By Ethan Resh and Christian Seaborn
USBC Communications

WICHITA, Kan. - A winning score can happen any day at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, and several bowlers already are making their marks at the 2019 event at Northrock Lanes.

The 100th edition of the storied event kicked off April 20, and the scores have heated up during the second week of the event.

Glenyce Klaers of St. Michael, Minnesota, saved her best for last at the 2019 event, firing games of 195, 185 and 217 to take the lead in Sapphire Singles with a 597 series. She surpassed Margaret Randall of Pine Valley, New York, who had led with 566.

"I had not hit my average - not once," Klaers said. "Then I got to singles and everything clicked. It was amazing."

Klaers made her 24th USBC Women's Championships appearance this week in Wichita, and she's already excited to celebrate her 25th trip next year in Las Vegas.

"The highlight of planning my entire year is coming to the Women's Championships," Klaers said.

Sapphire All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 145-159.

A consistent effort from Jennifer Henn of Norfolk, Nebraska, helped her take the lead in Emerald All-Events with a 1,751 total, surpassing previous leader Jacqueline Herndon of Los Angeles (1,676).

Henn started her event at Northrock Lanes with a 594 series in team competition and added 579 in doubles and 578 in singles.

"It was a complete surprise," said Henn, who made her 10th Women's Championships appearance. "I just came to bowl. I suppose I could have bowled a little better, but overall, I was happy with how I bowled."

Emerald All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 160-174.

Moving to the Amethyst Division, Nicole Sparks of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, ascended to the top of the all-events standings with a 1,506 total.

Sparks posted sets of 547 in doubles, 490 in singles and 469 in team to move into the top spot.

"It was very exciting," Sparks said. "I certainly was not expecting it. I go for the fun of it."

Amethyst All-Events is for bowlers with entering averages of 130-144.

In Ruby Team, the members of Dream Team of Nevada City, California, posted a 2,116 total to surpass BOTKY of Kansas City, Missouri, which previously held the lead with 2,103. Led by Lani Melo's 558 series, Dream Team fired games of 679, 729 and 708 to take the top spot.

Melo was joined by Renee Rockwell (531), Joanne Shaw (524) and Claudia Cinelli (503 series).

Ruby Team consists of bowlers with combined entering averages of 650-724.

Annette Miller of Roseville, California, made her Women's Championships debut a memorable one as she took the lead in both Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events.

Miller rolled games of 243, 215 and 205 in singles for a 663 series to edge Rachel Thielen of Richmond, Minnesota (656), and she added sets of 602 in doubles and 511 in team to get to a 1,776 all-events total to surpass the 1,748 score posted by Donnea Moon of Spring, Texas.

Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events includes bowlers with entering averages of 175-189.

For 7 of Bozeman, Montana, made its way to the top of the leaderboard in Emerald Team, firing games of 668, 638 and 692 at Northrock Lanes for a 1,998 score.

Shelbi Dobie led the way for For 7 with a 577 series, and she was joined in the effort by Jaclyn Wiegand (517), Diane Short (488) and Susan Miller (416).  

Emerald Team includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 575-649.
 
The 2019 event will run until June 30, welcoming more than 4,100 teams and 16,000 bowlers to Wichita.

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