RENO, Nev. - Last year, Coefficient of Friction of Palo Alto, Calif., dethroned one of the most dominant teams in United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships history and outperformed nearly 6,000 more on the way to the Scratch Team title.

Four members of the winning team returned to Reno this week to put their title on the line, and although they will not repeat, they still are enjoying the chance to be recognized as national champions on the biggest stage in women's bowling.

After a 962 start, almost 200 pins less than their opening game in 2012, the group found some momentum and added games of 1,108 and 1,007 for a 3,077 scratch total. Eagle's Edge Pro Shop of Prospect Heights, Ill., leads Scratch Team this year at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center with 3,357, the second-highest team score in 94 years of USBC Women's Championships history.

Coefficient of Friction received an additional 43 pins of handicap per game to finish with a 3,206 handicap total, which is eighth in Diamond Team. The defending Diamond Team champion, Some Strike It Hot of Albuquerque, N.M., got hot again this year and leads Diamond Team with 3,451.

Newcomer Renee Steele led the way for Coefficient of Friction on Friday with a 721 series, and she was followed by Brittany Hillman (623), Kim Power (621), Jackie Wyckoff (592) and Terri Stynes (520).

Mandy Green, who spared in her final frame last year to lock up her team's spot at the top of the standings, was unable to compete Friday because she is due to give birth any day now.

Coefficient of Friction's dramatic finish at the National Bowling Stadium in 2012 came with just one week remaining in the 86-day event, and left the group five pins ahead USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and her Together Once Again teammates. Together Once Again took home team titles at the NBS in 2006 and 2009.

"It was pretty exciting," said Wyckoff, who made her 18th Women's Championships appearance. "To get the call and to get with the gals right away and let them know that we were indeed the champions was just incredible. We still have a sense of euphoria about it. It hasn't worn off. To be a national champion is something special that not everybody gets to see in their lifetime. We feel real blessed and happy that we got to do it once, at least."

Although they admitted to being a bit nervous out of the gates Friday, especially with their team event being shown live on BowlTV, the teammates fought through early transition and rallied to put themselves within striking distance of the lead.
 


"I think most of us were pretty terrified that first game about making a faux pas and being on the live stream for everybody to see," said Wyckoff, who bowls regularly at Cloverleaf Family Bowl in Fremont, Calif. "We really got over it pretty quickly and settled down. We practiced on this pattern (on the 900 Global Showcase Lanes at the NBS) and figured it would play a little tighter here. We were pretty surprised it was actually quite a bit tighter to start, but they broke down very quickly for us. Within the matter of the first three frames, a lot of us were moving and making ball changes just from practice. We stuck with the game plan for the most part, and win or lose, we're happy with the way we bowled."

Even though Coefficient of Friction will not see its name on a championship banner when it returns to the RSCC for the 2014 Women's Championships, the banner donning its name currently hanging over the championships lanes eventually will hang at Cloverleaf Family Bowl.

"We all bowl at Cloverleaf Lanes," Wyckoff said. "Brittany's dad is one of the owners of the center, so they'll send the banner down to the center for us. Our banner will be hanging at Cloverleaf Lanes forever. We left a lot of pins out there in our spare shooting today and kind of imploded the first game. If we would have bowled a little better the first game, I think we would have been set to make a better run toward the end, but I'm really happy. I'm proud of my team."

The top scratch bowlers in team, doubles, singles and all-events are recognized as overall tournament champions.

Diamond Team consists of teams with composite averages of 900 and above, and handicap is 100 percent of 1,100.

Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.