FHSAA says bowling will be recognized as interscholastic sport

Official sanction is two years away, but Florida high school bowling took a huge step toward greater recognition with a recent FHSAA ruling.

The Florida High School Activities Association approved recognition of boys and girls bowling and girls weightlifting as interscholastic sports. It was another step toward Title IX gender equity requirements to give girls and women greater participation in sports.

The FHSAA governs all prep athletics in the state. Inclusion as an interscholastic sport gives its participants a varsity letter and enhances their prestige.

Recognition is the last stage for sanctioning. To be recognized, at least 32 schools from at least two of the state's four sections must participate for at least two years, then ask in writing for recognition.

Recognized sports do not have official seasons and don't have FHSAA-regulated events such as the Florida Finals tournaments. However, they may hold FHSAA-authorized invitational state tourneys if at least 48 schools participate. Those sports must follow FHSAA regulations with regard to eligibility and sportsmanship.

After recognition, at least 10 percent of all schools from two sections must participate in the sport for two years to become sanctioned. The association classifies 21 sanctioned activities and seven as recognized sports.

One of the problems in receiving recognition was getting enough letters of request to the FHSAA. There is no clearing house to determine how many schools have bowling programs, so contacting coaches and centers was haphazard, at best.

High school bowling started in Miami in the 1950s and spread across the state. However, Florida was years behind others states such as Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, which long before sanctioned the sport on the prep level.

Several attempts were made through the years to gain official recognition, but until recently, not enough schools participated. State tournaments were held with sometimes as few as 10 teams, but last December's event at Seminole Lanes drew 44 squads.

Ten years ago, the FHSAA gave counties the option of recognizing bowling without official sanction or including it in their athletic programs.

Pinellas County, among others, opted out. The Pinellas County High School League, started in 1972, was left out in the cold. Some schools, however, did award letters.

Lois Kostroski, outgoing executive director of the Bowling Centers Association of Florida in Tampa, was instrumental in pushing for recognition.

"Actually, we've been after this for more than 15 years, and it's great to be going out on this high note," Kostroski said.

The next step, she said, will be to form an advisory committee of center proprietors and bowling coaches to report to the FHSAA.

"This is necessary so the FHSAA can formulate the rules and regulations that eventually will govern bowling in the state," Kostroski said.

CHAMPIONS WINNER: The No Excuses team from Sunshine Bowl won the 16th annual Champion of Champions Handicap Tournament at Liberty Lanes two weeks ago. Justin Veitch anchored the winning squad with a 649 series. He was followed by teammates Charles Bueker (592), Bolo Kong (595), Melanie Stepanov (355) and Kerry Harris (652). Their 3,518 pinfall was 45 better than second-place Trix from Sunrise Lanes. Trix was led by Bill Edwards' 265-669 series. Following were Billy Snay (619), Troy Firman (613), Catherine Stankiewicz (410) and Diana Schellace (320). Jim Hamilton's 279-795 series sparked AMF Kenneth City Lanes' JAAMJ to third (3,459) in the 52-team tourney. His teammates were Art Gareau (660), Al Thomas (634), Matt Hamilton (576) and Jule Restino (563).

GUESS WHAT? Nicole Woodington, Wilmington, N.C., traveled from her finals in the WIBC Championship Tournament in Milwaukee to compete in the ABC Championship Tournament in Billings, Mont., and learned she had left the Midwest as a winner. After Woodington arrived in Billings, she checked the ABCWIBC Web site and found out that her Carolina Gals team had won the Division 2 title with a 2,767 pinfall. Woodington, however, did not fare as well in the ABC competition, falling far short of her 185 average. "That's okay, because now I can call myself a national champion and I don't think I'll ever have another chance to say that," Woodington said. The WIBC and ABC events have ended, and the unofficial results await verification. The ABC competitors rolled a record 62 300 games, and the WIBC tourney saw seven records broken.

ZONE SET: Liberty Lanes will host the Florida West Zone Conference's mixed team and mixed doubles event July 13-14 and 20-21. The entry fee for the handicap tournament open to ABC and WIBC players is $20 per bowler. The West Zone includes a number of centers in Pinellas and Pasco counties. For information, call tourney director John Spicer, (727) 724-9015.

AROUND THE LANES: Yuji Samizo fired a 300-716 at Ten Pin Lanes. ... Matt Mayhew recorded an 801 series and Alan Clark and R.J. Surdell rolled 300 games at Liberty Lanes. ... Brent Dewar posted a 300-718 and Eric Stark a 290-677 at Seminole Lanes. ... Steve Hobelmann's West Coast Senior event, for players 50-and-over, is at Unity Lanes in Zephyrhills on July 14. The entry fee is $90. ... Several local players are in first place entering this weekend's final round of the Florida State YABA Tournament in Ocala.

-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright