Michigan bowler reaches 50 years at 2015 Women's Championships
April 15, 2015
By Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - As Vivian Harasim of Portage, Michigan, walked down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium to celebrate 50 years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, she beamed in the spotlight.
After the 92-year-old great-grandmother was presented with a plaque and pendant to commemorate her achievement, she took the microphone to tell her peers she hoped each of them would experience the same honor.
Harasim then hit the lanes at the NBS for her team event, rolling games of 115, 87 and 109 for a 311 series.
"I just wish, when I look at all those girls out there, that they could enjoy something like that in their lifetimes," Harasim said Monday after finishing doubles and singles.
Harasim's journey at the USBC Women's Championships began at the 1953 event in Detroit, but it took her nearly a decade to return. Her second tournament appearance came in 1961, and she has been to all but one event since 1969, missing the 2009 tournament in Reno because of a bout with pneumonia.
Although she participated on this year's Friendship Squad, a squad set aside for individual bowlers who need helping getting matched with teammates or doubles partners, Harasim was able to compete with her regular doubles partner, 58-year-old Cheri McCaffrey of Plainwell, Michigan, the daughter of Harasim's next-door neighbor and best friend.
Harasim rolled a 313 series in doubles Monday, while McCaffrey added a 475 set for a 788 total, which is 22nd in Amethyst Doubles. Harasim added a 322 singles series for a 946 all-events total.
Because she played other sports in high school, Harasim didn't start bowling until she was 21, and those memories still are very fresh for her.
"I lived in a very small town, and we had one theater, but they decided to build four lanes above the theater, so that's when I started bowling, otherwise, I probably never would have started," Harasim said. "We had so many ladies that wanted to bowl, we couldn't all bowl at once. One shift would have to bowl at 12, then another shift at 3, and then they'd compile all the scores. It's a lot different than it is today, and we had fellas as pinsetters, so you never knew what going to go on."
Making her 50th Women's Championships appearance was an opportunity to reflect on how her game has evolved over the years.
"It has changed a lot because I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I don't bowl as fast as I used to," Harasim said. "I have to adjust my ball, and I have to adjust myself for where I'm standing. I never throw the ball twice the same."
With her 50th tournament now behind her, Harasim is looking forward to next year's event in Las Vegas, which will take place at the new 60-lane South Point Bowling Plaza.
"We always enjoy it here, but we always look forward to going to the different cities," Harasim said. "It was always a chore for a lot of us that never traveled much - but when you gotta bowl, you're ready to go!"
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - As Vivian Harasim of Portage, Michigan, walked down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium to celebrate 50 years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, she beamed in the spotlight.
After the 92-year-old great-grandmother was presented with a plaque and pendant to commemorate her achievement, she took the microphone to tell her peers she hoped each of them would experience the same honor.
Harasim then hit the lanes at the NBS for her team event, rolling games of 115, 87 and 109 for a 311 series.
"I just wish, when I look at all those girls out there, that they could enjoy something like that in their lifetimes," Harasim said Monday after finishing doubles and singles.
Harasim's journey at the USBC Women's Championships began at the 1953 event in Detroit, but it took her nearly a decade to return. Her second tournament appearance came in 1961, and she has been to all but one event since 1969, missing the 2009 tournament in Reno because of a bout with pneumonia.
Although she participated on this year's Friendship Squad, a squad set aside for individual bowlers who need helping getting matched with teammates or doubles partners, Harasim was able to compete with her regular doubles partner, 58-year-old Cheri McCaffrey of Plainwell, Michigan, the daughter of Harasim's next-door neighbor and best friend.
Harasim rolled a 313 series in doubles Monday, while McCaffrey added a 475 set for a 788 total, which is 22nd in Amethyst Doubles. Harasim added a 322 singles series for a 946 all-events total.
Because she played other sports in high school, Harasim didn't start bowling until she was 21, and those memories still are very fresh for her.
"I lived in a very small town, and we had one theater, but they decided to build four lanes above the theater, so that's when I started bowling, otherwise, I probably never would have started," Harasim said. "We had so many ladies that wanted to bowl, we couldn't all bowl at once. One shift would have to bowl at 12, then another shift at 3, and then they'd compile all the scores. It's a lot different than it is today, and we had fellas as pinsetters, so you never knew what going to go on."
Making her 50th Women's Championships appearance was an opportunity to reflect on how her game has evolved over the years.
"It has changed a lot because I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I don't bowl as fast as I used to," Harasim said. "I have to adjust my ball, and I have to adjust myself for where I'm standing. I never throw the ball twice the same."
With her 50th tournament now behind her, Harasim is looking forward to next year's event in Las Vegas, which will take place at the new 60-lane South Point Bowling Plaza.
"We always enjoy it here, but we always look forward to going to the different cities," Harasim said. "It was always a chore for a lot of us that never traveled much - but when you gotta bowl, you're ready to go!"
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.