Tvaska extends participation record at USBC Women's Championships
May 19, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Mini Tvaska of St. Petersburg, Fla., extended her own participation record at the USBC Women's Championships as she took to the tournament lanes for her 64th consecutive appearance Tuesday.
The 92-year-old right-hander claimed the record during the 2008 event in Detroit when she competed for the 62nd time. Prior to that appearance, she shared the mark with Mary Covell of Chicago, who made her 61st appearance at the 1992 tournament in Lansing, Mich. In the 91-year history of the event, only four bowlers have reached 60 years of participation.
Tvaska's tournament career began at the 1947 Women's Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. She has competed in 48 different cities and 28 states.
For her ceremonial march down Center Aisle at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, Tvaska was escorted by Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson and offered several words of encouragement as she addressed the bowlers after receiving her commemorative plaque and a gift courtesy of the city of El Paso.
"I'm glad to be here this year," said Tvaska, who bowls league at Sunrise Lanes in St. Petersburg. "I hope everybody bowls well today, and I'll see you next year."
Although Tvaska has become accustomed to the spotlight she receives at the Women's Championships, she is still humble, gracious and even a little embarrassed about the attention.
"I appreciate everybody making a big deal of me, but I still can't believe I'm important," Tvaska said. "I didn't do much in my life. I didn't even bowl good scores. I was a mediocre ball player, ice skater and everything, so I do feel very honored to walk down the Center Aisle."
Once the presentations, awards and recognition are aside, Tvaska still puts forth her best effort on the lanes. She enjoys the camaraderie and the chance to talk about bowling with everyone she can.
"I still come, and I still try to bowl well, but if you look at my record, I'm sure it's bad," Tvaska said. "But I still come and try every year. I think I make it because I really enjoy it, and its fun, and I just really like to talk about bowling when I'm here."
Tvaska keeps active by bowling in two leagues during the winter season and still enjoys the responsibility of handling her duties as team captain for her team, Sunshine Gals.
"I still try to be the captain, but I get some help," Tvaska said. "They can't drop me off of the team that way. I keep saying that as a joke, but the girls I bowl with are great."
Tvaska has kept her participation streak alive despite a few close calls. She arrived at the 2001 event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., her 55th tournament, without a team. A severely injured shoulder nearly caused her to miss her record-tying 61st appearance in 2007. This year, she needed to ask her teammates what pins she left due to diminishing eyesight.
With such circumstances unable to stop her, she has her sights set on the 2011 event in Syracuse, N.Y.
"My goal is to always try and make it to the WIBC (now Women's Championships)," said Tvaska, who bowled in Syracuse for the 1954 Women's Championships. "It's gotten so that I have to make it, so I want to make it to Syracuse."
Tvaska finished her 2010 trip by completing all nine games of competition for the first time since the 2006 tournament at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. With an entering average of 104, she was placed into the Sapphire Division and received an additional 46 pins of handicap per game.
She rolled a 431 series in team, 376 in singles and 366 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,173. All scores include handicap.
The Sapphire Division is made up of bowlers with averages of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.
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 92-year-old right-hander claimed the record during the 2008 event in Detroit when she competed for the 62nd time. Prior to that appearance, she shared the mark with Mary Covell of Chicago, who made her 61st appearance at the 1992 tournament in Lansing, Mich. In the 91-year history of the event, only four bowlers have reached 60 years of participation.
Tvaska's tournament career began at the 1947 Women's Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. She has competed in 48 different cities and 28 states.
For her ceremonial march down Center Aisle at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, Tvaska was escorted by Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson and offered several words of encouragement as she addressed the bowlers after receiving her commemorative plaque and a gift courtesy of the city of El Paso.
"I'm glad to be here this year," said Tvaska, who bowls league at Sunrise Lanes in St. Petersburg. "I hope everybody bowls well today, and I'll see you next year."
Although Tvaska has become accustomed to the spotlight she receives at the Women's Championships, she is still humble, gracious and even a little embarrassed about the attention.
"I appreciate everybody making a big deal of me, but I still can't believe I'm important," Tvaska said. "I didn't do much in my life. I didn't even bowl good scores. I was a mediocre ball player, ice skater and everything, so I do feel very honored to walk down the Center Aisle."
Once the presentations, awards and recognition are aside, Tvaska still puts forth her best effort on the lanes. She enjoys the camaraderie and the chance to talk about bowling with everyone she can.
"I still come, and I still try to bowl well, but if you look at my record, I'm sure it's bad," Tvaska said. "But I still come and try every year. I think I make it because I really enjoy it, and its fun, and I just really like to talk about bowling when I'm here."
Tvaska keeps active by bowling in two leagues during the winter season and still enjoys the responsibility of handling her duties as team captain for her team, Sunshine Gals.
"I still try to be the captain, but I get some help," Tvaska said. "They can't drop me off of the team that way. I keep saying that as a joke, but the girls I bowl with are great."
Tvaska has kept her participation streak alive despite a few close calls. She arrived at the 2001 event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., her 55th tournament, without a team. A severely injured shoulder nearly caused her to miss her record-tying 61st appearance in 2007. This year, she needed to ask her teammates what pins she left due to diminishing eyesight.
With such circumstances unable to stop her, she has her sights set on the 2011 event in Syracuse, N.Y.
"My goal is to always try and make it to the WIBC (now Women's Championships)," said Tvaska, who bowled in Syracuse for the 1954 Women's Championships. "It's gotten so that I have to make it, so I want to make it to Syracuse."
Tvaska finished her 2010 trip by completing all nine games of competition for the first time since the 2006 tournament at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. With an entering average of 104, she was placed into the Sapphire Division and received an additional 46 pins of handicap per game.
She rolled a 431 series in team, 376 in singles and 366 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,173. All scores include handicap.
The Sapphire Division is made up of bowlers with averages of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.
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.