Mola still in game, and in position to further it

By PHIL GULICK

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 30, 2000

TARPON SPRINGS -- The last thing Tom Mola wanted was to be cut out of anything pertaining to bowling, especially in regards to his wife, Linda, and daughters, Katie and Mary.

However, nature has a way of turning lives around and what happened nearly two years ago to Mola certainly did that.

"I was a hard-working family man with no previous health problems when the heart attack hit me," Mola recalled. The attack was so severe it put him in the hospital for an extended stay and tore him away from his job, his bowling and nearly his life.

"I can't work anymore, but I feel lucky I survived at all," Mola said. "I have the blessings of my family and friends and now something else to look forward to."

Two weeks ago, the Suncoast Men's Association voted Mola its new president, replacing four-year veteran Paul Bayer. It also voted nine-time PBA tour winner Steve Hoskins of Tarpon Springs into its hall of fame and approved the American Bowling Congress dues increase.

"I had never thought of running for president because I had other things going, with junior bowling, my job and my family," Mola recalled. "Recently, some of the men in the association asked if I would consider the job and I agreed. I've been an association member since 1986 and never ran for office before."

Mola plans to take it slow, and has definite ideas on directions the association might take.

"We'd like to communicate better with our bowlers, the proprietors and our board members," Mola noted. "We should improve our public relations all around, including the media, and better inform prospective new members of our presence."

Mola also said the association would move to new offices soon, shared with the Clearwater Women's Association and equipped with a new computer system for better service to its bowlers. "We'd like to establish a Web site and e-mail boxes for all our board members and even our bowlers so we can communicate quickly, efficiently and more directly," Mola said.

Since long-time secretary Herb Brown died some years ago, the association has served its members well but labored in near obscurity. "We hope to change that with better communication and newer technology," Mola said.

WIBC MARK FALLS: One of the most coveted records in Women's International Bowling Congress history was broken last week at Clover Lanes in Livonia, Mich.

Michelle Ewald, the 1996 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow, led the Turbo 2-N-1 GripsRemerica Realtors to a five-woman team series of 3,557. The previous mark of 3,552 was established in 1998 by Detroit's famous Power Grips team. None of the women on Ewald's team are pro bowlers.

In the WIBC Championship Tournament at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Roberta Brockman of Galloway, Ohio, took over the Classic Division singles lead with a 697 series. Jane Cathcart of Fruitland Park and Chris Kall of Leesburg moved into third place in the Division I doubles with a 1,198 pinfall.

LindsOn Track Pro Shop of Eden Prairie, Minn., still heads the Classic Team race with a 3,019, Brooklyn Tire of Jackson, Mich., is the Division I team leader at 2,735, Better Yet of Ventura, Calif., is the Division II team leader at 2,581, and Bank of Rantoul, Ill., heads the Division III teams with a 2,547.

Sue LaFave of Tucson, Ariz., brought what might be considered a "home-made" team to the competition. The other four members of her squad are her daughters.

ABC UPDATE: Travis Wanna and Jay Kreitzer of Kansas City, Mo., held their lead in the Regular Doubles with a 1,473 in the ABC Championships Tournament at Albuquerque, N.M. Jerry Davis Sr. and John Moten Sr. of Jacksonville are still second with 1,459.

Frank Jilek III of Burbank, Calif., grabbed the Classified Singles lead with a 722 series, the first 700 rolled in that division. Larry Valpatic of Porter, Ind., continued to lead the Regular Singles with a 796. Two more 300 games were rolled, bringing the total to 14.

DOUBLES WINNERS: Warren and Patti Farren of Tarpon Springs won the NABI doubles tournament and $200 Saturday at Twedt's Lanes. Tom Cook and Larry Townsend finished second.

NABI is at Seminole Lanes this weekend for regular and Platinum Division play.

AROUND THE LANES: Honor scorers were led last week by Tony Jackson, who rolled a 300-729 and a 300-793 on the same night at Rainbow Lanes. ... Mike Cornelison also pulled a double, 300-709 and 300-756, but not on the same night. ... Other high scorers were Cory Beebe 300-720 at Tarpon Lanes; Nick Moldovan 300-759 at Countryside Lanes; Bob Belmont 300-844, Jeff Cole 800 and Frank Gawlik and John Hendry 300 at Liberty Lanes. ... The Youth Bowlers Tour visits Tampa's Crown Lanes May 7, offering college scholarship money to young bowlers. ... Duane Podgorski won the Gary Hampshire scratch tournament at Largo Lanes last weekend.

-- Phil Gulick can be reached at Xerxes6@aol.com or Xerxes6@earthlink.net

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.