Four Earn Hall of Fame Induction in 2011
Joel Carlson, Dave Erickson, John Breunig, and Ken Smith will be inducted into the Madison
USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame this year. The ceremony will be held at the Sheraton Madison on August
18. Cash bar opens at 5:00. The program will start at 6:00, with dinner at 6:30. The inductions, and a number
of individual bowler recognitions, will follow. Tickets are still available. General admission is $40.00,
please download this reservation form. Arrangements must be completed by August 12, tickets will be held at the
door in your name.
Hall of Fame Reservation Form
Bowler recognitions this year are:
Rick Thomas, High Individual Average - 242 in the Lions league at Middleton Sport Bowl
Nate Sime, High Composite Average - 240, 240 in the Monday Night Major league at Spartan Bowl
and 241 in the Monona 3-Man Golfers league at Village Lanes.
Jim Fosdick - High Individual Series - 877 in the MARBA league at Dream Lanes.
Gregg Williams - Jim Grady Bowler of the Year
Dave Rasmussen - Dan Mack Senior Bowler of the Year.
Joel Carlson - Distinguished Performance
Carlson grew up throwing papers to earn money to participate in youth leagues in his
hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His parents were active association members, creating a natural path to
interest in the sport. He bowled collegiately at South Dakota State University. Prior to relocating to
DeForest, WI in 1986, he won the South Dakota state singles title in 1985.
In the 16 years he competed in the Madison area, Joel Carlson was a constant force to be contended with. Along
with two city tournament doubles titles with fellow MBA Hall member Rob Bailey, he won six MAST singles titles
- including the 1991 year-end championship, and a record three tournaments in a row in the 2001-02
season.
Additional success on the state and national stage is highlighted by a second place all-events finish in the
2001 Wisconsin state tournament, and a 17th place all-events finish at the USBC Open Championships in 2002.
Bowling at the USBC Open Championships with Rob Bailey’s Pro Shop for 26 consecutive years, Carlson adds
three top ten team finishes and a lifetime average of 209 to his resume.
Carlson continues to excel on the lanes with numerous PBA regional tournament successes, a lifetime total of 17
perfect games, three 800 series’ (814), and a 15th place all-events finish at the 2011 USBC Open
Championships.
He currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife Teresa.
Dave Erickson - Distinguished Performance
Dave Erickson is a product of the youth program at Prairie Lanes, run in those days by MBA
Hall of Famer Hub Spahn.
It only took a few years for him to earn an MBA city tournament title in adult competition, won in the 1975
team event.. In 1989, he teamed up with Tom Howery to win the Wisconsin State Match Game doubles title. He
continues to be a top level performer today, and has a 2nd place PBA Senior Regional finish to his
credit.
But, Erickson is best known for his prowess when the lanes are the toughest. Locally, he is a three time
champion of the annual Schwoegler Tough Lanes tournament. He has participated in 38 consecutive Petersen
Classic tournaments with significant success, highlighted by a second place finish in 1995 and a 2003 Classic
Doubles title with fellow Hall of Fame member Jeff Richgels. He was also inducted into the Petersen Classic
Hall of Fame in 2010.
To date, he has six perfect games and a pair of 800 series, with a high of 823. His lifetime average over his
40 year career is 200, topping out at 230 in the 2007-08 season.
John Breunig - Meritorious Service
“It’s all about the kids.”
John Breunig’s sense of committment was instilled in him by his mother Teck, who taught him to give
– no matter how much you had or didn’t have. 24 years of service, and counting, to the youth
program in Sun Prairie is the cornerstone of this Hall of Fame service career.
Breunig was a youth bowler himself, first attracted to the lanes by Cher Ziesch, who would become his wife.
Today, they are the catalysts behind the most successful youth program in the area. The program regularly
produces some of the top bowlers in local, high school, and state competitions. His Sun Prairie Boys Varsity
team won a State High School title in 2003, two individual State championships in 2004 and 2010, and the
district championship from 2007 to 2011. Their youth scholarship program has awarded nearly $24,000 in its five
years.
He works behind the scenes as well, organizing a host of tournaments, promotions, or other events. He has
served as Commissioner and President of District 4 High School bowling since 2004, and for D4 Middle School
bowling, which he helped found last year. He has been a director of the Badgerland Youth Bowlers Tour since
1995. He also served as the Wisconsin Scholarship Bowling Club Director from 2000 to 2007.
Breunig is also a Silver Level USBC certified coach, and can always be found coaching on the lanes or teaching
in his Coach'z pro shop at Prairie Lanes. He joins his father-in-law, Wally Ziesch, in the Hall of Fame.
Ken Smith - Veterans
Ken Smith hails from the youth program at Casino Lanes. He worked as a pinsetter at
Bowl-A-Vard through high school, participating in the top youth traveling leagues, and in city and state
tournaments all the while.
After school, Smith served in the U.S. Navy for six years. Since his 1978 return from the service, he has
compiled a significant number of accomplishments over his 33 year MBA career with 11 perfect games, six
299’s, four 800 series (820), and a high average of 225 in the 2008-09 season.
He has a number of high finishes in MBA City Tournament competition, highlighted by a near sweep of the 2010-11
Senior City Tournament where he won titles in team, doubles, and singles, and finished third in both all-events
and in the Senior Masters.
He has been a strong supporter of organizing entries for various tournament around the state for decades.
Although Ken has had more than his share of honor scores and tournament wins, his attitude and outlook toward
bowling are just a little bit different than most. He considers his greatest accomplishments the lifetime of
incredible friends, teammates, league mates and memories of his bowling family. For Ken it has always been fun
first, fun second and intense competition third. He was heralded as one of the good guys of bowling as a
recipient of the Darold Meisel Award, recognizing his oustanding sportsmanship.
Ken dedicates this Hall of Fame career to the memory of his wife Patti and son Chris.