Arizona husband and wife excel at 2015 USBC Mixed
June 02, 2015
By Matt Cannizzaro and Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - England native Stuart Williams spends most of his time traveling the world and competing in a variety of bowling events, and it was on one of those trips to Panama that he met his wife, former Team USA member Tina (Stickney) Williams.
While his schedule leaves limited opportunities for Williams to watch his wife compete, and only occasional chances for them to bowl together, they were able to make both happen simultaneously this weekend at the National Bowling Stadium.
Williams accompanied Tina to Reno and looked on as she competed in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and then joined her on the lanes for the inaugural edition of the USBC Mixed, which will continue to share the USBC Women's Championships venue in future years.
The chemistry the two share off the lanes translated to an equally special mixed doubles performance on the Showcase Lanes, located on the ground floor of the NBS, as the duo catapulted into the Division 1 Doubles lead with a 1,439 total Sunday afternoon.
Williams led the way with games of 280, 268 and 279 for an 827 series, the first honor score in the brief history of The Mixed, and Tina, a former standout at West Texas A&M, contributed games of 180, 187 and 245 for 612. Husband and wife Tony and Genie Franklin of Frisco, Texas, took the lead a day earlier with 1,348.
"We were actually supposed to arrive on Friday night, but we got a little delayed by the plane and ended up being here Saturday morning," Stuart explained. "I bowled singles yesterday with Tony (Franklin), and I bowled a 660, but I had seven open frames. Tina and I planned to bowl the squad tonight before we bowled team, and when we got down on the Showcase Lanes, I started striking. Tina was struggling a little bit, but she really came through with huge game for us at the end."
Tina was excited to have her husband by her side and credited him with helping her stay composed as they made their run at the top spot.
"I absolutely love bowling with him, but he travels around the world all the time, so we don't get that many opportunities to bowl together," Tina said. "Since I dragged him here to watch me bowl in the Women's Championships, I wanted to make sure we also got a chance to bowl in The Mixed. I think it's a lot more laid-back, and it's a fun atmosphere. You get to bowl with your friends, and for me, my husband can always help me relax. For instance, in my first two games when I was struggling, he helped keep me calm."
At the Women's Championships this year, Tina rolled sets of 599 in team, 593 in singles and 589 in doubles for a 1,781 all-events total.
Both the Women's Championships and The Mixed kicked off April 10 and will continue until June 30. Next year, the two events will be held at the new South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
The Mixed features the same average-based divisional structure as the Women's Championships - four divisions for team and six divisions for mixed doubles and singles.
Team competition for The Mixed this year is being held beside the Women's Championships on the 78 competition lanes at the NBS, and all Mixed doubles and singles squads are being contested on the Showcase Lanes.
Another husband and wife team found success Sunday as Sean Riccardi of St. Petersburg, Florida, made a run at the first perfect game of the 2015 Mixed, before settling for a 298 game and 791 series. His wife, Melissa, added a 511 set to move the two into fourth place in Division 1 Doubles with a 1,302 total.
Competitors in Division 1 Doubles at The Mixed have combined entering averages of 380 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - England native Stuart Williams spends most of his time traveling the world and competing in a variety of bowling events, and it was on one of those trips to Panama that he met his wife, former Team USA member Tina (Stickney) Williams.
While his schedule leaves limited opportunities for Williams to watch his wife compete, and only occasional chances for them to bowl together, they were able to make both happen simultaneously this weekend at the National Bowling Stadium.
Williams accompanied Tina to Reno and looked on as she competed in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and then joined her on the lanes for the inaugural edition of the USBC Mixed, which will continue to share the USBC Women's Championships venue in future years.
The chemistry the two share off the lanes translated to an equally special mixed doubles performance on the Showcase Lanes, located on the ground floor of the NBS, as the duo catapulted into the Division 1 Doubles lead with a 1,439 total Sunday afternoon.
Williams led the way with games of 280, 268 and 279 for an 827 series, the first honor score in the brief history of The Mixed, and Tina, a former standout at West Texas A&M, contributed games of 180, 187 and 245 for 612. Husband and wife Tony and Genie Franklin of Frisco, Texas, took the lead a day earlier with 1,348.
"We were actually supposed to arrive on Friday night, but we got a little delayed by the plane and ended up being here Saturday morning," Stuart explained. "I bowled singles yesterday with Tony (Franklin), and I bowled a 660, but I had seven open frames. Tina and I planned to bowl the squad tonight before we bowled team, and when we got down on the Showcase Lanes, I started striking. Tina was struggling a little bit, but she really came through with huge game for us at the end."
Tina was excited to have her husband by her side and credited him with helping her stay composed as they made their run at the top spot.
"I absolutely love bowling with him, but he travels around the world all the time, so we don't get that many opportunities to bowl together," Tina said. "Since I dragged him here to watch me bowl in the Women's Championships, I wanted to make sure we also got a chance to bowl in The Mixed. I think it's a lot more laid-back, and it's a fun atmosphere. You get to bowl with your friends, and for me, my husband can always help me relax. For instance, in my first two games when I was struggling, he helped keep me calm."
At the Women's Championships this year, Tina rolled sets of 599 in team, 593 in singles and 589 in doubles for a 1,781 all-events total.
Both the Women's Championships and The Mixed kicked off April 10 and will continue until June 30. Next year, the two events will be held at the new South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
The Mixed features the same average-based divisional structure as the Women's Championships - four divisions for team and six divisions for mixed doubles and singles.
Team competition for The Mixed this year is being held beside the Women's Championships on the 78 competition lanes at the NBS, and all Mixed doubles and singles squads are being contested on the Showcase Lanes.
Another husband and wife team found success Sunday as Sean Riccardi of St. Petersburg, Florida, made a run at the first perfect game of the 2015 Mixed, before settling for a 298 game and 791 series. His wife, Melissa, added a 511 set to move the two into fourth place in Division 1 Doubles with a 1,302 total.
Competitors in Division 1 Doubles at The Mixed have combined entering averages of 380 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.