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| April 10, 2009 |
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Turbo 2-N-1 Leading USBC Championships
 Marc McDowell, Steve Richter, Jeff Richgels, Gail Myers Jr., Mike Shady Three members of the record setting MBA Championship Tournament team Turbo 2-N-1 Grips took their skills to the USBC Open Championships and continued their mastery of the lanes. MBA Hall of Fame members Jeff Richgels and Marc McDowell , along with Gail Myers Jr. posted the top score in the Team event (3,403) and Team All Events (10,317) categories. Additionally, McDowell teamed up with Mike Shady of Fairview, PA for doubles and are currently leading with 1,474. Myers posted the highest individual All Events score of the group with 2,111 - currently 7th. The Turbo crew is viewed by many as one of the finest assemblages of competitors to participate in the Open Championships. Richgels already has four Eagles (championship trophies) to his credit. McDowell has one. If all the scores hold up McDowell will earn three more Eagles, Myers Jr. his first two, and Richgels will add two more for a total of six - tied for third all time. 
New MBA Series Record
Dan Swenson of Stoughton is the new all-time series leader in the MBA, rolling an 878 series on March 26, 2009 at Viking Lanes. The previous leader was Jay Heinzelman with an 868 series. Swenson's series did not include a 300 game, oddly. Each game of the set was "ruined" by a 10 pin resulting in games of 290, 289, and 299. This is the sixth 800 series by the right-hander, according to MBA records. When Swenson gets locked in, he really gets locked in. Of his 800's, 824 is his lowest effort. His previous high was 847. No stranger to stringing strikes, he also has seven 300 games to his credit, along with 16 11-in-a-row achievements. Swenson is a lower revolution player with a comparatively straight game - solid proof there is more than one way to play the game and that accuracy and consistency are most important. Congratulations, Dan! 
Bindl Shoots First 300
Rodney Bindl, bowling in the Rookies League at Middleton Sport Bowl, rolled his first career perfect game on February 7 - and from the looks of it should have some more in store for the future. Bindl has averaged right around 200 for a number of years with a high of 209, bowling primarily in the Blue Ribbon League and the Get Togethers League at Bowling Green. His highest award score prior to this season was an 11 in a row 279 in 2007. In 2007, the Get Togethers league bowled their last season so Bindl moved to Sport Bowl and joined the Middleton Merchants and Rookies Leagues. At the time of the presentation, he was averaging more than 220 in the Merchants and 214 in the Rookies. Bindl's first 300 was part of a 746 series; 221, 225, 300. Congratulations Rodney! 
Ask the Pro Shop
Dear Pro Shop, How important is bowling in the summer? Pro Shop Answer, I hear if you find yourself bed ridden for a few months, that it takes a few hours to learn to walk again. (I tend to experience that phenomenon every morning...) There are a number of summer leagues organizing around town with interesting formats and incentives. Some centers have a webpage listing their summer league opportunities: Bowl-A-Vard Lanes Prairie Lanes Schwoegler Entertainment Center Call your center to see what they have to offer. Your game will benefit when the winter season rolls around again. This would also be a great opportunity for you to introduce someone new to league bowling.
League Challenge Presentations
MBA President Z. Charles Reithmeyer visited Sauk Lanes to present the Wednesday Men's League with a check for $300.00 - first place in the MBA City Tournament League Challenge.  Gerry Breunig, Gerald Bethke, Jack Haselwander, MBA President Charlie Reithmeyer, Secretary Tracy Haselwander, Dennis Greiber MBA Director Bob Ruhland presented the second place check of $200.00 to the 5th Quarter Scratch League of Ten Pin Alley. Photo by MBA Director Bob Eveland.  MBA Director Bob Ruhland, Leann Butts, Nick Schulze, Drew Latsch, Nick Schultz, Nick McCullick All of the league challenge presentation photos will be added to the tournament section of the MBA website.
Dream Lanes Team Tournament
The 47th Annual Dream Lanes Team Tournament will be running from March 21 through April 30, 2009. First place listed at $3000, based on 400 teams. The certified three person team tournament is handicapped 85% to 690. The cost per team is $75.00. There are a number of side events - brackets, a special March weeknight prize fund, cash on the lanes, and a squad sponsor incentive. Download the tournament flyer for complete rules and details.
Building A Better League
Bill Dennis, Association Manager, Madison USBC BA I get asked a ton of questions about what is the right way and wrong way to do things. Often these questions are rules related, sometimes league related, but most often there really is no "answer" as much as there is a "preferred method". So, I'm going to take some space in the E-News to offer suggestions and advice for leagues. The subjects will range from roles of the officers and board of directors to league formats to awards. Hopefully, your league can benefit from some of these suggestions. Or, you can submit ideas that your league uses to pass on to others. Bear in mind, these are my personal opinions - but they are gleaned from more than 20 years experience in league bowling of all types. Special Prize or Fundraising Nights Many leagues still employ the use of special prize nights, such as "booze night" or "turkey night". Often, a portion of the league prize money is allocated for this night. It used to be that top performers on those nights were rewarded with a real live liquid holding bottle or a not so much live frozen bird. Our league still has one or two special nights, but the award has transformed from bottles and birds into a ten dollar bill. Each team gets one, customarily paid to the bowler who is most over average that night. Our team just turns on the drink light because whoever wins would have to buy a round anyway. It's a nice treat, but the luster of prize nights is somewhat dulled. "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." - William James At our fall meeting, I will propose that we have three prize nights set aside instead of our normal two. Each of these nights will have a prize of a City Tournament team entry ($100.00 value) for the top team over average on that night. We spend about $300 for prize nights already, so there wouldn't be much (if any) budget adjustment. This would be a better prize for a team -and potentially our league. We could get three teams into the $1000 MBA League Challenge and win some additional prize money for our league. Other ideas for prize nights for teams (or individuals) might include a free night of bowling ($15 - $20), free banquet ($15 - $30), or local merchant gift cards of various values. Have a look at your league budget to see what you spend for these special prize nights and consider jazzing them up a bit. The MARBA (Madison Area Retired Bowlers Association) leagues in Madison do something a little different - and help out the community while doing it. Each session, money is donated to a general 'kitty' for performances by league members such as an exact 200 game or a split conversion. It's not much, a quarter here and a dime there - but it really adds up over the course of the season. Local food pantries or other charities of choice benefit to the tune of hundreds of dollars from the philanthropy of the MARBA leagues. Could your league come up with something similar to help out a local cause? 
We Need YOUR Stories Too!
Stories may include bowling tournament, fundraiser, or other event information, human interest bowling stories, or bowling success stories or first time accomplishments. The MBA E-News is available for use by everyone involved with bowling in our jurisdiction - proprietors, league officers, tournament directors, and members. Promote your tournament, league, or bowling fundraiser, congratulate your bowlers, recognize their accomplishments - this newsletter is for you. Please send your completed story to the Madison USBC BA. Be sure to include important details - dates, times, game scores, links to more information, pictures, or whatever you think is important. |
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