USBC Hall of Famer Teata Semiz dies at age 87
November 30, 2021
ARLINGTON, Texas - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Anthony "Teata" Semiz of Hopatcong, New Jersey, died Nov. 23. He was 87.
Semiz earned his spot in the USBC Hall of Fame in 1991 in the Superior Performance category, and the talented right-hander was inducted into the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame in 1998 in the Veterans/Senior category.
He captured the first of his three PBA Tour titles in 1968 and excelled on the PBA50 Tour, winning eight titles.
His final PBA50 Tour victory came at the 1997 PBA Showboat St. Petersburg Senior Open, which he won at the age of 63. The victory helped him become the oldest player at the time to win an event on the PBA50 Tour.
Prior to his win at the Showboat St. Petersburg Senior Open, Semiz made a run at the 1997 USBC Masters and advanced to the stepladder finals at the event for the second time in his career, finishing in fifth place.
He placed fourth at the 1973 Masters.
Semiz also found success at the USBC Open Championships, winning two titles at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California. He captured the Classic Singles title with a 754 series, which helped him also win Classic All-Events (1,994).
He made 33 appearances at the Open Championships, finishing with a lifetime average at the event of 195.6.
Semiz continued to stay competitive in the sport after retiring from the PBA50 Tour, rolling an 803 series in 2014 at Sparta Lanes in Sparta Township, New Jersey, at the age of 80.
In addition to his induction into the USBC and PBA Halls of Fame, Semiz also is a member of the New Jersey State and Bergen County USBC Halls of Fame.
There will be a military service for Semiz on Dec. 11 at noon Eastern at the North New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sparta Township.
For more information on the USBC Hall of Fame, visit BOWL.com/HallofFame.
Semiz earned his spot in the USBC Hall of Fame in 1991 in the Superior Performance category, and the talented right-hander was inducted into the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame in 1998 in the Veterans/Senior category.
He captured the first of his three PBA Tour titles in 1968 and excelled on the PBA50 Tour, winning eight titles.
His final PBA50 Tour victory came at the 1997 PBA Showboat St. Petersburg Senior Open, which he won at the age of 63. The victory helped him become the oldest player at the time to win an event on the PBA50 Tour.
Prior to his win at the Showboat St. Petersburg Senior Open, Semiz made a run at the 1997 USBC Masters and advanced to the stepladder finals at the event for the second time in his career, finishing in fifth place.
He placed fourth at the 1973 Masters.
Semiz also found success at the USBC Open Championships, winning two titles at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California. He captured the Classic Singles title with a 754 series, which helped him also win Classic All-Events (1,994).
He made 33 appearances at the Open Championships, finishing with a lifetime average at the event of 195.6.
Semiz continued to stay competitive in the sport after retiring from the PBA50 Tour, rolling an 803 series in 2014 at Sparta Lanes in Sparta Township, New Jersey, at the age of 80.
In addition to his induction into the USBC and PBA Halls of Fame, Semiz also is a member of the New Jersey State and Bergen County USBC Halls of Fame.
There will be a military service for Semiz on Dec. 11 at noon Eastern at the North New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sparta Township.
For more information on the USBC Hall of Fame, visit BOWL.com/HallofFame.