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The NYS USBC Office Will be Closed
on Monday, February 17 for the Holiday

Around NYS - February 2020
Cicciarelli Recognized for High Series

USBC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Ashley Cicciarelli receives her USBC Excellence award for 2018-2019 High Youth Female series from Randy Snyder, Southern Tier USBC vice president and New York State USBC board member, during Union-Endicott High School Bowling Senior Night. Cicciarelli rolled an 854 series on games of 258-296-300 on Feb. 9, 2019, for her high school team at Midway Lanes in Vestal.

USA Bowling Coaching Seminars Scheduled

The New York State USBC's Youth Education Services Committee, in conjunction with IBC Youth, is sponsoring four free USA Bowling coaching seminars in March and April.

The seminars are as follows:

-- Tonawanda Bowling Center, 574 Young St., Tonawanda, 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10;

-- Sportsmans Bowl, 1652 Crane St., Schenectady, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 29;

-- Doug Kent's Rose Bowl Lanes, 725 W. Miller St., Newark, 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11;

-- Rab's Country Lanes, 1600 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.

All attendees are provided materials to take home and will be given the opportunity to receive a complimentary online Level 1 course and certification exam (a $49 value). The seminars are open to parents, volunteers, proprietors and coaches -- anyone wishing to be able to provide instruction to bowlers, young and old.

Class size is limited. Register at www.bowl.com/usacoachingschedule. For questions, contact USA Bowling at usabowling@ibcyouth.com or call 817-385-8340.

NE Council Tourney, Luncheon Set for Feb. 23

The Northeast Council of USBC Associations will hold its 2020 spring tournament and luncheon on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Brookfield Lanes and Maggie McFly’s Restaurant in Danbury, Ct., respectively.

The event is being hosted by the Greater Danbury USBC.

The four-person handicap tournament is set for 9 a.m. with the luncheon to follow.

Brookfield Lanes is located at 840 Federal Rd., while Maggie McFly’s Restaurant is at 195 Federal Rd., Suite 3.

For additional information, contact Joel Reichin at 203-743-3942 or joeldba@comcast.net.

Farr Brothers Buy Crystal Lanes in Corning

Brothers Alan and Brion Farr have purchased Crystal Lanes in Corning, taking ownership of the 32-lane center that had been in the Sullivan family for 62 years.

The transaction transferring the facility from Mickey Sullivan to Alan, of Horseheads, and Brion, of Lawrenceville, Pa., was completed late last month.

 “I am very excited to be able to continue the tradition of presenting the very finest bowling and recreation facility in the Twin Tiers,” Alan Farr said.

Alan is a longtime bowler and the owner of Farr Manufacturing Services in Elmira and Brion is employed by Hale Roofing. They have indicated that they will keep the Crystal Lanes name.

Ryan Shafer, a standout member of the Professional Bowlers Association for many years, runs the pro shop.

Alan Farr holds the three-game series city record of 866, a feat he accomplished in 2004.

NYS USBC Tournament Update
Entries Being Accepted for
Masters, Queens, Open, Women

FEBRUARY 3, 2020 – The NYS USBC office is accepting reservations and entries for the Masters and Queens scratch singles tournaments as well as the Open and Women’s Championships.

Entry forms for all of these tournaments can be downloaded from the Tournaments section of this website.

For more information or to enter using a credit card (5% fee added), contact Mike Pettinella, NYS USBC association manager, at 585/343-3736 or at bowlny300@yahoo.com.

Following is an update of the four events:

NYS MASTERS – MARCH 7, 2020 -- ROME

The 39th NYS Masters is scheduled for King Pin Lanes on March 7 and is limited to the first 120 paid entrants (maximum of 60 on each of two qualifying squads). There is no re-entry.

NOTE: As of 2/16, there are 62 total entries -- 48 of them on the 12:30 p.m. squad, which means there are only 12 spots left on that squad.

CLICK HERE for a list of entrants (as of 2/16/20)

First prize is a guaranteed $2,500 and a free entry to the 2021 USBC Masters. The scratch tournament is open to NYS USBC men and women.

Dan Vick (Rochester NY USBC) won the 2019 tournament at Dixie Lanes in Elmira.

This year's tournament will be contested on a 41-foot "Sport" condition specially designed by Kegel.

Hotel Information:

Hampton Inn, 315-709-0000 -- $109 plus tax
Quality Inn, 315-336-4300 -- $89.99 plus tax
Relax Inn, 315-337-9400 -- $70 plus tax

NYS QUEENS – APRIL 18, 2020 – LIVERPOOL

The 49th NYS Queens will take place on April 18, 2020 at Flamingo Bowl in Liverpool (outside of Syracuse). It is a scratch singles event for NYS USBC women.

CLICK HERE for a list of entrants (as of 2/13/20).

The Open Division will be for bowlers with averages of 200 and up; the Classified Division will be for bowlers with averages of 199 and under (see tournament rules for more details).

One qualifying squad (five games) is set for 11 a.m. with a maximum of 114 bowlers in the tournament (six per pair).

Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady is the two-time defending champion.

NYS OPEN – APRIL 18-MAY 17, 2020 – SCHENECTADY

The 96th NYS Open Championships (Team, Doubles, Singles, All-Events) are scheduled for April 18-19, 24-26, May 1-3, 15-17, 2020 at Boulevard Bowl in Schenectady.

CLICK HERE for a special microsite, including hotels and rates, for the Open Championships.

Changes for this year are as follows:

-- In Division 1, Team 1150-plus bowls scratch, Doubles 460-plus bowls scratch and Singles 230-plus bowls scratch. Handicap is 90 percent of 1150, 460 and 230 in Division 1 and 90 percent of 1000, 400 and 200 in Division 2.

-- Doubles and Singles will be bowled on the same pair of lanes – no moving to another pair after Doubles.

-- Team and Doubles and Singles will be offered on Fridays; Saturdays will be for Doubles & Singles and Sundays will be for Team.

-- The first squad on Sundays will begin at 9 a.m.

-- A dress code and behavior code have been added to the rules.

-- For the Brackets, handicap will be based on 90 percent of 230.

Only one squad is full at this time – D/S at 2 p.m. on April 25.

Fully paid entries must be received a week prior to the desired bowling date.

NYS WOMEN – APRIL 4-MAY 17, 2020 – SYRACUSE

Thus far, 313 four-woman teams have submitted paid entries and about 25 more have signed up for the 84th NYS Women’s Championships at AMF Strike ‘N Spare Lanes in the Syracuse suburb of Mattydale.

Entries close on March 18.

Interested bowlers are urged to contact the NYS USBC office to check on available dates and squad times. A list of current reservations and paid entries can be found on the Tournaments page.

Changes for this year are as follows:

-- Doubles and Singles will be bowled on the same pair of lanes – no moving to another pair after Doubles.

-- In Handicap Brackets, an individual bowler will be limited to entering 50 percent of the total number of brackets per squad. Handicap will continue to be based on 100 percent of 230.

Deadline to Send Delegates
to Annual Meeting Extended to Feb. 15

JANUARY 31, 2020 -- Attention local association presidents and managers -- the deadline to send delegates to the New York State USBC Annual Meeting has been extended to February 15.

Association officials who have yet to respond may do so by contacting Mike Pettinella, NYS USBC association manager, at bowlny300@yahoo.com

The 9th Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 at the Holiday Inn Binghamton Arena, 2-8 Hawley St., Binghamton, NY 13901.

The Annual Meeting will begin at 1 p.m., and will be preceded by a Memorial Service at 12:30 p.m.

The Holiday Inn also will host the NYS USBC board of directors meeting on Friday, June 5, and the Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner on the evening of June 6.

The hotel’s phone number is 607-722-1212. Room rate for NYS USBC delegates and guests is $119 plus taxes. The Hall of Fame dinner information will be announced in the near future.

All registered delegates will have voice and voting privileges at the Annual Meeting.

Positions up for election in 2020 are as follows:

-- Vice President (see resume form for specific qualifications).

-- Three Adult Directors.

-- Two Youth Directors.

Potential candidates must send a copy of the resume form to the Nominating Committee chair – Janet Moro, 102 Wickson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13219, by Jan. 15, 2020.

For qualifications, please refer to Article 5, Section B of the NYS USBC Bylaws, which can be found on the About Us page of this website.

Delegates at the Annual Meeting also will elect the NYS delegate and alternate to the 2021 USBC Annual Meeting.

Rab Wilkinson Foundation Raises
$55,000 for Cancer Research,
Donates $500 to Pathways Fund

DECEMBER 27, 2019 -- The Rab Wilkinson Foundation in Staten Island has donated $500 to New York State USBC's Pathways after a record-breaking fundraising campaign.

Spearheaded by Frank Wilkinson, proprietor of Rab's Country Lanes, the 2019 campaign raised a remarkable $55,105.88.

"For the second consecutive year, we broke a record and this marked the most money raised in a single year … bringing our combined efforts to over $670,000, with all money raised funding local breast health initiatives," said Wilkinson, current NYS USBC director and former USBC president.

The $500 gift to the state association will be used to support cancer research, Bowlers to Veterans Link and scholarships.

CLICK HERE for a feature story about Wilkinson, who will be receiving the prestigious Louis R. Miller Leadership Award by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Staten Island Advance.

Seven to be Inducted
into NYS Hall of Fame

JANUARY 3, 2020 – The New York State USBC's Awards Committee has announced its selections for induction into the New York State USBC Hall of Fame for 2020.

In the Superior Performance category, Jerry Brunette Jr. (Rochester NY USBC), George Barnes  (Greater Buffalo USBC) and Becky Ripic (Southern Tier USBC) will be enshrined, and in the Meritorious Service category, Dennis O’Donnell (Auburn USBC), Kevin Martin (Rochester NY USBC), Barbara Rake (Southern Tier USBC) and Rosa Moro (Central NY USBC) will be inducted.

Stephen Fawcett (Schenectady USBC) will receive the Service to Youth Award.

The Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner is scheduled for the evening of June 6, 2020, at The Holiday Inn in Binghamton, following the NYS USBC Annual Meeting.

CLICK HERE for a Hall of Fame dinner order form.

Brunette Jr. built an impressive resume that includes a New York State Masters title (1995), three Rochester Masters titles, more than 50 singles tournament victories and top 10 finishes in the 2016 USBC Senior Masters and 2017 PBA50 National Doubles.

The left-hander holds Rochester city records with a 250 Standard average in 2008 and a 227 Sport league average is 2008-09, both at Sunset Lanes. All told, he has more than 60 300 games and 40 800 series, including a 300-836 on a Sport condition – earning him a crystal pin from the USBC.

A resident of Florida for the past couple years, Brunette won two gold and two silver medals at the Empire State Games in 2006 and finished 11th in All-Events at the USBC Open Championships in 2007. He has a lofty 231 average in league play since 1999. He was inducted into the Rochester NY USBC Hall of Fame in 2010.

Barnes, a member of the Greater Buffalo USBC since 1954, was a regular participant in the NYS Open Championships for five decades through the early 1990s – with three NYS titles to his credit -- and continues to hold a 190 average in league play at the age of 82.

A top Buffalo Classic League bowler from the 1960s-1980s, Barnes was a member of the first-place team in the 1969 NYS Open Championships (in both handicap and scratch divisions) and won the 1975 doubles crow with partner Bill Hohensee.

Nationally, his Suburban Lanes All-Star team placed eighth at the ABC Championships in Syracuse in 1973. He has bowled in 56 ABC/USBC national tournaments and is tied for 51st place on the participation list and 34th place on the pin fall list.

Local awards include numerous top 10 finishes in the association tournament, including second place in scratch singles and all-events in 1975. A longtime local director and member of the Greater Buffalo USBC Hall of Fame, Barnes has two 300 games, a high series of 785 (1998) and high average of 213 (2004).

Ripic has performed consistently well in NYS Women’s Championships competition since the early 1990s, cashing numerous times in all of the events and claiming a team title with the Laurel I team in 2013 in Albany.

Holder of two 800 series, eight perfect games and five 299 games, she has been the Southern Tier USBC “Bowler of the Year” three times and averaged 227 in 2007-08.

Ripic also has earned national recognition as a member of the Ripic's Pro Shop team that combined for a 2,378 scratch score on March 5, 2019 at Midway Lanes in Vestal. She rolled a 791 series during that league session and helped the trip place first in the 2-men, 1-woman team series category on the USBC National Team Score recognition list for the 2018-19 season.

O'Donnell has been a major contributor to the success of organized bowling in New York State over the past 11 years, serving on the Board of Directors in various capacities, including his current position as Sergeant-at-Arms.

The former president of the Auburn USBC (2001-02, 2008-12), he became a director of the Empire State USBC upon its inception in 2009, and continued on as a director on the NYS USBC board. He currently chairs the Awards Committee (but had no input into his selection as a Hall of Famer) and also serves on the Finance, Tournament and Conflict Resolution committees.

Additionally, he has assisted at several NYS USBC tournaments, either as a tournament director or in running the brackets.

O'Donnell started two major events in the Auburn area -- the bowl & golf and Senior Masters tournaments - and is the secretary of the Bill Stanley Memorial League. An Auburn USBC Hall of Famer and member for 56 years, he has eight 800 series and 17 300 games.

Martin, owner of Parkview Bowl in Rochester, has been a strong supporter of NYS USBC and Rochester NY USBC tournament bowling since the early 1980s, regularly organizing large groups to participate.

A youth bowling coach and former Empire State Games coach, he has donated his time and lanes to the development of high school programs and supports various charitable causes as both a director and sponsor. His fundraising efforts have benefited organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, ARC and Bowlers to Veterans Link.

Martin’s commitment to tournament bowling has had a positive impact upon Rochester association events, and his annual memorial tournament for bowlers 60-and-over has developed a strong following. An avid bowler, he has a high game of 300, high series of 778 and high average of 203, and placed third in the NYS Open doubles in 1985.

Rake has been active on the national and state level as a member and officer of the Women’s 600 Club for more than 20 years, having served as club chairman, sergeant-at-arms, nominating committee chair. Additionally, she has bowled in the USBC Women’s Championships and NYS Women’s Championships for 33 years.

A local association hall of famer, Rake served on the transition committee to merge the former Binghamton-Johnson City – Endicott (B-JC-E) WBA with the men’s association to form the Southern Tier USBC, and has served the B-JC-E and Southern Tier USBC as an director and officer for over 30 years.

Moro has been a consistent participant in NYS Women’s and Queens Championships and Syracuse (now Central NY USBC) tournaments for the past 40-plus years, promoting the tournaments by enlisting new bowlers and providing on-lane instruction and advice.

She has contributed greatly to the sport not only as a tournament promoter, but also through her expertise at crafting distinct plaques, trophies and memorabilia for bowlers and other sport competitors.

On the lanes, she has averaged consistently in the 190s, and has had several top finishes in both the NYS Women’s and Queens events.

Fawcett has been a dedicated youth league and tournament organizer, director and coach in the Schenectady area for three decades, and his hard work and commitment have had a profound, positive effect on hundreds of youth bowlers.

Currently, he serves as treasurer for the local travel youth league and coach of the Sportsman Bowl girls’ teams, helps prepare a few of the girls to compete in the U12 Junior Gold Championships, and facilitates the awarding of scholarship money for bowlers in the travel league in the Capital District.

Fawcett also has been instrumental in raising more than $150,000 in scholarships through the youth tournament that he started – the Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour, which also sends 40 to 50 young bowlers to Junior Gold every year (an event that he attends annually at his expense).

At the state level, Fawcett, a NYS USBC regional tournament manager, takes a lead role in promoting and directing state youth tournaments and programs, including the NYS Youth Leaders.

Scholarship Opportunities Abound
NYS USBC to Award
$15,250 for 2019-20

CLICK HERE for a one-pager about the scholastic awards.

For more information, scroll over the Youth tab and click on the Youth Scholarships tab.

Future NYS USBC Adult
Championship Tournaments

CLICK HERE for NYS Adult Championship tournaments through 2022.