SYRACUSE, N.Y. - For nearly five decades, Gert Finke of Maple Grove, Minn., has been responsible for bringing hundreds of Minnesota bowlers to the USBC Women's Championships each year.

Finke, who was inducted into the Meritorious Service category of the USBC Hall of Fame in 1990, began organizing annual trips to the tournament in the late 1950s as a way for her state association members to see the country. Since then, thousands of Minnesota bowlers have participated in the Women's Championships because of her.

Although she no longer bowls in the tournament because of health reasons, the 89-year-old was in the stands at the Oncenter Convention Center cheering on a large Minnesota contingent at the Women's Championships late last week.

"I love people, and I liked helping organize them," Finke said. "It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it."

For Finke, coordinating the travel and tournament plans over the years was a labor of love. In 1983 alone, she helped bring 363 teams to the event in Las Vegas.

"Introducing travel to people through bowling is what got people interested and excited," Finke said. "They were able to see the country because of bowling."

Finke is a past president and secretary of the Minnesota Women's State Bowling Association and a state hall of famer. Finke was also local association chairman of the 1964 Women's Championships in Minneapolis.

Seven years ago, after more than 50 years of arranging annual trips to the Women's Championships, Finke retired and turned over the organizing duties to Pat Ward of St. Paul, Minn.

"She taught me everything," said Ward, who was among the 32 teams that bowled at the Oncenter this year.

Ward deflected any praise for her work and said she is just carrying on what Finke started. This year, Ward arranged for 88 Minnesota teams to bowl in Syracuse over the course of the tournament, which will run until July 3.

"I like bowling," Ward said. "This is the fun part, being with all these people at the tournament. They are all appreciative of what Gert started."

Finke started bowling in 1938 and recalled when the cost to bowl was 25 cents a game. The Minnesota legend received a gold pin for her 50th national tournament appearance in 2001, which she proudly wore for the first time this year as a pendant on a gold chain around her neck.

She made her last tournament appearance in 2009, but insisted on being in Syracuse for this year's event.

"I'm going to be 90 in June," Finke said. "I wanted to come again with my friends and experience this at least one last time."

Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.