11th Frame 03.04.19

By Bill Ryan

Old guys rule as does Mark Gruhlke who shoots 300

Recent national news featured two of the older bowlers who made history with their recent accomplishments.

In the PBA 54-year-old PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke became the oldest player to win back-to-back titles three weeks shy of his 55th birthday. He defeated 22-year-old Anthony Simonsen of Little Elm, Texas, 212-164, to win the Go Bowling! PBA Jonesboro Open Sunday at Hijnx Family Entertainment Center.

With an error-free game including one string of three strikes against the split-prone Simonsen, Duke became the third player in PBA history to win 40 PBA Tour titles, joining Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47) and Earl Anthony (43). He also became the oldest player to win consecutive PBA Tour titles, and the first to win two titles during the 2019 Gobowling! PBA Tour season following his victory in the Gobowling! PBA Indianapolis Open a week earlier.

This win was classic Norm Duke, an accomplished veteran who uses less to create more against an emerging legion of strong young high-revolution power players.

“I don’t really care if I bowl 280 or 180 if it’s more than the other guy has,” Duke said. “You just give it all you’ve got. I was so scared down there, it was hard to make shots. It gets that way when you’re so close to winning.”

Just as he has done throughout his career, Duke accomplished his mission Sunday by eliminating errors and taking advantage of what the scoring environment allows, rather than trying to overpower the lanes and pins.

“You never know what’s good enough until it’s over, but I love the fact that I didn’t have any open frames,” he added. “Spares win titles.”

• ARLINGTON, Texas – Jim Novak of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, begins each day with a simple at-home exercise routine, but his fitness regimen doesn’t end there.

He also participates in three senior bowling leagues each week at his home away from

home, May City Bowl, where he consistently averages above 200, and recently made his way into the United States Bowling Congress record book as the oldest bowler to roll an 800 series.

At 91 years, 2 months and 21 days old, Novak put together games of 279, 256 and 268

for an 803 series during the Young at Heart league. He topped the previous mark of 85 years and 9 days, set by William Lautenschlager of Stockton, California, in 2016.

Novak’s score is pending formal approval from USBC and would be the 21st certified

800 of his 65-year bowling career. He last eclipsed the 800 mark in March 2010.

“Honestly, I’d given up on having another day like that, because an 800 series really is

hard to come by,” said Novak, who also owns 35 USBC-certified perfect games. “A 300 is one thing, but putting three games together is so tough. This came as a total surprise, especially on that pair of lanes.”

May City Bowl is a 32-lane, independently owned center that offers Novak and his fellow competitors a clean

and fun environment in a family atmosphere. But, lanes 17 and 18 had been a little less welcoming than the friendly staff – until this week.

Novak hit the lanes knowing that one lane on that pair hooks more than the other, and

he’d have to be wary and careful if he was going to find any success.

Even as the strikes added up, the atmosphere was relaxed and low-key, which helped Novak stay calm in the moment.

He knew he was flirting with 800, but he actually wasn’t sure how close he was. His

main focus was on throwing strikes in his final frame to help his team win the game.

After tossing a double, he turned around to ask if the 800 was possible. One person said no. Another said he needed seven pins. He added one more strike to secure the 800, the record and the game – by six pins.

Surviving the Game:

The latest results showed those eliminated in the Surviving the Game event in Weeks 15-17. In Week 15, three members of the Eagles league succumbed to the axe. Steve Huss was 70 pins under average; Larry Damron was 51 under and Adam Dilsaver was 37 under. The other bowler eliminated that week was Abby Lane of the Ladies Major League who bowled 66 pins under her average. The following week, four members of the Ladies Major bid farewell, They were Sue Bumpus at -45; Patsy Lambert, -38 and both Tonja Bair and Crystal Ratliff, each at -30. And in Week 17, Brad Simon of the American League was eliminated after being 139 pins under. as was fellow league member Sid Sink at 92 under. Also eliminated that week was Bonnie Carrington, 105 pins under average in the Eagles League and Carrol Portala at 45 under in the Ladies Major.

League highlights through March 3

• American:

Mark Gruhlke, 300, 755; Kyle Waynick, 268, 769; Jake Wint, 269, 738; Shooter King, 278, 737; John Ferrera Sr., 735; Ken North, 734; Kyle Friedley, 278

Division leaders Modern Woodmen, 32-10; South River Mechanical 30-12.

Previous unreported high scores: Ken North, 290, 779; Kurt Wood, 279, 779; Jake Wint, 267, 732; Elizabeth Slater,264.

•ASD I Remodeling Tour Trials (featuring professional-style lane conditions) :

Rob Bentley, 638; Bill Wammes, 248, 604; Tony Smith and Kyle Waynick, each, 602; Tyler Ewsuk, 257; Jay Orchard, 246.

Standings: Al-Mar Pro Shop, 98-82; BGSU 2, 97-83; CJ’s Sports Bar, 94-86.

Other high scores: Juan Ybanes, 238, 665; Steven Kocher, 254, 662; Kyle Waynick, 660; Juan Ybanes, 279, 773; Mickey Higham, 749; Ryan Spangenberg, 737; Kyle Waynick, 279.

• Fantasy Doubles: (Uses scores bowled in other leagues to compete)

Kyle Waynick, 769; Brian Close, 281, 742; Jake Wint , 738; Kris Kolk, 280; Shooter King, 278.

Standings: Schumacher-Schumacher. 70-35; Henschen-Wood, 66-39; J&D Ott, 65-40.

Other high scores, Ken North, 290. 770′ Kurt Wood. 279, 779; Zach Steinman, Juan Ybanes and Kyle Wayhnick, each 279; Ybanes, 773; Mary Ann Dimick, 247, 685; Mallory Fritz, 258, 650; Pancha Melendrez, 246, 643.

• Eagles:

Juan Ybanes, 279, 784; Ryan Allgire, 755; Brian Close, 281, 742; Joe Kolczynski, 278, 728; Brian Close, 287, 734.

Division Leaders: Starkey, 29-6; TMS Transport, 19-16.

Other high scores, Kirk Starkey, 279, 765; Robin Starkey, 267, 693; Kirk Starkey. 265. 725′ Larry Damrom. 279; Robin Starkey, 258, 690.

• Randy Miller (four games)

Kris Kolk, 280, 908; Kyle Waynick, 257, 898; Gene Van De Velde, 278, 869.

Standings: Kolk-Wammes, 82-38; Grames-Grames 78.5-41.5.

Other high scores, Kyle Waynick, 269, 907; Gene Van De Velde, 268, 899; Van De Velde, 896; Yogi Wammes, 884

• Farm League:

Pancha Melendrez, 660; Cody Bame, 258, 616; Brian Knapp, 244, 616; Mark Wolford Sr., 230.

Standings: DingBallers, 41-8; Al-Mar Lanes, 34-15; Schuerman Farms, 33-16.

Other high scores: Pancha Melendrez, 278, 707; Mark Wolford Sr. 247, 644; Kyle Waynick, 258, 684.

• Elks:

Terry Leek, 704; Brent Norris, 670; Justin Iler, 266, 669; Neil Genson, 258; Bill Schumacher, 257;

Women: Mallory Fritz 266, 614; Marcia Seubert, 189, 510.

Division leaders: Wood County Insurance, 50-31; and Rosenboom, 49-32.

Other high scores, Lucas Jenne, 278, 786; Jordan Franks, 268; Brent Norris, 726; Mallory Fritz, 222, 638; Bill Schumacher, 665; Lucas Jenne, 276; Brent Norris, 266; Mallory

Fritz, 258, 650; Marcia Seubert, 225

• Ladies Major:

Tricia Green, 619; Betty Jackson, 235, 618; Pancha Melendrez, 238, 604; Heather Blanco, 232.

Division Leaders, Beckett’s and El Zarape, each at 19-2.

Other high scores: Yogi Wammes, 245, 644; Betty Jackson, 244, 615; Pancha Melendrez, 227, 610; Maryann Dimick, 247, 685; Tricia Green, 279, 666; Pancha Melendrez, 246, 643

• Bobcat 2 a Days:

Boys: Avery Latta, 241, 579; Jerrad Main, 218, 577; Girls: Sophie Kepling, 155, 398; Jocelyn Zellers, 126, 316.

Standings: Teams 3and 4, both 5-0.

Other high scores: Miguel Lorenzen, 211, 472; Savanah Garner, 144, 351

• Rally’s Junior All Stars:

Boys: Conner Main, 181,412; Benito Baldonado, 304; Easton Duncan, 143, 355; Porter Dimick, 111, 321; Girls: Kyleigh Leu, 109, 302Izzy Grames, 103, 265; ; Izzy Grames, 229.

Standings, Garner, Burns and Iler, and Three’s Company, both 7-0.

Other high scores: Aj Bucher, 192 364; Conner Main, 358; Dakota Blasius,136; Kyleigh Leu, 137, 319; Madisyn Duncan, 289;

Adylynn Babcock, 118.

• Tuesday Coffee (two games)

Juanita Huss, 189, 344; Judy Lee, 169, 337; Velma Green, 326; Cathy Lowry, 178.

Team 8, 73-42; Team 7, 72-43.

Other high scores: Pat Lime, 322; Cathy Lowry, 180, 318

• Jack and Jill: Steve Burton, 2713; Kirk Starkey, 247, 656; Billy Malik, 246, 656; Steven Hoodlebrink, 278; Women: Robin Starkey, 206, 530; Nancy Campbell, 509; Cindy St. Peter, 188, 499; Phyllis Morelan, 189.

Standings: A Split Happens, 66-25; St Peter, 61.5-29.5 DWe’re Broken, 54-37.

• Mixed Up Guys and Gals:

Josh Crawfrod, 258, 706; Kyle Friedley, 245, 656; Rob Johnson, 629; Dan Hines, 246; Women: Andrea Blasius, 201, 536; Lori Hutton, 196, 523; Treasa Hiler, 516; Heidi Haney, 191.

Standings: Time to Strike, 69-22; Beckett’s Burger Bar,58-33; 4 of a Kind, 55-36.

•Monday All Stars (two games):

Jack Schall, 186, 312; Conner Main, 146, 287; Greyson, Dulaney, 253; Jason Merrell, 143; Girls: Jerrad Main, 175, 338; Paige Wulff, 156, 279.

Standings: Team 12, 65-35; Team 3, .55-45.

• Tuesday All Stars: (two games)

Aidan Rohleder, 183, 315; Bobby Samlow 159, 309; Girls: Ryland Power, 160, 277; Tristan White, 167, 275.

Standings: Team 4, 28-2; Team 6, 25-5

Other high scores, Dom Daniels, 156, 289; Henry Green, 289; Emily Lantz, 158, 290; Isabella Ewuzie, 150, 284

• Diagon Alley Cats

Tim Brackenbury, 161, 421; Kevin Cagle, 142, 389; Women, Erin Hachtel, 165, 430; Gina O’Hare, 48, 401.

Standings: Cagle,56-35; Brackenbury, 47-44.

•BG/Eastwood:

Miguel Lorenzen, 213, 481; Camden McWilliams, 362; Jayden Partee, 159; Girls: Jaycee Wonderly 177, 473p Kadence Jagielski, 133, 335.

Standings: Team4, 11-5; Team 3, 10-4.

Other top scores: Miguel Lorenzen, 213, 481; Jaycee Wonderly, 177, 473