HOME

WRITERS

ARCHIVES

GALLERY

LINKS

ABOUT

CONTACT

Team Reyna Captures Inaugural Bowling News Kickoff Classic Title
By Tyson Branagan
Staff Writer

The first annual The Bowling News Kickoff Classic was held on Aug. 28 at AMF Showplace Euless Lanes, and was won by Team Reyna with a 3596 three-game total, a 53 pin margin of victory over second-place The Bowling Shop. Team Reyna, consisting of team members Lupe Reyna, Duane Bates, Shawnrika Courtney, Brian Harston and Troy Dix, got off to a 1,316 first game start, and never looked back with follow up games of 1,121 and 1,159 on their way to the $3,000 first place prize, and the champions trophy.

"We're all NABI bowlers and with the tough shots the Taylor's put out for us, it made this tournament seem that much easier to bowl on for us," said team member Brian Harston. "It was also fun and weird seeing so many pro type bowlers and competing with them," he added. "We even got to bowl one game with Stefanie Nation and that is Shawnrika's idol, so that was a thrill as well."

The Kickoff Classic is a tournament designed by Dino Castillo to get the new bowling league season kicked off, and had a format just like typical leagues, with teams requiring to have at least one male and one female member and to stay under a 1,075 average cap. All teams bowled three games of competition, with total pins plus handicap determining the final standings. In all, 24 teams came out and had a great time, marking the inaugural event a fantastic success. "The turnout was great," said tournament director Dino Castillo. "To have 120 people forming 24 teams come out and support a tournament they didn't know anything about is a great feeling." "The tournament was great, the place was packed and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun," Bowling News owner Tony Franklin added. "There was good energy throughout, and we met a lot of new people tonight."

The event got started earlier in the day with a free "Demo Day" to all bowlers who wanted to come out and try the latest and greatest bowling balls new to the market. Ebonite International's family of brands, Hammer, Columbia 300, Ebonite and Track along with Global 900, AMF, Storm and Roto Grip were on hand with displays set up and were very interactive all day while bowlers tried out all the newest bowling balls, and asked questions. It was a very rare time where companies from all over the industry came together for the bowlers, not with the purpose of pushing their own brands, but there to support a great event. "The support of the companies was unbelievable," Castillo said. "Without their support, this event would not have been what it was." "We raffled off bowling balls donated by all the companies with all proceeds going to a great charity we have been a part of, JDRF," he added. Well over 100 bowlers came out for the demo, with many of them staying around for the tournament itself, either to participate or to watch the action take place. "I was really happy with the turnout at the demo," said Franklin. "It's the first demo I've been to, and it was great to have all the companies there." "It was run very professionally, and it is good for the bowlers to get an opportunity like that," he added.

The tournament itself provided plenty of exciting action as the night went on, with teams doing all they could to try and catch the early leaders and eventual winners, and jockeying for places in the money. The Bowling Shop, consisting of Jennifer Hanson, Kevin Allen, Tyson Branagan, Will Haverland and Doug Rice clawed their way up from eighth to second place with back-to-back 1,200 games after a 1,136 start to finish with 3543, just five pins ahead of third place Team Spackle, comprised of Stefanie Nation, Michelle Rockwood, Eddie Lewis, Jim Stephens and Chris Johnson. Stephens fired one of two 300 games on the night in the closing game to add to the excitement. Appropriately named Come From Behind finished fourth after a 1,080 start, followed by 1,333 game two, which included the other 300 game by Johnathon Hooks, along with a 299 by Chuck Anderson and a 289 by Belinda Chambers. Josh Tinsman and Andrew Foulkrod rounded out their roster. They closed with a 1,066 game for a 3,479 total. Whiskey Bent, made up of Pamila Jones, Randy Price, Jeremiah LaRoe, Fisher Harwell and Kam Mostowfi took fifth with 3,470. The sixth and final cash spot went to Artistic Expressions with 3,450, finishing just two pins clear of The Bowling News. Artistic Expressions, made up of Alecia Henderson, Leisha Murr, Ryan Boroff, Xeno Garcia and Cassidy Schaub, held on with a 1,037 final game, after sitting in second with their strong start after two games.

The tournament was a great combination of bowlers of all skill levels being able to compete, as teams were unable to gain a competitive advantage at the start due to the average cap and the handicap. The winning team, which is made up of regulars from the Dallas-Fort Worth NABI tournament club, conquered a field which consisted of some of the best bowlers the area has to offer, including PBA Women stars Nation and Carolyn Dorin- Ballard, along with former PBA touring professionals Chris Johnson and DJ Archer. "It was a fantastic tournament," said Dorin-Ballard, a veteran of hundreds of tournaments in her career. "We got all types of bowlers together, and were able to raise money for a good cause," she added. "Plus, it's always a great time when you get to bowl with friends."

Next year's tournament is sure to be even bigger and better after the success of this first year. Castillo already began brainstorming for new ideas to better the event by the time the first ball of the night was thrown. "Hopefully next years tournament will draw local businesses to participate, coming together in support of the bowling community," Castillo said.

The Bowling News Kickoff Classic Set for Big Inaugural Event - Sat. Aug 28

This Saturday, Aug. 28, at AMF Showplace Euless Lanes, the first annual The Bowling News Kickoff Classic, a five person handicap mixed team tournament, will take place, with action getting underway at 7 p.m. This is much more than just a tournament. It is an entire event.

It will mark the first time that most of the major brands in the bowling ball industry will come together in one place for the bowlers. Beginning that afternoon at 1 p.m. and going until 5 p.m., Ebonite International's family of companies, Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300, and Track, along with Storm/Roto Grip and 900 Global will be on hand to allow bowlers to demo all the newest bowling balls each company has to offer, as well as, having representatives on hand to answer any questions and allow bowlers the very rare chance to get a firsthand look at all the newest products, all in one place. "The idea of the companies being there is for the consumer to be a part of it all," said event organizer Dino Castillo. "It's not a deal for the pro shops, or a way for them to make money. It's about getting people motivated for the league season." Generally, ball companies will have exclusive demos and interactive events to promote their own products only, but in this rare event, the companies are going to be on hand strictly for the bowlers, and do their part in getting the 2010-2011league season off to big start.

Castillo, the organizer of this first time event, has put in countless hours designing a tournament for bowlers to get the league season going, rather than just come back from the hot summer and just get right into it. He wanted to give the league season and all the bowlers a true "Kickoff", but at the same time wanted to make it much more than just a tournament. He went individually to each of the major brands to ask for their support, and they did not hesitate to take part, realizing the effect the event will have to get the new season rolling and bowlers excited, for not only the new season, but the new products available. "Here's a great way for the ball companies to be a part of motivating bowlers," Castillo added. "It will allow the bowlers to see what's new for the new season and get excited to try some new stuff and be ready to bowl."

The tournament proper will feature teams comprised of five bowlers, with each team required to have at least one male and one female member, and any combination thereafter. They will all bowl three games of competition across six lanes. Teams will also be required to stay under a combined average cap of 1075, or an average of 215 per bowler, based on the 2009-2010 USBC yearbook average. Team handicap will be 90 percent of the difference between their composite average and the 1075 cap, and bowlers will use 90 percent of their individual average and 220 for side pot and bracket purposes, as well as, crossover doubles.

Entry into the event will be $400 per team, with $350 of that going directly to the prize fund. With a full field of 52 teams, the winning team will take home $4,000. All in all, it is a tournament put on by bowlers, for the bowlers, as a way to get everyone excited and geared up for the new and fun league season. But more than that, it is an event in which ball companies are going to be on hand strictly for the bowlers, to give them an opportunity to interact and see what the new equipment is all about, and not with the sole intention to promote their own products.

All pro shops and bowlers are invited to come take part in the first time event, and finally have a chance to "test drive" any new bowling ball they want, to get a hands-on look into whether or not some products will be right for them.

There is still time to get your team together and enter with Castillo so you do not miss out on this great event.
Entry forms are available at all local bowling centers or download online, or contact Castillo at dino@thebowlingshops.com for additional information to enter.

The Bowling News is Now On-line
By Genie Franklin
Publisher

Hard to believe, but we are celebrating our first year as owners of The Bowling News and we hope you have enjoyed reading the paper as much as we have enjoyed providing you the news and local stories. The bowling community as a whole is large, but it is also acts as a very small family and we are grateful you have allowed us to become a part of your family. We have met many new friends through the Spotlight and while visiting tournaments throughout the year and we are looking forward to meeting you this year. If you see any of us out and about, please come up and say hello, we always enjoy talking to you and gathering your thoughts and ideas about The Bowling News.

This past year has been busy for us as we have added at least ten new bowling centers, new feature columns and new writing staff to the paper. On a side note, we were sad to see Don Wright retire; we always enjoyed his perspective and contribution to the paper. The passing of Dick Evans, a long time contributor was also a huge loss for the bowling community. We hope you are enjoying “Off the Sheet” with the Daceman. Every time we visit with someone that article is one of the first things mentioned. You either love it or hate it, but either way you’re reading it and we appreciate it. A few of the area bowlers sent us their recap of their experiences at the USBC Open Championship in Reno this year. They were a great read and we hope to receive even more next year. Ladies, I would like to hear from you when you go to Syracuse next year. I know the ladies like to go crazy when their husbands aren’t around, so send in your stories.

And finally, we have made The Bowling News available online. It’s in its infancy stage right now and we hope to make it more interactive in the months to come, so please check it out, we hope you enjoy it. We have included past editions since August of last year and each week we will continue to add the previous edition. The writer’s bios and emails are available to allow you to get to know them better. Send them an email and tell them how awesome they are! We wouldn’t have a paper without them. Due to limited space in the paper, we can only put in one or two pictures of tournaments or events. The Gallery page is designed so we can upload more pictures for you to view. Check back often, you may see yourself in a picture that didn’t make the paper. The Links page is available for a quick reference to bowling centers that subscribe to our paper along with pertinent organizations. And last, we have included a Contact page. Here you can email us with suggestions or comments and access current advertising prices. Although The Bowling News is available online, please pick up a hard copy to read and continue to support your local bowling center.