New acquaintances team up to move into top five at USBC Women's Championships
June 25, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - A new friendship recently was formed at the USBC Women's Championships and the partnership extended to the lanes as Mary Sorensen of Bemidji, Minn., and January Dennison of Sevierville, Tenn., moved into second place in Ruby Doubles on Thursday.
The pair combined for a 1,256 total with the help of Sorensen's 563 series, Dennison's 513 and an additional 60 pins of handicap per game at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center. Maggie Pope of Warner Robins, Ga., and Patricia Akin of Vienna, Ga., lead with 1,267.
Sorensen and Dennison met for the first time Wednesday as they both subbed for the same team, American Legion of Blackduck, Minn. The chemistry between the two formed quickly as they joked and laughed like lifelong friends. It also showed on the tournament lanes as they made their way up the leaderboard.
"We just met yesterday," said Dennison, who made her seventh Women's Championships appearance. "We really enjoyed bowling together. We became fast friends, and I think it'll be that way for a long time."
Sorensen made her Women's Championships debut in El Paso, and although she was eager and excited to participate in the event for the first time, she was just as nervous to compete on the grandest stage in women's bowling.
Although her biggest fear was letting her teammates down, Sorensen only had one game under her entering average, 145, throughout her team and doubles competition.
"I never thought I'd do this well at my first tournament," said Sorensen, who bowls regularly at Bemidji Bowl. "I didn't want to let anyone down. I was so nervous that I think I may have been shaking."
Dennison has shared the Women's Championships experience with her mother, Ernestine James, in each of her seven tournaments. Bowling has been a family sport since Dennison was in junior leagues, and she was grateful that her mother was able to watch her succeed on the lanes. James, who was inducted into the Alabama Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1994, competed at the Women's Championships for the 29th time.
"Bowling has been a family endeavor since juniors," Dennison said. "Both of my brothers bowled. I bowled juniors before moving up and bowling with my parents in mixed leagues and tournaments. To know that my mom was here to see us move into second place meant the world to me."
Sorensen and Dennison praised the city of El Paso and the USBC for hosting the event. Both found the city and event staff to be gracious and helpful in making for a one-of-a-kind tournament experience.
Dennison also considered the trip as a homecoming. She was born in El Paso while her father was stationed at the Fort Bliss military base. This was her first visit to the city since she was an infant.
"It felt like I was coming home," Dennison said. "And after bowling so well, it made for quite a welcome back. This has been such a great experience."
The duo only has 10 days to wait to see if their score holds up for a second-place finish. The 2010 Women's Championships, a 100-day event, will conclude on July 4.
"It's just unbelievable," Sorensen said. "We've already exchanged numbers, so we're going to stay in touch and hopefully be able to do this again next year in Syracuse."
Sorensen finished her 2010 event with 462 scratch series in team and 420 in singles for a 1,490 all-events score in the Sapphire Division, which includes five pins of handicap per game. Dennison added 466 in team and 445 in singles for a 1,649 all-events total in the Ruby Division, which includes 25 pins of handicap per game.
Ruby Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages between 300 and 359, with handicap based on 100 percent of 360.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The pair combined for a 1,256 total with the help of Sorensen's 563 series, Dennison's 513 and an additional 60 pins of handicap per game at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center. Maggie Pope of Warner Robins, Ga., and Patricia Akin of Vienna, Ga., lead with 1,267.
Sorensen and Dennison met for the first time Wednesday as they both subbed for the same team, American Legion of Blackduck, Minn. The chemistry between the two formed quickly as they joked and laughed like lifelong friends. It also showed on the tournament lanes as they made their way up the leaderboard.
"We just met yesterday," said Dennison, who made her seventh Women's Championships appearance. "We really enjoyed bowling together. We became fast friends, and I think it'll be that way for a long time."
Sorensen made her Women's Championships debut in El Paso, and although she was eager and excited to participate in the event for the first time, she was just as nervous to compete on the grandest stage in women's bowling.
Although her biggest fear was letting her teammates down, Sorensen only had one game under her entering average, 145, throughout her team and doubles competition.
"I never thought I'd do this well at my first tournament," said Sorensen, who bowls regularly at Bemidji Bowl. "I didn't want to let anyone down. I was so nervous that I think I may have been shaking."
Dennison has shared the Women's Championships experience with her mother, Ernestine James, in each of her seven tournaments. Bowling has been a family sport since Dennison was in junior leagues, and she was grateful that her mother was able to watch her succeed on the lanes. James, who was inducted into the Alabama Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1994, competed at the Women's Championships for the 29th time.
"Bowling has been a family endeavor since juniors," Dennison said. "Both of my brothers bowled. I bowled juniors before moving up and bowling with my parents in mixed leagues and tournaments. To know that my mom was here to see us move into second place meant the world to me."
Sorensen and Dennison praised the city of El Paso and the USBC for hosting the event. Both found the city and event staff to be gracious and helpful in making for a one-of-a-kind tournament experience.
Dennison also considered the trip as a homecoming. She was born in El Paso while her father was stationed at the Fort Bliss military base. This was her first visit to the city since she was an infant.
"It felt like I was coming home," Dennison said. "And after bowling so well, it made for quite a welcome back. This has been such a great experience."
The duo only has 10 days to wait to see if their score holds up for a second-place finish. The 2010 Women's Championships, a 100-day event, will conclude on July 4.
"It's just unbelievable," Sorensen said. "We've already exchanged numbers, so we're going to stay in touch and hopefully be able to do this again next year in Syracuse."
Sorensen finished her 2010 event with 462 scratch series in team and 420 in singles for a 1,490 all-events score in the Sapphire Division, which includes five pins of handicap per game. Dennison added 466 in team and 445 in singles for a 1,649 all-events total in the Ruby Division, which includes 25 pins of handicap per game.
Ruby Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages between 300 and 359, with handicap based on 100 percent of 360.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.