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After what seemed an eternity of “status quo,” it appears as though the Mercer County Men’s Bowling Association may be heading in a new and different direction. The elections that were held at the annual meeting in May brought new faces to the board. However, perhaps the most important change occurred Aug. 1 when Jim Faylo became the association manager.
Let’s hope these changes transform our association into a positive and progressive one whose main goals are listening to the concerns of the local bowlers and enhancing the sport.
ä Speaking of local associations, Bob Johnson has an interesting article that appears on the last page (92) of the August edition of Bowler’s Journal. It’s entitled “Reviving Competitive Bowling: It Needs to Begin with the Local Associations.”
The article bemoans the high scoring environment that is so prevalent today and gives some suggestions as to how local associations might be able to bring back the spirit of competitive bowling.
Here are some of his ideas: (1) A scratch travel league; (2) An association that includes prizes and recognition for the highest scratch score in each event; (3) An annual Masters and queen event that would reward the winners with prize money and an entry into the same state event; (4) A monthly scratch tournament that would alternate between the county bowling centers; (5) selection of an association All-Star team each season. This would include men, women. seniors and youth; (6) An annual awards banquet to honor winners of the association tournament and all those listed in suggestions 3, 4, and 5.
My suggestion is that every member of the association board read this article and make an attempt to implement some of these ideas (if feasible).
ä Here are some interesting facts that offer some proof of how important USBC membership affects the bowling industry. Last year, the number of people who bowled at least once increased from 67 to 69 million.
However, bowling ball manufacturers have found there is no direct correlation between the casual bowler or non-certified league bowler and bowling ball sales. But, there is a connection in sales when USBC members are involved. This is just another reason why the entire bowling industry (from USBC leaders to proprietors and bowlers) need to place emphasis on USBC membership.
ä For any bowler who is on Facebook, I would suggest you become acquainted with a page called “True Bowler Adjustments.” It gives some excellent tips and there are some rather interesting discussions. A recent discussion on sandbagging (whoops, let’s be politically correct — average control) caught my eye. However, that topic is for another time.
ä Previous articles have dealt with oil depletion and carrydown (both terms can be classified as lane transition). We know there are many reasons for lane transition. They include (but are not limited to) lane surface, type of lane conditioner, weather (to include humidity, etc), thickness of conditioner, equipment and lane play. Let’s focus on equipment.
Previous equipment had neither the porosity nor flare that is so common today. That meant oil stayed on top of the ball and the absence of flare gave the bowler an ample quantity of oil in the same place.
We all know that today’s equipment can be described as sponges that soak up oil. Both the width and depth (considered to be the largest influence) of the cover pores play an important role on the amount of oil that is soaked up.
The porosity and flare of modern equipment makes the dry coverstock come in contact with more oil to soak up. This usually means you need to be able to read the transition and make rapid adjustments.
Tests conducted at the Kegel Training Center have shown that oil depletion begins when you throw the first practice ball and transition begins almost immediately. After practice and one game, 35 percent of the oil was gone. After two games, 50 percent was gone and after three games, 60 percent or more was gone.
What can we ascertain from the above? We can say that resistance created by carrydown can have either a positive or negative effect on the bowler.
Oil depletion may be the most important factor in ball reaction. Because of this, bowlers need to be aware of the carrydown process and its effect on your game. Tests have shown how early and rapidly it occurs. If you want to survive, you need to learn how to make the proper adjustments to this problem.
Gabe D’Angelo is a local bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Writers Association who writes this weekly column for The Herald
Sports
Bowling: Article on high scoring very interesting
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Roundup: VQ tops KC; Sharpsville edges Greenville in OT
They say home is where the heart is. But for the VisionQuest boys basketball team, home is wherever they hang their hats.
“We feel every place we go into is our home. When you hear us do our chant, ‘Who’s House? Our House!’ that’s because every place we go to is our home,” explained head coach Richard Gordon.
Which explains, at least in part, VisionQuest’s 61-56 District 10 Region 1-A victory at Kennedy Catholic Friday night. -
Reynolds ousted by LeBoeuf in consy quarterfinals
HERSHEY — Someone once said, “The third time is a charm.” Obviously not for the Reynolds High mat team in a series of 2012 matches against Fort LeBoeuf.
LeBoeuf finished off a trifecta against the Raiders this season, beating Reynolds, 33-28, in the PIAA State Class AA Championships consolation quarterfinals Friday evening. The Bison previously defeated Reynolds in the Ultimate Duals (28-27 on criteria after a 27-27 deadlock) and the finals of the District 10 Dual Meet Championships (31-28). -
Roundup: Sharpsville tops Sharon; KC's Wareham hits 1,000 career points
The Duke University Blue Devils men’s basketball team has nothing on its namesake, the Sharpsville High girls.
Duke drained 14 three-point field goals in rallying past Atlantic Coast Conference arch-rival North Carolina Wednesday night, and 24 hours later the Blue (Darlings) Devils did likewise. -
Reynolds drops opener to Boiling Springs in Hershey
HERSHEY — One of the problems with the PIAA State Dual-Meet Championships is that there is no true seeding. That’s why two of the state’s top ranked Class AA teams — Reynolds (3rd) and Boiling Springs (4th) — had to meet in the opening round.
But, of course you throw ranking and seeding out the window anyhow in the 3-day tourney in Hershey. -
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS: Lakeview, GC matmen win
Lakeview and Grove City mat teams notched victories Wednesday night over West Middlesex and Sharon respectively.
Mercer bowed to Redbank Valley.
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Roundup: Sharpsville tops Lakeview in OT; GC rolls over Franklin; Titusville upsets Hickory
While the Sailors were sleeping, Luchey was laying out for the lid.
Tyler Luchey’s court-length layin at the buzzer Tuesday night staked Sharpsville High boys’ basketball team to a 58-56 District 10 Region 2-AA overtime win over Lakeview. -
Roundup: Hickory girls beat Franklin in battle of 5-AAA leaders
Knowing its male counterparts upset Franklin 48 hours earlier, the Hickory High girls basketball team was not to be outdone.
Forcing Franklin into a substandard shooting performance, the Lady Hornets harvested a 53-42 District 10 Region 5-AAA win Monday night. -
SPORTVIEW: Reynolds, Greenville are 2 of state's historic programs
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Reynolds High wrestling program which became the fastest Class AA team in the history of the state to reach 700 wins last weekend.
The program, which began in 1960-61 under coach Dick Sherwood, has set a torrid pace for winning since that 4-4 season.
Ironically, the school’s 700th victory came Saturday in the District 10 Dual Meet Championships against long-time rival Greenville, which went over the 700-win plateau in 2009. Greenville is believed to be the first AA team to reach 700 wins, while Reynolds did it in the shortest time. -
Hickory soccer standouts Free, Richards to Ashland University
Hickory High girls’ soccer coach B.J. Rudge believes the bar has been elevated, and his Lady Hornets have helped hoist it.
“In general, soccer has grown in this area ... and what our girls have accomplished is a reflection of the whole (Shenango) Valley,” Rudge recently observed. -
Ft. LeBoeuf beats Reynolds at D-10 AA Team Duals
EDINBORO — The Reynolds Raiders notched the school’s 700th victory in the semifinals of the District 10 Dual Meet Championships Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Raiders, No. 701 will have to come later.
The Raiders topped long-time rival Greenville, 51-16, in the semis to become the first Class AA school in Pennsylvania history to 700 wins. However, in the D-10 finals at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House, the Raiders fell to familiar foe Fort LeBoeuf, 31-28. - More Sports Headlines
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