Utah bowlers make statement at 2018 USBC Women's Championships
May 06, 2018
By Tony Contini and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - A pair of bowlers made big statements in their respective average-based divisions over the weekend at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, posting big numbers at the National Bowling Stadium.
Desirae Armstrong of Ogden, Utah, cruised into the Ruby Singles lead with a 682 effort, while Regan Housekeeper of Orem, Utah, moved to the top of the Topaz All-Events standings with a 1,375 total.
Toni Townsend of Galveston, Texas, previously held the lead in Ruby Singles with 641, and Teresa Merritt of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, topped Topaz All-Events with 1,328.
Armstrong, a 35-year-old right-hander, used games of 227, 220 and 235 to catapult herself to the top of the standings.
She bowled as a child until she was 12 years old, but the fun of the game escaped her at the start of her teenage years.
After taking 20 years off from the sport, Armstrong was convinced by her husband and teammates to participate in this year's event.
"I was taking it way too seriously," said Armstrong, who made her USBC Women's Championships debut. "Now, instead of treating it like work, I put in the work. That's the only way you get better, and it's fun."
Her doubles set on Saturday did not start as well as she would have hoped, as she rolled a 440 series. She improved in singles by more than 240 pins after realizing she was twisting her body. By correcting her alignment and squaring her shoulders, she noticed a sharp change in her game.
"I tell myself what I need to do before I get onto the approach," said Armstrong, who added 581 in team for a 1,703 all-events total, placing her in fourth in Ruby All-Events. "Then, I trust my instincts. I wasn't coming in with expectations of being the leader. I bowled really well today, and that was super exciting."
Armstrong always looks ahead and realizes she can't get a shot back once she's thrown it. Finding other bowlers wanting to improve, and lessons from her local pro shop, have helped her in this aspect of her game.
"Asking for help is important," Armstrong said. "When I practice, I don't just work on strikes. I work on spares."
She didn't have to worry about too many spares on her way to the singles lead, firing 23 strikes along the way. With the lead in hand, she'll now focus on her next goal.
"I bowled a 682 series today, and my goal is to get a 700 this year," Armstrong said. "I'm getting close. I'm going to keep bowling, and I think I have my girls convinced to head to Wichita (Kansas) next year."
Ruby Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 175-189.
Housekeeper, who also moved into second place in Topaz Singles with a 522 series, added 441 in team and 412 in doubles to ascend to the top of the leaderboard.
Francis Scoggins of Andrews, Texas, leads Topaz Singles with 531.
Before making her debut at the Women's Championships this week, Housekeeper was reassured by her father that the 78-lane NBS is just another bowling center, and after her first game, she felt acclimated.
"I thought I did pretty well," Housekeeper said. "I had nerves, but everyone reminded me to just breathe. This is awesome. I never thought I was a good bowler, but that's changed a little."
While competing in league with her cousin and friends, she was talked into making her first trip to the Women's Championships. The excitement from this week already has them looking forward to the 2019 event in Wichita.
"I look up to my cousin as a bowler," Housekeeper said. "I think she might be a little jealous this time around, but I'm jealous of her as well, especially after she bowled a 300 game."
Housekeeper is part of a family of bowlers, and her daughter started bowling in junior leagues a couple of years ago. She hopes her success will push her forward.
"Bowling has been in our family line for a long time," Housekeeper said. "My dad and grandparents were all bowlers. I will tell my daughter, 'Look, if I can do it, you can do it.'"
While taking the lead served as the highlight of the trip for Housekeeper, she also valued being able to meet new people while competing.
"I got to meet a lot of people from different areas," Housekeeper said. "It was nice to watch different approaches and learn from others. I learned that I could do it. Everybody is different, and it's important not to judge yourself based on what someone else does."
Bowlers in the Topaz Division have entering averages of 129 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - A pair of bowlers made big statements in their respective average-based divisions over the weekend at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, posting big numbers at the National Bowling Stadium.
Desirae Armstrong of Ogden, Utah, cruised into the Ruby Singles lead with a 682 effort, while Regan Housekeeper of Orem, Utah, moved to the top of the Topaz All-Events standings with a 1,375 total.
Toni Townsend of Galveston, Texas, previously held the lead in Ruby Singles with 641, and Teresa Merritt of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, topped Topaz All-Events with 1,328.
Armstrong, a 35-year-old right-hander, used games of 227, 220 and 235 to catapult herself to the top of the standings.
She bowled as a child until she was 12 years old, but the fun of the game escaped her at the start of her teenage years.
After taking 20 years off from the sport, Armstrong was convinced by her husband and teammates to participate in this year's event.
"I was taking it way too seriously," said Armstrong, who made her USBC Women's Championships debut. "Now, instead of treating it like work, I put in the work. That's the only way you get better, and it's fun."
Her doubles set on Saturday did not start as well as she would have hoped, as she rolled a 440 series. She improved in singles by more than 240 pins after realizing she was twisting her body. By correcting her alignment and squaring her shoulders, she noticed a sharp change in her game.
"I tell myself what I need to do before I get onto the approach," said Armstrong, who added 581 in team for a 1,703 all-events total, placing her in fourth in Ruby All-Events. "Then, I trust my instincts. I wasn't coming in with expectations of being the leader. I bowled really well today, and that was super exciting."
Armstrong always looks ahead and realizes she can't get a shot back once she's thrown it. Finding other bowlers wanting to improve, and lessons from her local pro shop, have helped her in this aspect of her game.
"Asking for help is important," Armstrong said. "When I practice, I don't just work on strikes. I work on spares."
She didn't have to worry about too many spares on her way to the singles lead, firing 23 strikes along the way. With the lead in hand, she'll now focus on her next goal.
"I bowled a 682 series today, and my goal is to get a 700 this year," Armstrong said. "I'm getting close. I'm going to keep bowling, and I think I have my girls convinced to head to Wichita (Kansas) next year."
Ruby Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 175-189.
Housekeeper, who also moved into second place in Topaz Singles with a 522 series, added 441 in team and 412 in doubles to ascend to the top of the leaderboard.Francis Scoggins of Andrews, Texas, leads Topaz Singles with 531.
Before making her debut at the Women's Championships this week, Housekeeper was reassured by her father that the 78-lane NBS is just another bowling center, and after her first game, she felt acclimated.
"I thought I did pretty well," Housekeeper said. "I had nerves, but everyone reminded me to just breathe. This is awesome. I never thought I was a good bowler, but that's changed a little."
While competing in league with her cousin and friends, she was talked into making her first trip to the Women's Championships. The excitement from this week already has them looking forward to the 2019 event in Wichita.
"I look up to my cousin as a bowler," Housekeeper said. "I think she might be a little jealous this time around, but I'm jealous of her as well, especially after she bowled a 300 game."
Housekeeper is part of a family of bowlers, and her daughter started bowling in junior leagues a couple of years ago. She hopes her success will push her forward.
"Bowling has been in our family line for a long time," Housekeeper said. "My dad and grandparents were all bowlers. I will tell my daughter, 'Look, if I can do it, you can do it.'"
While taking the lead served as the highlight of the trip for Housekeeper, she also valued being able to meet new people while competing.
"I got to meet a lot of people from different areas," Housekeeper said. "It was nice to watch different approaches and learn from others. I learned that I could do it. Everybody is different, and it's important not to judge yourself based on what someone else does."
Bowlers in the Topaz Division have entering averages of 129 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.