Indiana bowler makes 50th consecutive trip to Women's Championships
May 28, 2017
By Scott Simon and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Jo Anne Elischer of Portage, Indiana, said one the early goals in her United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships career was to compete in the event 50 times.
The 70-year-old right-hander accomplished that this week at the Raising Cane's River Center, making her 50th consecutive appearance at the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
Elischer began her run toward five decades on the championship lanes at the 1968 event in San Antonio. She's had a few close calls along the way but was able to keep her consecutive streak intact.
"One year, the bowler I was with was getting dressed, so I was waiting," said Elischer, who received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate the achievement. "We got there late, so I had to wait until the next squad. Thankfully, a team on the next squad needed a bowler, and I was available. Another year, I didn't have a team to go with, so I just went. Luckily, I walked in at the right time because a team needed a bowler, so I lucked out, keeping the streak alive."
Elischer's career on the lanes has taken her to 34 cities and 22 states, with her trip to Atlanta in 1971 standing out because she nearly captured a title, finishing second in Classic Team.
"That was a big thrill," said Elischer, a member of the LakeShore USBC Hall of Fame. "I also got to bowl that year with (USBC Hall of Famer) Joy Abel."
Though Elischer now is down to just one league a week at Cressmor Lanes in Hobart, Indiana, she has no intentions of stopping completely anytime soon.
"I'm 70 years old, so I just had to cut back a bit," Elischer said. "No matter, I love bowling and won't stop, no matter what."
In her 50th appearance, Elischer rolled sets of 504 in singles, 427 in doubles and 398 in team for a 1,329 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Jo Anne Elischer of Portage, Indiana, said one the early goals in her United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships career was to compete in the event 50 times.
The 70-year-old right-hander accomplished that this week at the Raising Cane's River Center, making her 50th consecutive appearance at the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
Elischer began her run toward five decades on the championship lanes at the 1968 event in San Antonio. She's had a few close calls along the way but was able to keep her consecutive streak intact.
"One year, the bowler I was with was getting dressed, so I was waiting," said Elischer, who received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate the achievement. "We got there late, so I had to wait until the next squad. Thankfully, a team on the next squad needed a bowler, and I was available. Another year, I didn't have a team to go with, so I just went. Luckily, I walked in at the right time because a team needed a bowler, so I lucked out, keeping the streak alive."
Elischer's career on the lanes has taken her to 34 cities and 22 states, with her trip to Atlanta in 1971 standing out because she nearly captured a title, finishing second in Classic Team.
"That was a big thrill," said Elischer, a member of the LakeShore USBC Hall of Fame. "I also got to bowl that year with (USBC Hall of Famer) Joy Abel."
Though Elischer now is down to just one league a week at Cressmor Lanes in Hobart, Indiana, she has no intentions of stopping completely anytime soon.
"I'm 70 years old, so I just had to cut back a bit," Elischer said. "No matter, I love bowling and won't stop, no matter what."
In her 50th appearance, Elischer rolled sets of 504 in singles, 427 in doubles and 398 in team for a 1,329 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.