Past champion leads at 2015 USBC Women's
June 28, 2015
By Jessica Gilgor and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - The last time Corina Grasso of Fort Collins, Colorado, entered the National Bowling Stadium for the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, she walked out as a champion, and she finds herself in a similar position three years later.
The main difference in her 2015 experience is that she and Gayle Cruickshank of Wellington, Colorado, now sit alone atop the leaderboard in Ruby Doubles after posting a 1,228 total Saturday. Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, previously held the lead with 1,191.
In 2012, Grasso teamed with Megan Hill of Eastlake, Ohio, for a share of the Diamond Doubles title with a 1,480 total, matching the mark set by Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, and Elysia Current of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Boomershine and Current also took home the Scratch Doubles title at the 2012 tournament.
"It's amazing and emotional," said Grasso, who made her sixth USBC Women's Championships appearance this year. "I've worked long and hard to get here, and it's a different division, but it's definitely emotional."
Grasso, a 33-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 231, 238 and 209 to lead the way at the NBS with a 678 series, and Cruickshank, a 66-year-old right-hander, followed with games of 155, 198 and 197 for a 550 series.
"I had someone mention to me that we were in position to take the lead," Grasso said. "I didn't want Gayle to hear it because I didn't want her to feel pressure. Pressure can change the way you bowl, but she made perfect shots in the 10th and took the pressure off me."
Cruickshank, who made her second Women's Championships appearance, was caught off guard by the surge of emotions she felt after taking over the top spot this year.
"I feel so overwhelmed I don't have words for it," Cruickshank said. "I kept telling myself to forget about it and go on to singles, but I was so proud to just make it through doubles."
Both Grasso and Cruickshank have spent the past five years bowling together after a chance meeting during league.
"We met during a Friday night league that I subbed on in Fort Collins," said Grasso, who bowls regularly at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado. "We are both originally are from California and started talking. From that point, I wanted to get her on our city and state teams, and it just became a great friendship."
Their chemistry on the lanes led to back-to-back Colorado State USBC titles in 2011 and 2012 and translated to success on the national stage Saturday.
"It makes a difference because I can help line her up and give her pointers," Grasso said. "Today was all about the spares, and I told her 'I don't care if you strike, just make your spares.'"
The duo won't have a long wait to see if the score will hold up. The 2015 Women's Championships will end its 82-run Tuesday, and champions will be crowned once final verifications have been made.
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 350-379.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - The last time Corina Grasso of Fort Collins, Colorado, entered the National Bowling Stadium for the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, she walked out as a champion, and she finds herself in a similar position three years later.
The main difference in her 2015 experience is that she and Gayle Cruickshank of Wellington, Colorado, now sit alone atop the leaderboard in Ruby Doubles after posting a 1,228 total Saturday. Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, previously held the lead with 1,191.
In 2012, Grasso teamed with Megan Hill of Eastlake, Ohio, for a share of the Diamond Doubles title with a 1,480 total, matching the mark set by Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, and Elysia Current of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Boomershine and Current also took home the Scratch Doubles title at the 2012 tournament.
"It's amazing and emotional," said Grasso, who made her sixth USBC Women's Championships appearance this year. "I've worked long and hard to get here, and it's a different division, but it's definitely emotional."
Grasso, a 33-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 231, 238 and 209 to lead the way at the NBS with a 678 series, and Cruickshank, a 66-year-old right-hander, followed with games of 155, 198 and 197 for a 550 series.
"I had someone mention to me that we were in position to take the lead," Grasso said. "I didn't want Gayle to hear it because I didn't want her to feel pressure. Pressure can change the way you bowl, but she made perfect shots in the 10th and took the pressure off me."
Cruickshank, who made her second Women's Championships appearance, was caught off guard by the surge of emotions she felt after taking over the top spot this year.
"I feel so overwhelmed I don't have words for it," Cruickshank said. "I kept telling myself to forget about it and go on to singles, but I was so proud to just make it through doubles."
Both Grasso and Cruickshank have spent the past five years bowling together after a chance meeting during league.
"We met during a Friday night league that I subbed on in Fort Collins," said Grasso, who bowls regularly at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado. "We are both originally are from California and started talking. From that point, I wanted to get her on our city and state teams, and it just became a great friendship."
Their chemistry on the lanes led to back-to-back Colorado State USBC titles in 2011 and 2012 and translated to success on the national stage Saturday.
"It makes a difference because I can help line her up and give her pointers," Grasso said. "Today was all about the spares, and I told her 'I don't care if you strike, just make your spares.'"
The duo won't have a long wait to see if the score will hold up. The 2015 Women's Championships will end its 82-run Tuesday, and champions will be crowned once final verifications have been made.
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 350-379.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.