Behind the scenes at the 2018 USBC Women's Championships
June 22, 2018
By Christian Seaborn and Tony Contini
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Before participants at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships hit the lanes for competition, they kickstart their fun by making a trip to the tournament's squad room.
The bowlers assemble in the squad room to hear the rules and celebrate longevity prior to the start of bowling at the National Bowling Stadium. On the lanes, the bowlers enjoy the friendly competition, but the time in the squad room helps to bring them together with their fellow competitors.
Longtime USBC Women's Championships participants mix with first-time bowlers, like Marquee Meyer of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
"This is my first year," Meyer said. "I'm here as a sub at my grandmother's insistence. She's bowling in her 39th tournament. She called me after Baton Rouge to say I should immediately start planning for Reno. I went right to work and joined a league to build up my average, specifically for this year. I've been bowling for a long time. I always planned on coming to the Women's Championships once my three children got older. My grandmother just moved up my timetable by about 10 years."
Bowlers of all ages and skill-levels are brought together from all over the United States and a handful of foreign countries. They attend for a variety of reasons beyond the on-lane competition.
Karen Burlingame of Portland, Oregon, along with her teammates on Good Time Gals 2 (Geannie Newell, Lynnette Nuss and Cindy Walker), are veterans of the event, but they enjoy the opportunity to look good on bowling's biggest stage.
"The biggest thing in 2018," Burlingame said. "Is showing off our new bowling shirts."
The Women's Championships' staff members present plaques and chevrons to those who have bowled the event at least 20 times, and bowlers who finish near the top of the standings in the previous year's event also get awarded for their strong performances.
Conversely, first-time participants are given a pin to commemorate the beginning of their new journeys on the lanes.
The time in the squad room also is the final opportunity for bowlers to mentally prepare for their runs at one of the gemstone trophies awarded to the winners in each average-based division and event, like Theresa Washington of Temple Hills, Maryland.
"I love the squad room and people here," said Washington, who made her 12th tournament appearance. "In terms of preparation, I always like to depend on my skills. I bowl 35 weeks a year to get prepared for this event. For me, the whole experience just keeps getting better each year."
Many longtime participants have been traveling with the same group of teammates for years, while others find new teammates through leagues or the tournament's sub board. The common theme, however, is quickly finding the special camaraderie.
"We've been bowling together as a team for three years," said Catherine Newton of Lafayette, Colorado. "This is my 43rd year, and my goal is to make it to my 50th while still competing with the same team."
Newton's teammate, Karma Balistreri, formerly lived in Colorado but has resettled in Ames, Iowa. She credits the Women's Championships as the glue that binds her team together.
"This is a venue that gives us a chance to still get together," Balistreri said. "We enjoy each other's company very much."
Laura Andrews as the 10 of Hearts, Lisa Shook as the Jack of Hearts, Newton as the Queen and Balistreri behind the King.
The squad room brings together not only a mixture of bowlers with varying origins and number of years of attendance, but also different goals.
"This is my 32nd trip to the Women's Championships," said Sharlene Ross of Mentone, Indiana. "My goal this year is a 300 game. And I don't mean spread across three games. We sometimes bowl fantastically well and sometimes fantastically bad, but we always bowl fantastic. Our team goal is to see the city and have fun. Tomorrow, we're playing bingo."
Some bowlers are deeply moved during the award presentation in the squad room. It is common to see participants become emotional, with tears in their eyes, as bowlers are recognized for their years of participation and dedication to the sport.
Mary Campbell of Meadville, Pennsylvania, was recognized for her 22nd appearance at the Women's Championships in 2018 after starting her tournament career at the 1984 event in Niagara Falls, New York.
"I was struck with emotion in the squad room today," Campbell said. "To be surrounded by all these talented and dedicated women bowlers really touches me."
For Shirley Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri, her trip to Reno in 2018 also marked her 25th tournament appearance. She enjoys the opportunity to show off her love of the sport.
"Two years ago, I told my daughter if she got me a jacket, I would put my patches on it," Johnson said.
In 2016, the event added a new tradition to the pre-tournament festivities. The Grand Marshal program was introduced, giving one team of bowlers the opportunity to lead out the squad and help everyone get excited for their upcoming team competition.
Whether new to the event or celebrating their 50th tournament appearances, bowlers clearly have cherished and enjoyed every moment, both on and off the lanes, at the Women's Championships.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Before participants at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships hit the lanes for competition, they kickstart their fun by making a trip to the tournament's squad room.
The bowlers assemble in the squad room to hear the rules and celebrate longevity prior to the start of bowling at the National Bowling Stadium. On the lanes, the bowlers enjoy the friendly competition, but the time in the squad room helps to bring them together with their fellow competitors.
Longtime USBC Women's Championships participants mix with first-time bowlers, like Marquee Meyer of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
"This is my first year," Meyer said. "I'm here as a sub at my grandmother's insistence. She's bowling in her 39th tournament. She called me after Baton Rouge to say I should immediately start planning for Reno. I went right to work and joined a league to build up my average, specifically for this year. I've been bowling for a long time. I always planned on coming to the Women's Championships once my three children got older. My grandmother just moved up my timetable by about 10 years."
Bowlers of all ages and skill-levels are brought together from all over the United States and a handful of foreign countries. They attend for a variety of reasons beyond the on-lane competition.
Karen Burlingame of Portland, Oregon, along with her teammates on Good Time Gals 2 (Geannie Newell, Lynnette Nuss and Cindy Walker), are veterans of the event, but they enjoy the opportunity to look good on bowling's biggest stage.
"The biggest thing in 2018," Burlingame said. "Is showing off our new bowling shirts."
The Women's Championships' staff members present plaques and chevrons to those who have bowled the event at least 20 times, and bowlers who finish near the top of the standings in the previous year's event also get awarded for their strong performances.
Conversely, first-time participants are given a pin to commemorate the beginning of their new journeys on the lanes.
The time in the squad room also is the final opportunity for bowlers to mentally prepare for their runs at one of the gemstone trophies awarded to the winners in each average-based division and event, like Theresa Washington of Temple Hills, Maryland.
"I love the squad room and people here," said Washington, who made her 12th tournament appearance. "In terms of preparation, I always like to depend on my skills. I bowl 35 weeks a year to get prepared for this event. For me, the whole experience just keeps getting better each year."
Many longtime participants have been traveling with the same group of teammates for years, while others find new teammates through leagues or the tournament's sub board. The common theme, however, is quickly finding the special camaraderie.
"We've been bowling together as a team for three years," said Catherine Newton of Lafayette, Colorado. "This is my 43rd year, and my goal is to make it to my 50th while still competing with the same team."
Newton's teammate, Karma Balistreri, formerly lived in Colorado but has resettled in Ames, Iowa. She credits the Women's Championships as the glue that binds her team together.
"This is a venue that gives us a chance to still get together," Balistreri said. "We enjoy each other's company very much."
Laura Andrews as the 10 of Hearts, Lisa Shook as the Jack of Hearts, Newton as the Queen and Balistreri behind the King.
The squad room brings together not only a mixture of bowlers with varying origins and number of years of attendance, but also different goals.
"This is my 32nd trip to the Women's Championships," said Sharlene Ross of Mentone, Indiana. "My goal this year is a 300 game. And I don't mean spread across three games. We sometimes bowl fantastically well and sometimes fantastically bad, but we always bowl fantastic. Our team goal is to see the city and have fun. Tomorrow, we're playing bingo."
Some bowlers are deeply moved during the award presentation in the squad room. It is common to see participants become emotional, with tears in their eyes, as bowlers are recognized for their years of participation and dedication to the sport.
Mary Campbell of Meadville, Pennsylvania, was recognized for her 22nd appearance at the Women's Championships in 2018 after starting her tournament career at the 1984 event in Niagara Falls, New York.
"I was struck with emotion in the squad room today," Campbell said. "To be surrounded by all these talented and dedicated women bowlers really touches me."
For Shirley Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri, her trip to Reno in 2018 also marked her 25th tournament appearance. She enjoys the opportunity to show off her love of the sport.
"Two years ago, I told my daughter if she got me a jacket, I would put my patches on it," Johnson said.
In 2016, the event added a new tradition to the pre-tournament festivities. The Grand Marshal program was introduced, giving one team of bowlers the opportunity to lead out the squad and help everyone get excited for their upcoming team competition.
Whether new to the event or celebrating their 50th tournament appearances, bowlers clearly have cherished and enjoyed every moment, both on and off the lanes, at the Women's Championships.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.