Restrepo, Gongora share another moment at PWBA Las Vegas Open
June 06, 2016
LAS VEGAS - Despite hailing from different countries, it could be said Mexico's Sandra Gongora and Colombia's Rocio Restrepo have grown up together on the lanes.
Both have been members of their respective national teams since the early 2000s, found collegiate success at Wichita State and, now, are looking to claim their first Professional Women's Bowling Association title at the PWBA Las Vegas Open.
The stepladder finals of the PWBA Las Vegas Open, which helped kick off the 2016 season April 29-May 1 at Texas Station in North Las Vegas, Nevada, will air Tuesday, June 7 at 9 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network.
The PWBA Las Vegas Open is the second of 13 PWBA finals CBS Sports Network will televise. Click here to find CBS Sports Network in your area.
While winning that first PWBA title would be another watershed moment in the young careers of both Gongora and Restrepo, more important than any on-lane accomplishment is the friendship they have forged off the lanes.
They first crossed paths at an international event in Costa Rica in 2002 and quickly developed a respect for each other's games. The true friendship started to blossom when they both descended on the campus of Wichita State in 2006.
"When I first met her, I thought she was so serious," said Gongora, who captured gold in doubles with Iliana Lomeli at the 2004 World Youth Championships in Guam. "After spending four years together with her in Wichita, I got to know that she is not serious at all off the lanes, she is just so passionate while bowling and a great competitor."
That first season in Wichita ended with an Intercollegiate Team Championships title, and the duo raised the Helmer Cup again in 2009. Also part of those championship teams for the Shockers was fellow PWBA member Mariana Ayala, who originally hails from Puerto Rico.
"We knew each other from international events, but weren't really close friends before Wichita State," said Restrepo, who won a silver medal in singles at the 2003 World Bowling Women's Championships at the age of 15. "When we started to bowl together, our friendship grew tremendously. We basically did everything together, along with Mariana. We were always together for four years and became best friends that way."
After leaving Wichita, the two still would cross paths while representing their countries in international competition, as well as at major events such as the United States Bowling Congress Queens and U.S. Women's Open, but now have been reunited on a week-to-week basis with the re-emergence of the PWBA Tour in 2015.
Throughout the weekend at Texas Station, Restrepo and Gongora found themselves near the top of the standings during qualifying and solidified their positions heading into match play after having the opportunity to cross together during the cashers' round.
"We worked really well together during the morning block," said Restrepo, who is the No. 4 seed for the stepladder finals and will start the show by facing reigning PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson in the opening match. "When we won in 2009, Sandra bowled fourth and I bowled fifth, and bowling with her that round really reminded me of that, because we just kept pushing each other like back in the day. I ended up missing that during match play because I was on my own."
Restrepo led qualifying after 18 games at the PWBA Las Vegas Open but struggled during match play and found herself having to win the group stepladder to make it to the main stepladder final. She punched her ticket to the show by defeating Singapore's Hui Fen New, 216-189.
Gongora saved her best for last to make her first championship-round appearance, firing a 275 game in the position round against Johnson to edge her by six pins and lead their group, earning her the No. 2 seed for the finals.
If Restrepo defeats Johnson in the opening match, her and Gongora will face each other to determine who will advance to the championship round to take on top seed Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, for the title.
"That would be such a great moment for me," Gongora said. "We had so much fun bowling on TV while representing Wichita State, and I think if it happened, I would really enjoy every moment. I always wish her the best because she truly is a great friend."
Both would enjoy the opportunity to share the spotlight once again, but regardless of the outcome, they will add another memorable moment to their collection as friends.
"I'm so happy that we both made it," Restrepo said. "She's such a great person and a great friend, and we both worked really hard to be where we're at. I feel really blessed to have a friend like her."
Both have been members of their respective national teams since the early 2000s, found collegiate success at Wichita State and, now, are looking to claim their first Professional Women's Bowling Association title at the PWBA Las Vegas Open.
The stepladder finals of the PWBA Las Vegas Open, which helped kick off the 2016 season April 29-May 1 at Texas Station in North Las Vegas, Nevada, will air Tuesday, June 7 at 9 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network.
The PWBA Las Vegas Open is the second of 13 PWBA finals CBS Sports Network will televise. Click here to find CBS Sports Network in your area.
While winning that first PWBA title would be another watershed moment in the young careers of both Gongora and Restrepo, more important than any on-lane accomplishment is the friendship they have forged off the lanes.
They first crossed paths at an international event in Costa Rica in 2002 and quickly developed a respect for each other's games. The true friendship started to blossom when they both descended on the campus of Wichita State in 2006.
"When I first met her, I thought she was so serious," said Gongora, who captured gold in doubles with Iliana Lomeli at the 2004 World Youth Championships in Guam. "After spending four years together with her in Wichita, I got to know that she is not serious at all off the lanes, she is just so passionate while bowling and a great competitor."That first season in Wichita ended with an Intercollegiate Team Championships title, and the duo raised the Helmer Cup again in 2009. Also part of those championship teams for the Shockers was fellow PWBA member Mariana Ayala, who originally hails from Puerto Rico.
"We knew each other from international events, but weren't really close friends before Wichita State," said Restrepo, who won a silver medal in singles at the 2003 World Bowling Women's Championships at the age of 15. "When we started to bowl together, our friendship grew tremendously. We basically did everything together, along with Mariana. We were always together for four years and became best friends that way."
After leaving Wichita, the two still would cross paths while representing their countries in international competition, as well as at major events such as the United States Bowling Congress Queens and U.S. Women's Open, but now have been reunited on a week-to-week basis with the re-emergence of the PWBA Tour in 2015.
Throughout the weekend at Texas Station, Restrepo and Gongora found themselves near the top of the standings during qualifying and solidified their positions heading into match play after having the opportunity to cross together during the cashers' round.
"We worked really well together during the morning block," said Restrepo, who is the No. 4 seed for the stepladder finals and will start the show by facing reigning PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson in the opening match. "When we won in 2009, Sandra bowled fourth and I bowled fifth, and bowling with her that round really reminded me of that, because we just kept pushing each other like back in the day. I ended up missing that during match play because I was on my own."Restrepo led qualifying after 18 games at the PWBA Las Vegas Open but struggled during match play and found herself having to win the group stepladder to make it to the main stepladder final. She punched her ticket to the show by defeating Singapore's Hui Fen New, 216-189.
Gongora saved her best for last to make her first championship-round appearance, firing a 275 game in the position round against Johnson to edge her by six pins and lead their group, earning her the No. 2 seed for the finals.
If Restrepo defeats Johnson in the opening match, her and Gongora will face each other to determine who will advance to the championship round to take on top seed Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, for the title.
"That would be such a great moment for me," Gongora said. "We had so much fun bowling on TV while representing Wichita State, and I think if it happened, I would really enjoy every moment. I always wish her the best because she truly is a great friend."
Both would enjoy the opportunity to share the spotlight once again, but regardless of the outcome, they will add another memorable moment to their collection as friends.
"I'm so happy that we both made it," Restrepo said. "She's such a great person and a great friend, and we both worked really hard to be where we're at. I feel really blessed to have a friend like her."