Number of sanctioned bowlers continues to decline
The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) has once again experienced a decline in sanctioned bowlers. For the past 20 years, USBC figures show an average decline of 3.1 percent per year. Central Georgia's two associations have experience a similar decline and have not had an overall increase in sanctioned bowlers for the past six years. This year the decrease was even higher that past years -- 9.1 percent (1,375 sanctioned bowlers in 2014 versus 1,257 currently sanctioned bowlers). The USBC continues to be the third largest national sport governing body (1.69 million bowlers) with only soccer and softball with more members. Bowling continues to increase in public participation but the number of registered bowlers has fallen consistently since 1979 when more than five times the current number of bowlers (nine million) were sanctioned. Reasons for the decline are a result of other sporting venues being available, the decline of the Baby Boomers, fewer youth bowlers, less entertainment money being accessible, fragmentation of the family and the current economic climate.
MACON ACTION
For the Outsiders, Johnnie Pryor (743) posted the high score. In the Wednesday Night Mixed league, Bryant Saffold (700/290 game) and Travis Patterson (275 game) were the leaders. In other league happenings, top sets were James Dillard (692), Muamer Numanovic (687), William Smith (677), Al Nunez (675), Janette Nelson (597), Cheryl Blake-Thomas (594), Leslie Strozier (592) and Kimberly Barkemeyer (578). For the seniors, the top scores went to Calvin Hill (667), Joe Gary (633) and Oscar Goings (63 1/255 game).
WARNER ROBINS ACTION
The best bowlers in the Kings and Queens were Steve Lackey Jr (716) and Trena Bolt (605). Sonja Williams (600) was high in the Ladies Night Out league. Micah Spears (790/278 game), Steve Putnam (748/278 game) and Robert Spears (288 game) were outstanding in the Men's Commercial. In the New Kids in the Alley, Jerod Dumas (749), Mark Petit (743), Corey Conger (279 game) and Conal Jackson (279 game) excelled. Leading all bowlers in the Town and Country were William Amaral (762/299 game), Bryan Carrier (724), Kimberly Conger (637), Michele Sierak (634), Kevin Huggler (289 game) and Karin Griffin (263 game). Cathy Copeland (704 and 673/267 and 279 games) continues her excellent bowling in multiple leagues. Jay Taylor (755/286 game) and Harry Reid (704) were great on Tuesday. Other high sets went to Doug Cox (697), Justin Nobles (680), Justin Gordon (675) and Shirley Bailey (599). For the seniors, top scores went to Mike Mauro (717), John Trichinotis (652), Arlene Todd (583/225 game), Linna Nielsen (555) and John Fisher (255 game). Two boys dominated the youth: Darius Moye (685/257 game) and Stephen Lackey (618).
ROBINS AFB ACTION
In the AFRC league, top bowlers were Bob Walker (729), Randy Helmick (700) and Jason Maine (279 game). For the Charity group, recognition went to Gene Lehman (714) and Shari Rawls (632). Todd Manning (766) posted the best set in the Intramurals. Kirk Thompson (710) and John Wallace (280 game) were high in the Tuesday Peterson Point league. Friday stars were Nick Nicholson (704/296 game), Carolyn Helmick (620) and Courtney StCyr (615/279 game). Jimmy Jean (751 and 727/279 game) was on his game in two leagues. In other happenings, leading sets were Jennie Lackey (599), Amber Lethco (592) and Celena Wilson (590). Leading the youth group were Eddie Langdon (629) and Cara Stasel (609).
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Q: If the sole of my shoe becomes wet, am I able to apply powder on my shoe to help me slide?
A: No. You cannot use any foreign substance on your shoe during competition. You must dry out the shoe or change shoes.
EVENTS UPDATE
The 35th annual Georgia State USBC WBA Queens and Senior Queens tournaments will be held on Feb. 27 and 28 in Milledgeville. The entry fee is $55 per bowler for individual competition, and the deadline to enter is Feb. 5.
The 60th annual Georgia State USBC Women's Handicap Championships will be held on weekends from March 5 through March 20 in Snellville and Lawrenceville. Singles, doubles and team events will be held. The entry fee is $24 per bowler per event, and the deadline to enter is Jan. 15.
CENTRAL GEORGIA ASSOCIATION
COMMERCIAL TENPIN: James Dillard 692, Muamer Numanovic 687-268, Al Nunez 675-265, Reggie Kirkland 642, Calvin Hill 268, Robert Walker Jr 268; Bernice Davis 504-200, Susy Nunez 425-174. Joyce Gooden 409-167.
GOLDEN NUGGETS: Christian Baker 144-83, Zaden Channel 109-58.
GOLDEN TEENS: Matt Huffman 542-202, Filmore Thomas 525, Adam Lin 241.
GOLDEN YOUTH: Alijah Harris 205-88; McKenzie Scott 63-32.
MACON-BIBB RAMPERS: Jake Pitts 215-120, Tom Finney 186-104; Christi Campbell 268-158. Terry Calloway 256-140.
MACON-BIBB SPECIAL OLYMPICS: David Jones 316-195, Doug Pearson 276, Michael Ogle 147; Maria Schwed 183-119, Stephanie Howard 165, Lillian Pooler 87.
MONDAY SMOKE FREE: Steve Davis 637-245, Charles Carter 563-235, Bennie Perkins 551; Jill Douglas 553-213, Kim Smith 540-295, Lynn Abercrombie 496, JoAnne Thompson 214, Kathy Jones 173.
OUTSIDERS: Johnnie Pryor 743-267, Greg Edrington 658-235, Derrell Williams 627-236, Ken Long 604, Josh Williams 258; Bernice Davis 521-193, Jeanette Overstreet 516-182, Kathy Dunn 508-194, Donna Carroll 497.
SOUTHSIDERS: Kathy Jones 538-202, Sandra Fraley 472, Marsha Moore 458, Colleen Dunagan 195, Diane McAlpin 181, Phyllis Renfroe 180.
SUNDAY NIGHT MIXED: Johnnie Pryor 681-243, Bobby Neal 620-236, David Miller 589, David Pearson 214; Janette Nelson 597-206, Bee Bivins 505-187, Gloria Stanley 425-150.
THURSDAY NIGHT PINBUSTERS: Joe Beeman 611-237, Rudolph Collins 576, Stanley Morton 232; Cheryl Blake-Thomas 594-213, Jackie Wimberly 457-151.
THURSDAY NIGHT BOWLERS: Chad McCormick 661-253, Paul Ficklin 648, Latrone James 267; Lesia Payton 443-169, Gladys Anthony 393, Phyllis Lane 149.
THURSDAY SENIORS: Calvin Hill 667, Joe Gary 633-247, Oscar Goings 255; Donna Maynard 501, Janice Findlay 494-181, Diane McAlpin 207.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MIXED: Bryant Saffold (700/290 game), Travis Patterson 693-275; Leslie Strozier 582-234; Kimberly Barkemeyer 578-226.
GOLD CUP-RUSSELL PARKWAY
KINGS AND QUEENS: Steve Lackey, Jr 716-248, Justin Nobles 680-247, Justin Gordon 675, Jeremy Vinson 258; Cathy Copeland 673-279, Trena Bolt 605-232, Tami Truxal 218
LADIES NIGHT OUT: Sonya Williams 600-224, Shirley Bailey 599, Linna Nielsen 226
MEN'S COMMERCIAL: Micah Spears 790-278, Steve Putnam 748-278, Robert Spears 288
MONDAY SENIORS: Mike Mauro 717-246, John Trichinototis 600-234, Vivian Yeisley 587; Arlene Todd 568-220, Linna Nielsen 528, Trena Ruhs 202
MOOSETTES: Patti Conley 436-162, Susan Dart 427-166, Amy Gorton 410-180
MORNING GLORY: Helga Leahy 533-189, Trena Bolt 514, Samella Swader 508, Virginia Kinchen 194
NEW KIDS IN THE ALLEY: Jerod Dumas 749-268, Mark Petit 743, Conal Jackson 279, Corey Conger 279
SENIOR WONDERS: John Trichinotis 652-245, John Fisher 598-255, Henry Owens 552; Arlene Todd 583-225, Linna Nielsen 555-209
TOWN AND COUNTRY: William Amaral 762-299, Tim Chapman 741-279, Bryan Carrier 724, Kevin Huggler 289; Cathy Copeland 704-267, Kimberly Conger 637-225, Michele Sierak 634, Karin Griffin 263
TUES MEN'S HDCP: Jay Taylor 744-286, Harry Reid 704-256, Bob Morgan 674-277
TUES NITE DOUBLES: Doug Cox 697-267, James Rosario 662-245, Lin Taylor 258
YOUTH LEAGUES
GOLD CUP PEE WEES: Caleb Mauro 176-102, Conner Sargent 166-99, Tristan Kitsko 163-87; Yona Liakada 161-83, Caysie Griggers 156, Lydia Mills 153
GOLD CUP BANT-PREPS: Riley Coombes 357-124, Blake Thompson 336-146, Kory Howard 336-130; E'Myia Thomas 372-133, Payton McKinney 276-98, Storm Palmeter 216-93
GOLD CUP JUNIORS: Trevor Mines 509-180, Jayden Smithberger 503-201, Anthony Bill 452; Millie Babb 444-166, Willow Handley 430-148, Paula Elsasser 425-161
GOLD CUP SENIORS: Darius Moye 685-257, Khyle Bentley 555, Jarred McCarley 552-223, Michael McCoy 213
MIDDLE GEORGIA H S NORTHSIDE: Stephen Lackey III 614-218, Jarred McCarley 549-215, Darius Little 484-189; Hallie Hoffmann 446-166, Melissa Ozhan 248-93
MIDDLE GEORGIA H S WARNER ROBINS: Michael Bolt 552-210, Kaelin Brown 483-201, Levi Cook 190
ROBINS LANES
AFRC MIXED: Bob Walker 729-259, Randy Helmick 700-257, Jason Maine 684-279; Celena Wilson 590-232, Willa Martin 545-236, Sherry Jean 505
CHARITY LEAGUE: Gene Lehman 714-268, Jeff Herman 659-238, Pete Zuromski, Jr 652-258; Shari Rawls 632-255, Jennie Lackey 599-237, Dawn Lancaster 558-220; Stephen Lackey, III 551-191, Brandon Murphy 499; Brittany Molargik 536-210
FRIDAY NIGHT MIXED: Nick Nicholson 704-296, Scott StCyr 674, David Myrick 665; Carolyn Helmick 620-233, Courtney StCyr 615-279, Amber Lethco 592
INTRAMURALS: Todd Manning 766-269, Jimmy Jean 751-279, Chris Wade 267; Amanda Whittington 574-212, Si Dyer 537-209, Glenda Manning 507
TUESDAY PETERSON POINT: Jimmy Jean 727, Kirk Thompson 710, John Wallace 280
YOUTH LEAGUES
RYA PEE WEES (two games): Logan Roberson 136-78, Ryan Everhardt 130-72; Summer Roberson 208-121, Lillie Chastain 155-81, Bianca Gilson 106-64
RYA BANTAM-PREPS: Landon Gleason 332-138, Jake Alefosio 317-123, James Stacy 234-96; Dakota Rowley 346-125, Nina Pankoski 249-115, Jocelyn Rowley 237
RYA JUNIOR-SENIORS: Eddie Langdon 629, Nathan Johnson 234, Austin Amaral 224; Cara Stasel 609-196, NeCole Hilton 535, Makayla Spears 225
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Number of sanctioned bowlers continues to decline ."