Minnesota bowler still going strong at WC
April 10, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Since 1916, the USBC Women's Championships has welcomed bowlers of all ages and abilities to compete on the tournament lanes.
Gladys Miska of Brownton, Minn., was born a year after the inaugural Women's Championships, and 92 years later, both are still going strong at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
Miska, a 92-year-old right-hander, made her 20th tournament appearance Thursday, and despite her age, she still travels to the tournament with high expectations.
"It was one of my worst performances out there," Miska said after her team event. "I'm going to try and do better tomorrow."
Even with her 93rd birthday just two months away, Miska bowls three times a week at Plamor Lanes in Glencoe, Minn., and Hutch Bowl in Hutchinson, Minn. This includes competing in the same league with the same sponsored team, Security Bank and Trust, for 52 consecutive years.
In those 52 years of competition, Miska has bowled with many people and developed countless friendships, but she distinctly remembers achieving her first goal, winning a league championship.
"I always wanted to end up first, and it took us about 15 years to accomplish it," said Miska, who also has been a master gardener for the past 30 years. "It's funny, though, because after the first title, we haven't come close since."
Miska plans to keep competing at the Women's Championships for as long as she can, and is following in the footsteps of some other dedicated tournament participants.
The oldest bowler in the 91-year history of the Women's Championships is Emma Hendrickson of Morris Plains, N.J. Last year, at age 100, she competed in her 50th tournament. On April 18, the 101-year-old Hendrickson will break her own record on the lanes in El Paso.
"As long as I'm still walking, I'll be here next year," Miska said. "It's real fun. All of the girls take care of me, and they call me grandma. Even the team next to us was calling me grandma."
Miska, whose 125 average places her in the Sapphire Division, shot a 373 series in doubles, 350 in team and 345 in singles for a 1,068 all-events total. All scores include handicap. The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with an average of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.
The first Women's Championships was conducted in St. Louis in 1916, shortly after the formation of Women's International Bowling Congress. The first event attracted just eight five-player teams, which competed for a total prize fund of $225. Now, the tournament is the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
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.
Gladys Miska of Brownton, Minn., was born a year after the inaugural Women's Championships, and 92 years later, both are still going strong at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
Miska, a 92-year-old right-hander, made her 20th tournament appearance Thursday, and despite her age, she still travels to the tournament with high expectations.
"It was one of my worst performances out there," Miska said after her team event. "I'm going to try and do better tomorrow."
Even with her 93rd birthday just two months away, Miska bowls three times a week at Plamor Lanes in Glencoe, Minn., and Hutch Bowl in Hutchinson, Minn. This includes competing in the same league with the same sponsored team, Security Bank and Trust, for 52 consecutive years.
In those 52 years of competition, Miska has bowled with many people and developed countless friendships, but she distinctly remembers achieving her first goal, winning a league championship.
"I always wanted to end up first, and it took us about 15 years to accomplish it," said Miska, who also has been a master gardener for the past 30 years. "It's funny, though, because after the first title, we haven't come close since."
Miska plans to keep competing at the Women's Championships for as long as she can, and is following in the footsteps of some other dedicated tournament participants.
The oldest bowler in the 91-year history of the Women's Championships is Emma Hendrickson of Morris Plains, N.J. Last year, at age 100, she competed in her 50th tournament. On April 18, the 101-year-old Hendrickson will break her own record on the lanes in El Paso.
"As long as I'm still walking, I'll be here next year," Miska said. "It's real fun. All of the girls take care of me, and they call me grandma. Even the team next to us was calling me grandma."
Miska, whose 125 average places her in the Sapphire Division, shot a 373 series in doubles, 350 in team and 345 in singles for a 1,068 all-events total. All scores include handicap. The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with an average of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.
The first Women's Championships was conducted in St. Louis in 1916, shortly after the formation of Women's International Bowling Congress. The first event attracted just eight five-player teams, which competed for a total prize fund of $225. Now, the tournament is the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
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.