right-hander has been to every tournament except the 2005 event in Tulsa, Okla., which she missed because her husband had fallen ill. In all, she has competed in 40 different cities and 27 states.
For her ceremonial march down Center Aisle on Monday, Wilkens was escorted by Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson. She was awarded a plaque and bouquet of flowers to commemorate the achievement as well as a standing ovation from the squad's bowlers and spectators.
"I didn't expect any of this," said Wilkens, who bowls league at 30 Lanes in Davenport. "I didn't think about celebrating at all. I like this when it happens to other people, but not me. But this is great. I had a lot of bowlers congratulating me."
Wilkens attended her first tournament after receiving an invitation from a Women's International Bowling Congress board member whom she bowled with in a league. From that first time, the tournament became a part of her annual routine as she and her husband compete at the Women's and Open Championships, respectively. Although her husband passed away two years ago, she continues to make her journey to the event.
"The tournament became a habit," Wilkens said. "My husband would bowl at the ABC (now Open Championships), while I watched our son, and then he would watch our son when I went to the Women's. I never dreamed it would turn into 50 tournaments, though. The time has gone by in a hurry."
Wilkens has enjoyed the chance to visit many different cities during the course of her tournament career and also likes to take the chance to watch as many bowlers as she can.
"It's been a lot of fun going from city to city," Wilkens said. "But I really like to watch the way people bowl. There are so many different ways to bowl. Today, there was a girl on our pair who had a real big backswing. I just love to watch how people roll the ball."
Although she is unsure on whether she will be able to make it to the 2011 Women's Championships in Syracuse, N.Y., Wilkens knows if she does make it, she'll have a great time like she has had at every other tournament.
"Well, I know for sure that I won't make 50 more tournaments, but I would really like to," she said. "I'll have to see about Syracuse, but I've always had a fun time at the tournament, each and every one of them. There is always something different, and I've made so many friends over the years."
Wilkens only bowled in the team event this year, electing to sit out doubles and singles. She rolled a 375 series and helped the Sapphire Division's Here We Are Again to a 1,975 team total. Chick-A-Boom of Bloomfield, N.M., leads Sapphire Team with 2,424. All scores include handicap.
Sapphire Team is made up of teams with combined averages of 749 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 750.
Two other bowlers are scheduled to reach the 50-year mark at the 2010 Women's Championships. Dorothy Williams of Lakewood, Colo., will add her name to the list on Friday, while Mary Lackey of Camden, Ohio, will make her 50th tournament appearance on June 20.
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.