USBC announces 2009-10 National High Average winners
November 17, 2010
Rebekah Diers and Jim Thomas are the 2009-10 United States Bowling Congress Sport Bowling High Average Award winners in the adult divisions, while Brittni Hamilton and Aaron Lorincz took honors in the youth divisions.
Hamilton, 20, of Webster, N.Y., is a Junior Team USA member who won the 2010 USBC Junior Gold Championships in July. In her Monday Youth PBA Sport Scholarship league at Clover Lanes, she averaged 203 over 48 games to take national honors in the Youth Female division.
"Bowling on Sport shots in tournaments all over the world definitely helped give me an advantage when bowling this summer," Hamilton said. "It's such a prestigious award that I am honored to receive. It shows me that all of my hard work paid off, and it's a great feeling."
Hamilton, who attends Vanderbilt University, started bowling on Sport conditions when she was 13. She credits her coach, Kelvin Parker, and her ball driller, Dave Werner, saying they "spent countless hours with me this summer" to help her be successful.
In the Youth Male division, Lorincz, 21, of Belleville, Mich., averaged 209 over 48 games in the SU Ottman Jr. PBA league at Sunnybrook Lanes. He started bowling at age 12 and joined his first Sport league in 2008. He said he worked on various techniques, such as hand position and ball speed, so he could adapt to the various Sport conditions.
"It was an award that I certainly strived for all summer," Lorincz said. "I knew it was within my skill level to achieve, but to perform at this level, throughout the entire season, was very gratifying."
Diers, 22, of Troy, Ill., was the top performer in the Adult Female division with a 210 average over 57 games in the PBA Experience Trio league at Stars & Strikes Lanes. She started bowling at age 6 and competed on Sport conditions in Junior Gold competition and during her collegiate career at McKendree University. But the PBA Experience Trio league was the first time she competed in a Sport league.
"Throughout my college career I grew as a bowler and learned a lot about the sport," said Diers, who added she can't stress enough the importance of quality practice time and coaching. "I think the knowledge I gained during this point in my career really helped me excel on the Sport shots."
Diers was the 2008 USBC Youth Open All-Events champion and participated in the 2009 Bowling's Clash of Champions, where she reached the championship match before falling to PBA champion and USBC spokesperson Chris Barnes. She also was a two-time first-team collegiate All-American and Most Valuable Player at the 2007 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The Adult Male winner, Thomas, 36, of Endwell, N.Y., averaged 226 in 75 games in the PBA Experience league at Midway Lanes. He started bowling at age 11 and has bowled in Sport leagues for nearly a decade. He said a key element to his success was his equipment as he was able to match his bowling balls to the conditions "quite well for the majority of the year. It gave me the ability to play parts of the lane that were comfortable to me."
Thomas has won more than 30 tournaments in addition to many local honors and awards. He has participated in three U.S. Opens, with a high finish of 61st in 2009, and the USBC Masters.
"I would say that this just might be the biggest award I have ever received," Thomas said. "With the many thousands of participants that compete in such leagues, it doesn't seem like something that can actually happen. It's quite a shock."
To be eligible for the Sport Bowling National High Average Award, competitors must have bowled a minimum of 48 games in a certified Sport Bowling league during the 2009-10 season.
National Standard High Average and High Series Awards
The USBC 2009-10 National Standard High Average and High Series Awards also have been determined.
In the Standard high series category, three bowlers threw a 900 series to tie in the Adult Male division. Chris Aker of Winnemucca, Nev., accomplished the feat during the Friday Night Mixers league on Oct. 30, 2009, at Spare Time Bowling Center, and three days later Andrew Teall of Medford, N.J., rolled a 900 series during the Monday Night Invitational at Medford Lanes. Andrew Mank of Belleville, Mich., had his perfect series on March 18, 2010, during the Thursday Men 6:30 p.m. Handicap league at Bel-Air Bowl.
Bryanna Caldwell of Tucson, Ariz., had the top series for Adult Female with 861 (265, 300, 296) that was rolled at the Don Loegering Memorial on Oct. 15, 2009 at Summit Lanes.
In the youth divisions, Adrian Anderson of Roseburg, Ore., had an 878 (300, 289, 289) on Feb. 22, 1010, in the Monday Teens at Ten Down Bowling & Entertainment to take the Youth Male award. Junior Team USA member Jenn Boisselle of Brandon, Fla., took the Youth Female honor with an 848 (279, 300, 269) in the UCF Club at Boardwalk Entertainment Center on Nov. 4, 2009.
In the adult category for Standard high average, Michael Handelin of Deer Park, Wash., averaged 252 in the Commercial League at Deer Park Bowl to win the Adult Male award. Jodi Musto of Schenectady, N.Y., had a 243 average in the Thursday Nite Classic league at Town N'Country Lanes to lead all women.
Justin Tan of Flower Mound, Texas, averaged 239 in the Saturday Youth Major at AMF Lewisville Lanes to be the Youth Male winner, and Lizabeth Kuhlkin of Schenectady, N.Y., was the Youth Female winner with a 228 average while bowling in the Sportsman's AM Jr/Major league at Sportsman's Bowl.
For the list of individual high series and average winners, click here.
For the list of team high game and high series winners, click here.
Hamilton, 20, of Webster, N.Y., is a Junior Team USA member who won the 2010 USBC Junior Gold Championships in July. In her Monday Youth PBA Sport Scholarship league at Clover Lanes, she averaged 203 over 48 games to take national honors in the Youth Female division."Bowling on Sport shots in tournaments all over the world definitely helped give me an advantage when bowling this summer," Hamilton said. "It's such a prestigious award that I am honored to receive. It shows me that all of my hard work paid off, and it's a great feeling."
Hamilton, who attends Vanderbilt University, started bowling on Sport conditions when she was 13. She credits her coach, Kelvin Parker, and her ball driller, Dave Werner, saying they "spent countless hours with me this summer" to help her be successful.
In the Youth Male division, Lorincz, 21, of Belleville, Mich., averaged 209 over 48 games in the SU Ottman Jr. PBA league at Sunnybrook Lanes. He started bowling at age 12 and joined his first Sport league in 2008. He said he worked on various techniques, such as hand position and ball speed, so he could adapt to the various Sport conditions."It was an award that I certainly strived for all summer," Lorincz said. "I knew it was within my skill level to achieve, but to perform at this level, throughout the entire season, was very gratifying."
Diers, 22, of Troy, Ill., was the top performer in the Adult Female division with a 210 average over 57 games in the PBA Experience Trio league at Stars & Strikes Lanes. She started bowling at age 6 and competed on Sport conditions in Junior Gold competition and during her collegiate career at McKendree University. But the PBA Experience Trio league was the first time she competed in a Sport league.
"Throughout my college career I grew as a bowler and learned a lot about the sport," said Diers, who added she can't stress enough the importance of quality practice time and coaching. "I think the knowledge I gained during this point in my career really helped me excel on the Sport shots."Diers was the 2008 USBC Youth Open All-Events champion and participated in the 2009 Bowling's Clash of Champions, where she reached the championship match before falling to PBA champion and USBC spokesperson Chris Barnes. She also was a two-time first-team collegiate All-American and Most Valuable Player at the 2007 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The Adult Male winner, Thomas, 36, of Endwell, N.Y., averaged 226 in 75 games in the PBA Experience league at Midway Lanes. He started bowling at age 11 and has bowled in Sport leagues for nearly a decade. He said a key element to his success was his equipment as he was able to match his bowling balls to the conditions "quite well for the majority of the year. It gave me the ability to play parts of the lane that were comfortable to me."Thomas has won more than 30 tournaments in addition to many local honors and awards. He has participated in three U.S. Opens, with a high finish of 61st in 2009, and the USBC Masters.
"I would say that this just might be the biggest award I have ever received," Thomas said. "With the many thousands of participants that compete in such leagues, it doesn't seem like something that can actually happen. It's quite a shock."
To be eligible for the Sport Bowling National High Average Award, competitors must have bowled a minimum of 48 games in a certified Sport Bowling league during the 2009-10 season.
National Standard High Average and High Series Awards
The USBC 2009-10 National Standard High Average and High Series Awards also have been determined.
In the Standard high series category, three bowlers threw a 900 series to tie in the Adult Male division. Chris Aker of Winnemucca, Nev., accomplished the feat during the Friday Night Mixers league on Oct. 30, 2009, at Spare Time Bowling Center, and three days later Andrew Teall of Medford, N.J., rolled a 900 series during the Monday Night Invitational at Medford Lanes. Andrew Mank of Belleville, Mich., had his perfect series on March 18, 2010, during the Thursday Men 6:30 p.m. Handicap league at Bel-Air Bowl.
Bryanna Caldwell of Tucson, Ariz., had the top series for Adult Female with 861 (265, 300, 296) that was rolled at the Don Loegering Memorial on Oct. 15, 2009 at Summit Lanes.
In the youth divisions, Adrian Anderson of Roseburg, Ore., had an 878 (300, 289, 289) on Feb. 22, 1010, in the Monday Teens at Ten Down Bowling & Entertainment to take the Youth Male award. Junior Team USA member Jenn Boisselle of Brandon, Fla., took the Youth Female honor with an 848 (279, 300, 269) in the UCF Club at Boardwalk Entertainment Center on Nov. 4, 2009.
In the adult category for Standard high average, Michael Handelin of Deer Park, Wash., averaged 252 in the Commercial League at Deer Park Bowl to win the Adult Male award. Jodi Musto of Schenectady, N.Y., had a 243 average in the Thursday Nite Classic league at Town N'Country Lanes to lead all women.
Justin Tan of Flower Mound, Texas, averaged 239 in the Saturday Youth Major at AMF Lewisville Lanes to be the Youth Male winner, and Lizabeth Kuhlkin of Schenectady, N.Y., was the Youth Female winner with a 228 average while bowling in the Sportsman's AM Jr/Major league at Sportsman's Bowl.
For the list of individual high series and average winners, click here.
For the list of team high game and high series winners, click here.