South Dakota couple has full experience at WC and Mixed
May 11, 2015
By Wishelle Banks and Matt Cannizzaro
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Michelle Brownell of Spearfish, South Dakota, made the most of her first year of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and even got her husband involved as they gave the new USBC Mixed a try together.
Brownell, a 28-year-old right-hander, closed her USBC Women's Championships debut with a commanding singles performance at the National Bowling Stadium, which included games of 235, 224 and 163 for a 622 series, nearly 60 pins better than Kay Hinson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who previously held the Sapphire Singles lead with 566.
"I was shocked and ecstatic that it happened," said Brownell, who added a 485 series in team and 474 in doubles to find her way into second place in Sapphire All-Events with a 1,581 total. Gretchen Rieder of Richmond, Minnesota, leads with 1,597.
The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 145-159.
"We bowled doubles before singles, I bowled my average - 158," Brownell said. "Toward the third game in doubles, I moved a whole dot to the right. The ball started coming in real nice, and I started off the first game of singles with a strike, so I stayed there and ended with a 235."
Brownell did her best not to be intimidated by the expansive 78-lane NBS, often called the Taj Mahal of Tenpins, and all the while, she had her husband, Levi, behind her for support. Levi has made six visits to the USBC Open Championships, including four at the NBS.
"It was incredible watching her actually do really well down here," Levi Brownell said. "I know how hard it is to bowl here, and it was good to see her do really well."
Levi didn't make the trip to Reno this week just to be a spectator, though.
He and Michelle also were able to experience the new USBC Mixed, a laid-back event designed to give bowlers of all skill levels one more chance to compete on the national stage or for ladies to have a second tournament to bowl in while in town for the Women's Championships.
The Mixed features the same divisional structure as the Women's Championships - four average-based divisions for team and six for doubles and singles. Teams at The Mixed are made up of two men and two women, while doubles includes one of each.
Team competition at The Mixed is held on the main tournament lanes alongside the Women's Championships, and doubles and singles are being contested on the Showcase Lanes on the ground floor of the NBS.
"It was tough," Levi Brownell said. "We bowled yesterday downstairs, and it was tough, but we still had fun. It's always been fun. It's a good vacation and just a good time to get away. We just come down and have fun."
At The Mixed, the Brownells combined for a 975 doubles score in Division 2, while Michelle moved into third in Division 4 Singles with a 513 series.
Alex Caylao and Liza Reyes of Union City, California, lead Division 2 Doubles with 1,241, while Henry Murphy of Henderson, Nevada, leads Division 4 Singles with 543.
Once their bowling vacation is complete, the Brownells will return to Spearfish, where they own Lucky Strike Lanes, a 10-lane facility they're slowly remodeling and updating.
Bowling is a family business and a tradition, and their time in the bowling center, which also includes bowling in two or three leagues each week, definitely has helped Michelle improve.
Along with her success at the Women's Championships and Mixed this week, she also bowled well at this year's South Dakota State Women's Tournament and South Dakota State Mixed Tournament.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Michelle Brownell of Spearfish, South Dakota, made the most of her first year of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and even got her husband involved as they gave the new USBC Mixed a try together.
Brownell, a 28-year-old right-hander, closed her USBC Women's Championships debut with a commanding singles performance at the National Bowling Stadium, which included games of 235, 224 and 163 for a 622 series, nearly 60 pins better than Kay Hinson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who previously held the Sapphire Singles lead with 566."I was shocked and ecstatic that it happened," said Brownell, who added a 485 series in team and 474 in doubles to find her way into second place in Sapphire All-Events with a 1,581 total. Gretchen Rieder of Richmond, Minnesota, leads with 1,597.
The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 145-159.
"We bowled doubles before singles, I bowled my average - 158," Brownell said. "Toward the third game in doubles, I moved a whole dot to the right. The ball started coming in real nice, and I started off the first game of singles with a strike, so I stayed there and ended with a 235."
Brownell did her best not to be intimidated by the expansive 78-lane NBS, often called the Taj Mahal of Tenpins, and all the while, she had her husband, Levi, behind her for support. Levi has made six visits to the USBC Open Championships, including four at the NBS.
"It was incredible watching her actually do really well down here," Levi Brownell said. "I know how hard it is to bowl here, and it was good to see her do really well."
Levi didn't make the trip to Reno this week just to be a spectator, though.
He and Michelle also were able to experience the new USBC Mixed, a laid-back event designed to give bowlers of all skill levels one more chance to compete on the national stage or for ladies to have a second tournament to bowl in while in town for the Women's Championships.
The Mixed features the same divisional structure as the Women's Championships - four average-based divisions for team and six for doubles and singles. Teams at The Mixed are made up of two men and two women, while doubles includes one of each.
Team competition at The Mixed is held on the main tournament lanes alongside the Women's Championships, and doubles and singles are being contested on the Showcase Lanes on the ground floor of the NBS.
"It was tough," Levi Brownell said. "We bowled yesterday downstairs, and it was tough, but we still had fun. It's always been fun. It's a good vacation and just a good time to get away. We just come down and have fun."
At The Mixed, the Brownells combined for a 975 doubles score in Division 2, while Michelle moved into third in Division 4 Singles with a 513 series.
Alex Caylao and Liza Reyes of Union City, California, lead Division 2 Doubles with 1,241, while Henry Murphy of Henderson, Nevada, leads Division 4 Singles with 543.
Once their bowling vacation is complete, the Brownells will return to Spearfish, where they own Lucky Strike Lanes, a 10-lane facility they're slowly remodeling and updating.
Bowling is a family business and a tradition, and their time in the bowling center, which also includes bowling in two or three leagues each week, definitely has helped Michelle improve.
Along with her success at the Women's Championships and Mixed this week, she also bowled well at this year's South Dakota State Women's Tournament and South Dakota State Mixed Tournament.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.