Washington state bowler perfect at 2014 WC
June 19, 2014
RENO, Nev. - Anna Green of Tacoma, Wash., always hoped her bowling career would include a perfect game, and that dream came true at the 2014 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships when she finished her doubles event with 12 consecutive strikes.
The 53-year-old right-hander became the third competitor of the 2014 tournament, and 23rd in the 95-year history of the USBC Women's Championships, to accomplish the feat. Tracey Stevens of Dunellen, N.J., and Jeri Espinoza of South San Francisco, Calif., also rolled 300 games this year at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Green started doubles Wednesday with games of 166 and 170 before making the right move, which finally got her lined up. The perfect finish helped her to a 636 series, the highest in her nine-year Women's Championships career.
"On the last ball of the second game, I made an adjustment, and it seemed pretty good," said Green, who added 583 in singles and 552 in team for a career-best 1,771 all-events effort, placing her in a tie for seventh place in Division 2. "I told myself I would keep throwing it there until it didn't work anymore, and it worked all the way."
Green had made several runs at perfection in the past but wasn't able to finish in the final frame. On Wednesday, her teammates kept her loose as she prepared to make a run into the tournament record books.
"Right before the 10th frame, my niece told me a joke, and we were both laughing," Green said. "I stepped up and still had a smile on my face, and the first one was really good. The second one was a little shaky, so I told myself to throw the same ball, don't pay attention to anybody and just roll it. The last one was perfect."
The specially-constructed 44-lane venue erupted after the final shot, and Green became an instant celebrity among her peers.
"It's still surreal," Green said. "I didn't really feel any of the pressure until after the final strike. Everybody was there when I turned around. They were all congratulating me. Everyone one kept coming over. I was shaking inside the next game."
Although Green now is a member of one of the tournament's most exclusive clubs, she was able to witness a former teammate, Krischna Howard, make her own run at perfection at the 2010 event in El Paso, Texas. Howard's performance was enough for her to capture the Scratch and Diamond Singles titles.
"One of my teammates did it a few years back," Green said. "We were all proud of her, and my niece also rolled the first 10 during the same tournament. It was so great. The whole thing is phenomenal. I couldn't even dream it. I thought I might bowl a 300 someday but never thought it would be today."
Bowlers competing in Division 2 have entering averages of 175-189.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Presenting sponsors for the 2014 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.
The 53-year-old right-hander became the third competitor of the 2014 tournament, and 23rd in the 95-year history of the USBC Women's Championships, to accomplish the feat. Tracey Stevens of Dunellen, N.J., and Jeri Espinoza of South San Francisco, Calif., also rolled 300 games this year at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Green started doubles Wednesday with games of 166 and 170 before making the right move, which finally got her lined up. The perfect finish helped her to a 636 series, the highest in her nine-year Women's Championships career.
"On the last ball of the second game, I made an adjustment, and it seemed pretty good," said Green, who added 583 in singles and 552 in team for a career-best 1,771 all-events effort, placing her in a tie for seventh place in Division 2. "I told myself I would keep throwing it there until it didn't work anymore, and it worked all the way."
Green had made several runs at perfection in the past but wasn't able to finish in the final frame. On Wednesday, her teammates kept her loose as she prepared to make a run into the tournament record books.
"Right before the 10th frame, my niece told me a joke, and we were both laughing," Green said. "I stepped up and still had a smile on my face, and the first one was really good. The second one was a little shaky, so I told myself to throw the same ball, don't pay attention to anybody and just roll it. The last one was perfect."
The specially-constructed 44-lane venue erupted after the final shot, and Green became an instant celebrity among her peers.
"It's still surreal," Green said. "I didn't really feel any of the pressure until after the final strike. Everybody was there when I turned around. They were all congratulating me. Everyone one kept coming over. I was shaking inside the next game."
Although Green now is a member of one of the tournament's most exclusive clubs, she was able to witness a former teammate, Krischna Howard, make her own run at perfection at the 2010 event in El Paso, Texas. Howard's performance was enough for her to capture the Scratch and Diamond Singles titles.
"One of my teammates did it a few years back," Green said. "We were all proud of her, and my niece also rolled the first 10 during the same tournament. It was so great. The whole thing is phenomenal. I couldn't even dream it. I thought I might bowl a 300 someday but never thought it would be today."
Bowlers competing in Division 2 have entering averages of 175-189.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Presenting sponsors for the 2014 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.