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Prep stars tapped for national event

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published December 10, 2006

With excitement and interest building around the recently announced All-American High School Championships, event sponsors decided to broaden the nomination process and extend the deadline for participants.

Anyone - coaches, parents, media, friends and even athletes themselves - can nominate state recognized varsity bowlers. Nomination and application forms must be postmarked by Jan. 15. The premier event not only will showcase the nation's top prep bowlers but will help promote the growth of the sport at the high school level.

Only senior bowlers in states with recognized varsity level programs are eligible to participate. Currently, 16 states have both male and female varsity programs, two states recognize varsity bowling for girls only and one has an adaptive program for those with physical and mental challenges. Twenty-six states have club level programs. Florida has both a recognized system and a club level. Details regarding eligibility, along with application and nomination forms, are available at pba.com and bowl.com.

The two-day tournament is March 24-25 and will coincide with the PBA World Championship in Grand Rapids, Mich. The newly-crowned girl and boy high school champions will team with professionals Kelly Kulick, the first female PBA exempt bowler, and a member of the Denny's PBA Sponsor Competition Team for a one-game doubles match.

After the Denny's World Championship, the high school finalists will take to the lanes for the chance to compete for $10,000 in scholarships on a PBA oil pattern. The finals will air on ESPN on April 22.

JUNIOR PBA: The PBA has formed the PBA Junior Membership Program. The program, which gives junior bowlers ages 17 and under the opportunity to receive exclusive offers from the PBA, costs just $25 annually. Participants will receive equipment discounts from select PBA product-registered companies, exclusive e-mail news bulletins from the PBA, a monthly tip from some of the top bowlers from the tour and a PBA junior membership card that gains access to the official PBA Junior Membership home page on www.pba.com.

NABI: Bob Murphy of Venice edged Mark Michel of Lutz 238-198 in the finals of last weekend's tournament at AMF Venice, taking home a $240 purse. Michel won $60 with a weekend high average of 200. The NABI will not be here next week as originally scheduled. The Club 570 outing at Countryside Lanes was canceled. Club 580 will be at AMF Semoran in Orlando at 11 a.m. today for a $100 jackpot. Call (863) 667-4779.

PBA: The tour heads to AMF Country Club Lanes in Baltimore, Md., for the Beltway Classic, Dec. 6-10. The Tour returns to the Baltimore area for the first time since 1996 when Mike Aulby won the 25th of his 27 career titles. The live ESPN finals are Sunday at 1 p.m.

David Traber makes his 2006-07 debut as an exempt bowler, replacing the injured Mark Scroggins (torn hamstring), the third bowler this season to defer his exemption due to an injury. Traber, whose brother, Dale, is exempt, replaces Scroggins, whose twin, Mike, also is exempt.

Last week, despite a 7-10 split in the 10th frame that nearly cost him the match, 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones captured his ninth career title with a 222-221 win over roommate Wes Malott in the Ace Hardware Championship at Freeway Lanes of Wickliffe.

Jones' total career PBA earnings are up to $828,201 in 188 career PBA events (including Regional Tour events) giving him a legitimate shot at Chris Barnes' record for fewest events to reach $1-million. Barnes reached $1-million in 220 events, meaning Jones needs to earn $171,799 in 31 events to break the record, an average of $5,541 per event.

CHATTER: 300s at Liberty were celebrated by Dwayne Smith (736), J.R. Tapper (778) and Frank T. Fernandes (701). Tom Milton tied Tapper for the best in house with a 277 for a 778 series. Four hundred and eighty students, coaches and family members showed up at the Pinellas County High School League banquet for awards and highlights. Ryan Burkett from Gibbs received the Mary Laird Clean Series Plaque for his 226-244-206/676 series bowled on Oct 12. It was the only clean series rolled this year.

[Last modified December 9, 2006, 20:20:03]