Baca receives Jaryszak Award

ARLINGTON, Texas – Sam Baca, the first Director of Lane Maintenance for the Professional Bowlers Association, has been named The Jim Jaryszak Laneman Award recipient for 2012.

Sam Baca-Laneman AwardBaca was presented the award during Bowl Expo in Reno, Nev., on Wednesday. He was selected by a committee consisting of the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team. Herman Glenn, USBC Director of Equipment Specifications, presented the award to Baca on the Phantom Radio presented by Kegel. The internet radio show is hosted by Len Nicholson, who was the first recipient of the award in 2011.

“It makes me feel good that those people in the industry appreciate what we’ve done in the past,” Baca said. “I’m glad Lenny was here when it happened because that makes it more special.”

Baca spent six seasons on the PBA Tour, winning two titles, and was named PBA Regional Activities Director in 1970.

A year later, Baca added the title of PBA Director of Lane Maintenance and pioneered the program that deals with all variables of the lanes for PBA events. He founded Lane Masters, Inc., which produces lane maintenance products, in 1996.

Baca is credited developing the “breakpoint theory” in bowling – how to play the lanes based on the distance, volume and ratio of lane conditioning – during the 1980s.

The Jim Jaryszak Laneman Award is named for the former USBC Research Manager who passed away in 2010. Jaryszak was instrumental in setting up the USBC Sport Bowling program and was the point person as USBC worked with the PBA on updating their five “animal” patterns.