2007-08 Association Championships

The Madison USBC Bowling Association Championships are almost underway. There are still openings for your team - the tournament will run through March 2, 2008. Entries are accepted through the Wednesday before the weekend shifts.

This year, our hosts will be Spartan Bowl in McFarland (Team Event) and Wildcat Lanes in Verona (Minors and Seniors).

More Information

Find more information and tournament standings on the MBA website.

Our tournament sponsors this year include our major sponsor, Stop-N-Go Convenience Stores. Also supporting the event are Capital City Coins & Jewelry, Pizza Pit of Dream Lanes, Rob Bailey's Pro Shop, and Schemm Bowling Inc. The MBA thanks our generous tournament sponsors.

We look forward to seeing you there. Look for an entry form at your center, or download a tournament entry form. Questions? Call the bowling office at 221.0300 or Association Manager Bill Dennis at 770.4328.

Bowling First

Kopp Fires First 700

Jason Kopp of the Wisconsin Telephone League at Badger Bowl rolled his first career 700 series on Tuesday, January 8. He strung games of 215, 247, and 248 together for a 710 set.

Jason has been bowling for eight years and averaging steadily near the 190 mark for the last five, but hasn't been able to break the 700 barrier - until now.

Congratulations on your achievement, Jason!

Bowling First ... and Second

Pounders Rolls Back to Back 825's

The long standing joke among the powerful Chris Pounders' friends is over. How many 800's do you have? None. How many does Becky have? Two.

Chris Pounders took a two-year old ball from his home to "try something different" in the Dream Lanes Major League on Wednesday night, January 23. The result was his first career 800 series - an 825 - with games of 278, 279, and 268.

The following week, January 30, Chris did it again - 825 - this time with games of 300, 258, and 267. An incredible feat.

Congratulations on your achievements, Chris!

PBAX 800 Series

Crystal Pin Award Earned

Mike 'Flipper' Hoffman continues to establish himself as one of the top players in the area. The two-time defending City Tournament All-Events Scratch Champion fired the first PBA Experience 800 series on November 1, 2007, in the Bullseye Masters League at Ten Pin Alley.

Mike rolled games of 269, 259, and 280 on the challenging PBA pattern for an 804 series. For his accomplishment, Mike received the Sport Bowling Crystal Pin Award, pictured on the right.

Congratulations on your achievement, Mike

Madison Bowling 35 Years Ago - the 1972-73 Season

By MBA Director Bob Eveland

I recently had the opportunity to view a number of artifacts from the 1972-73 bowling season in the Madison area. Some of the documents were MBA printouts. Others were columns by Madison's premier bowling writer, Joe Dommershausen, of the Wisconsin State Journal. Those of us old enough to have read Joe's column remember when bowling was considered important enough for the WSJ to allot Joe several columns of print for his daily bowling article. Looking at Joe's 1973 MBA city tournament column made me realize what an uphill battle we face trying to elevate our city tournament to somewhere near the level it once occupied. Highlights from the 72-73 season and city tournament follow.

Over 19,000 men and women were sanctioned by the MBA and MWBA.

The MBA city tournament drew 406 teams. Only one team squad failed to fill. The prize fund for the tournament exceeded $17,000. The singles winner was Ken Bavery of Oregon. Ken shot 614 plus received 76 handicap pins for a total of 690. He pocketed $185 for his effort. Paul Zweifel, Jr. was the highest "scratch" finisher in singles. Paul tallied 663 for a fifteenth place finish and $102.50. Gun Club Lanes of Cottage Grove won the team event with a total of 3138 which included 248 handicap pins. McCormick Unlimited posted the top scratch score with a 3055. They finished fourth. All Events titles went to Paul "Bunch" Loder (Class A) for his 1873 and Dick Kalnicky (Class B) with a 1759.

Six 300 games were shot in the 72-73 season. They belonged to Loder, Dave Shaw, a young hot-shot left-hander named Jim Nye, Ollie Wheeler, Vince Rust and Chuck Veith. Loder tossed the high series for men with a 786 and Maureen Harris led the women with a 712. Bonner Body Shop set a new MBA series record with a 3386 in the Schwoegler Major League while Blum's Trophies paced the women with a 2843 in the Bowl-A-Vard Majors.

I didn't start bowling until the fall of 74 so I don't personally remember the 72-73 season. I recognize many of the names. Some are now my friends. Some are Hall of Fame bowlers. Some are no longer with us. The popularity of league bowling and the city tournament entries of thirty-five years ago are what I find impressive. Will these levels ever again be reached? Probably not, but one can dream. And hope.

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