Wisconsin bowler ties for lead at 2015 USBC Women's
May 24, 2015
By Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - On the threshold of her 40th birthday in mid-June, Wisconsin standout Rochelle Roventini hit the lanes at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and turned in a memorable performance Sunday as she moved into a tie for the top spot in Diamond Singles.
Roventini, a right-hander, rolled games of 248, 263 and 231 to match the Diamond Singles-leading 742 series posted by Darris Ruffner, Exeter, California.
"In years past, I've been challenged with this condition," said Roventini, who owns multiple Wisconsin state titles. "I struggled yesterday in team. My first game, I had a lot of timing issues. I mean, outright, I just bowled badly and missed a lot of spares. I brought it together better for the second and third games, but my timing was an issue."
As she entered the National Bowling Stadium for doubles and singles, it occurred to Roventini that Ruffner's score might untouchable, but some advice she got from resident coach Mike Jasnau earlier in the trip helped her rise to the occasion. Jasnau provides coaching on Lane 81, which is located inside the pro shop area at the NBS.
"I had a lesson with Jasnau the day before I bowled team," Roventini said. "Today, I just really tried to put into use a lot of what Mike and I had talked about. I really credit him a lot in that last game because a lot of mental tips he gave me. I kept talking to myself and saying, 'You have the right ball, you have the right line,' and that mental, positive attitude definitely helped."
With games of 146, 215 and 198 in team Saturday, Roventini's 559 series helped Vise of Franklin, Wisconsin, into seventh place in Diamond Team with a 2,413 total. Bowlieve In A Cure of Arlington, Texas, leads with 2,634.
Roventini had 547 in doubles and finished with a 1,848 all-events total. Tennelle Milligan, a member of Bowlieve In A Cure, leads Diamond All-Events with 2,169.
Although she was satisfied with her singles performance Sunday, Roventini can't help but think of where she could've found one more pin to take the lead outright.
"I didn't know what I needed, so when I got done, my teammates all sighed, and they said I had tied the score," Roventini said. "I was joyful, and it was amazing that I tied it, but it's haunting to know I missed by that one pin."
Rovenitni's love for bowling goes back to when she was 8 years old and her mother began working at Holiday Lanes in Milwaukee.
"She was there every night after Dad got home from work, so my sister and I went every night with her to the bowling alley," Roventini said.
With an intense focus on bowling in her early years, Roventini moved away from the sport in high school and college.
"I went to a technical college, and if I look back in my bowling career, that would be one thing I wish I would've done differently," Roventini said. "Bowling was definitely not as big, especially when I was in high school. I think if I would have had the opportunity in high school, I would have pursued it in college. I did sports around bowling, like tennis, so that I could continue bowling as much as I could. We say in Wisconsin, 'bowling is the one thing you can do year round.'"
These days, with two young children at home - an 8-year-old daughter who isn't interested in bowling, and a 4-year-old son who's obsessed with bowling - Roventini bowls one night a week and in weekend tournaments.
Before heading to Reno for her sixth Women's Championships appearance, she bowled in the Open Championships in El Paso, Texas, so it has been a busy week on the lanes.
Now, the waiting game begins to see if her score is enough to win. There also might be a little superstition mixed in.
The 2015 Women's Championships kicked off April 10 and will run until June 30.
"I have a lot of superstitions," Roventini noted. "I have the earrings on my son bought me, and the necklace my daughter bought me. I've had some lucky socks from my niece, who brought them from South Korea. They come with me to every tournament. Then, before I bowl doubles, my Twizzlers Bites are my go-to thing. All the superstitions worked for me in that singles event."
Also on Sunday, Barbara Frank of Battle Ground, Washington, cruised into the lead in Emerald Singles with games of 199, 202 and 209 for a 610 series. Kimberly Dauer of Mankato, Minnesota, and Heather Zacharis of Mundeline, Illinois, previously were tied for the lead with 602.
Frank added 479 in doubles and 407 in singles for a 1,496 all-events total. Tamara Smith of Poncha Springs, Colorado, leads Emerald All-Events with 1,699.
Competitors in the Diamond Division have entering averages of 190 and above, while Emerald competitors enter with averages from 160-174.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championshipspage.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - On the threshold of her 40th birthday in mid-June, Wisconsin standout Rochelle Roventini hit the lanes at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships and turned in a memorable performance Sunday as she moved into a tie for the top spot in Diamond Singles.
Roventini, a right-hander, rolled games of 248, 263 and 231 to match the Diamond Singles-leading 742 series posted by Darris Ruffner, Exeter, California.
"In years past, I've been challenged with this condition," said Roventini, who owns multiple Wisconsin state titles. "I struggled yesterday in team. My first game, I had a lot of timing issues. I mean, outright, I just bowled badly and missed a lot of spares. I brought it together better for the second and third games, but my timing was an issue."
As she entered the National Bowling Stadium for doubles and singles, it occurred to Roventini that Ruffner's score might untouchable, but some advice she got from resident coach Mike Jasnau earlier in the trip helped her rise to the occasion. Jasnau provides coaching on Lane 81, which is located inside the pro shop area at the NBS.
"I had a lesson with Jasnau the day before I bowled team," Roventini said. "Today, I just really tried to put into use a lot of what Mike and I had talked about. I really credit him a lot in that last game because a lot of mental tips he gave me. I kept talking to myself and saying, 'You have the right ball, you have the right line,' and that mental, positive attitude definitely helped."
With games of 146, 215 and 198 in team Saturday, Roventini's 559 series helped Vise of Franklin, Wisconsin, into seventh place in Diamond Team with a 2,413 total. Bowlieve In A Cure of Arlington, Texas, leads with 2,634.
Roventini had 547 in doubles and finished with a 1,848 all-events total. Tennelle Milligan, a member of Bowlieve In A Cure, leads Diamond All-Events with 2,169.
Although she was satisfied with her singles performance Sunday, Roventini can't help but think of where she could've found one more pin to take the lead outright.
"I didn't know what I needed, so when I got done, my teammates all sighed, and they said I had tied the score," Roventini said. "I was joyful, and it was amazing that I tied it, but it's haunting to know I missed by that one pin."
Rovenitni's love for bowling goes back to when she was 8 years old and her mother began working at Holiday Lanes in Milwaukee.
"She was there every night after Dad got home from work, so my sister and I went every night with her to the bowling alley," Roventini said.
With an intense focus on bowling in her early years, Roventini moved away from the sport in high school and college.
"I went to a technical college, and if I look back in my bowling career, that would be one thing I wish I would've done differently," Roventini said. "Bowling was definitely not as big, especially when I was in high school. I think if I would have had the opportunity in high school, I would have pursued it in college. I did sports around bowling, like tennis, so that I could continue bowling as much as I could. We say in Wisconsin, 'bowling is the one thing you can do year round.'"
These days, with two young children at home - an 8-year-old daughter who isn't interested in bowling, and a 4-year-old son who's obsessed with bowling - Roventini bowls one night a week and in weekend tournaments.
Before heading to Reno for her sixth Women's Championships appearance, she bowled in the Open Championships in El Paso, Texas, so it has been a busy week on the lanes.
Now, the waiting game begins to see if her score is enough to win. There also might be a little superstition mixed in.
The 2015 Women's Championships kicked off April 10 and will run until June 30.
"I have a lot of superstitions," Roventini noted. "I have the earrings on my son bought me, and the necklace my daughter bought me. I've had some lucky socks from my niece, who brought them from South Korea. They come with me to every tournament. Then, before I bowl doubles, my Twizzlers Bites are my go-to thing. All the superstitions worked for me in that singles event."
Also on Sunday, Barbara Frank of Battle Ground, Washington, cruised into the lead in Emerald Singles with games of 199, 202 and 209 for a 610 series. Kimberly Dauer of Mankato, Minnesota, and Heather Zacharis of Mundeline, Illinois, previously were tied for the lead with 602.
Frank added 479 in doubles and 407 in singles for a 1,496 all-events total. Tamara Smith of Poncha Springs, Colorado, leads Emerald All-Events with 1,699.
Competitors in the Diamond Division have entering averages of 190 and above, while Emerald competitors enter with averages from 160-174.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championshipspage.