ARLINGTON, Texas - John Martorella Sr. of Greece, N.Y., grew up around bowling and had the opportunity to experience the sport’s ultimate achievement when he rolled 36 consecutive strikes for a 900 series in the Knox Amusement scratch league at Domm’s Bowling Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Thursday night.

The accomplishment still is pending approval from the United States Bowling Congress, but would make the 28-year-old right-hander the 19th bowler in history to achieve the feat. It would be the 20th USBC-approved 900 series.

“Before I threw the last strike, I took a deep breath and told myself if I got the last one, I’d tie the world record, and to be able to do it is absolutely amazing,” Martorella said. “This just feels incredible. My phone has been ringing all day with calls from friends, the local news, people I haven’t talked to in years and even local bowling legends I grew up watching. We have such a great bowling family here, and it’s special to be able to share it with them.”

Martorella’s family has owned Domm’s Bowling Center since 1971, and he co-manages the 16-lane establishment with his father, Joe, a Rochester Bowling Association Hall of Famer, and his brother, Frank.

Because of his responsibilities at the bowling center, Martorella often is pulled in different directions, even when he’s bowling league. Thursday was no exception, as he spent part of the first game addressing a lane breakdown and organizing brackets.

Toward the end of the set, his 5-year-old son, John Jr., stopped him during his pre-shot routine and asked if he could bowl, too.

“I was able to shoot 300 the first game, and then things started to settle down, so I was able to stay on my pair,” Martorella said. “When my son came up to me during my pre-shot swing in the ninth frame, I couldn’t help but laugh. It gave me a chance to step back and start my routine all over, and it really helped. I’m glad that he and my father were able to be there with me. My brother bowls in the league, too.”

This year, Martorella cut his league participation back to just one league and is having one of his best seasons, which ended Thursday night with a 238 average. He also rolled a pair of 300s and two 800 series earlier in the year. He now owns 15 perfect games and five 800s to go along with his latest achievement.

“I’m here an awful lot, so I decided I didn’t want to commit to two leagues this year, which left my Friday nights open to go out and do some other things,” said Martorella, who spends about 50 hours each week at the bowling center. “I try to practice every other day, and a lot of my focus is on tournaments on the weekends.”

In three weeks, Martorella will head south to Baton Rouge, La., for the 2012 USBC Open Championships, the world’s largest participatory sporting event. He will be making his fourth consecutive tournament appearance and looks to improve on the career-best 2,001 all-events total he posted at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., last year. His father won a Regular Team title at the 1971 event in Detroit.

“I’ve been throwing the ball really well lately, and I hope some of this carries over,” said Martorella, who owns a 204.7 average at the Open Championships. “You just try to use something like this to your advantage, and it definitely keeps your confidence up.”

The first USBC-approved 900 occurred Feb. 2, 1997 when Jeremy Sonnenfeld rolled three consecutive perfect games in Lincoln, Neb. There has never been a 900 on Sport Bowling lane conditions.

USBC-Approved 900 Series (20)
Jeremy Sonnenfeld (R), Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997
Tony Roventini (L), Greenfield, Wis., Nov. 9, 1998
Vince Wood (R), Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept, 29, 1999
Robby Portalatin (L), Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000
James Hylton (R), Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001
Jeff Campbell II (R), New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004
Darin Pomije (R), New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004
Robert Mushtare (R), Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005 and Feb. 19, 2006
Lonnie Billiter Jr. (R), Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006
Mark Wukoman (R), Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006
P.J. Giesfeldt (R), Milwaukee, Dec. 23, 2006
Rich Jerome Jr. (R), Baltimore, Dec. 22, 2008
Chris Aker (L), Winnemucca, Nev., Oct. 30, 2009
Andrew Teall (R), Medford, N.J., Nov. 2, 2009
Andrew Mank (R), Bellevue Ill., March 18, 2010  
William Howell III (L), Middletown, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2010
Matt Latarski (R), Medina, Ohio, Nov. 28, 2010
Bob Kammer Jr. (R), Crown Point, Ind., Jan. 8, 2011
John Martorella Sr. (R), Greece, N.Y., April 12, 2012**

** Pending formal approval by the United States Bowling Congress.

For more information on this and other USBC records, visit BOWL.com.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body for the sport. USBC is a membership organization that provides standardized rules, regulations and benefits to make bowling fair and fun for everyone.

The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.

Thomas rode that level of comfort to a six-bagger from frames two to seven, cruising to victory over Nichols and Jones, who battled for second place. Nichols, Roseville, Calif., collected $12,500 for his second-place finish, while Jones, of Phoenix, took home $10,000 for third.

You can bet that when Thomas shoes up for his next tournament, he’ll have a Hammer ball in his hands.

“When you’re bowling on the tough shots, those patterns force you to have a ball that can read the lane correctly,” he said.  “The longer and flatter the conditions, the more you need a Hammer ball in your hand. If you need a ball to get through the front clean and read the midlane, the Brick is your ball.”

—  Ebonite Bowling Balls & Bowling Equipment - Ebonite is a brand of Ebonite International, Inc. Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets domestically and internationally. In addition to Ebonite, the company’s consumer product brands include Hammer,Columbia 300,Track, Robby’s and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.

BATON ROUGE, La. - John Gaines of Orlando, Fla., always jokes that it’s not a successful trip to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships unless you get your picture taken, and at this point in the 2012 event, that still means taking the lead.

The three-time champion and his Lodge Lanes Too teammates accomplished that goal and had the chance to pose for the camera after surging into the top spot in Team All-Events with a 9,744 total at the Baton Rouge River Center on Wednesday. Five Horsemen of Racine, Wis., previously held the lead with 9,731.

Lodge Lanes Too got off to a slow start in team Tuesday with a 976 game but battled back with 1,161 and 1,059 for a 3,196 effort, which is fourth in Regular Team. Nicholas J’s Pro Shop 2 of La Crosse, Wis., leads with 3,401.

That momentum for Lodge Lanes Too carried over into doubles and singles, where good communication helped them navigate the challenging lane condition.

“A lot of information was exchanged between doubles and singles, and Jeff Ussery from our companion team was spot on with what he told us about the pair they were on, which is the main reason we got off to such a strong start in singles,” said Gaines, who made his 24th USBC Open Championships appearance. “I don’t know if what we got is enough, but we did what we could. All five guys shot 1,900, and that’s a pretty solid effort. You can’t win unless you leave with the lead, and we did that.”

Gaines, a back-to-back Team All-Events winner in 1997 and 1998 as well as the 1998 Regular Singles champion, led the way for Lodge Lanes Too with a 1,994 all-events total. He was joined by 1987 Team All-Events champion Mitch Jabczenski (1,961), 2004 Regular Singles and All-Events winner John Janawicz (1,940), recent Professional Bowlers Association champion Scott Newell (1,930) and former Team USA member Vernon Peterson (1,919).

As someone who’s enjoyed a lot of success at the Open Championships, Gaines started preparing for this year’s event 364 days ago. As a group, the members of Lodge Lanes Too and Hammerbowling.com began practicing and communicating by phone and email about three months ago.

“There were quite a few emails and phone calls,” Gaines said. “Anytime someone practiced at home, there was a call or email about what they saw or what ball and surface they used. That helped us narrow things down, and the closer it got, the more often we talked.”

Individually, all 10 bowlers are talented and have growing resumes, but it takes good camaraderie and communication to be successful in team competition. The first thing Gaines looked for when putting the group together was good teammates. Being a good bowler was second.

The night before heading into Baton Rouge, eight of the 10 bowlers got together at Island Strikez in Gulfport, Miss., which is managed by Mike Sealy, the anchor bowler for Hammerbowling.com. While it was a chance to practice together for the first time, it was more about team building and getting comfortable together.

Most of the group reconvened on the Showcase Lanes at the River Center on Monday night for an hour of practice that allowed them to get used to the high ceilings and approaches inside the venue.

“We just wanted a chance to make sure we were all on the same page about how we like to exchange information, especially since a couple of the guys were new to the group,” Gaines said. “The first night wasn’t as much about bowling as it was about having a good time and everyone getting to know each other better. That makes it a lot easier to go out there and bowl well.”

Gaines gained a new appreciation for the Open Championships from USBC Hall of Famer Bob Goike, who showed him the ropes more than a decade ago, and he hopes he can help his teammates see things the same way.

“I realized what this event was about when I heard my own teammates announced in the squad room for the first time,” Gaines said. “That made it different and more real, and that’s when it clicked for me. I think that’s when it started for these guys, too. They’re young and talented, and now they’re really starting to understand the history of the tournament.”

Hammerbowling.com, which is seventh in Regular Team with 3,154, includes Shawn Lee, who shot 300 at the 2008 event in Albuquerque, N.M., and competed for the 10th time, Ussery (five appearances), Matt Gilman (six), Keith Nolan (10) and Sealy (18). Jabczenski is the veteran of the two teams with 40 consecutive appearances.

Lee set the pace for Hammerbowling.com with a 2,082 all-events total, which is fourth overall, and was followed by Ussery (1,940), Nolan (1,733), Gilman (1,723) and Sealy (1,699). Ryan Whitney of Lewisville, Texas, leads Regular All-Events with 2,170.

“Today was really important for us to go through because it helped everyone understand what it takes first-hand,” Gaines said. “You have to stay calm and stay in the moment, but you also have to realize you’re climbing a ladder and stay aggressive. Even if we don’t win, the experience of going through all of this will only help us down the road.”

Sponsors for the 2012 USBC Open Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include the Belle of Baton Rouge, official brackets sponsor; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Humana, official registration sponsor; Bud Light and Budweiser, official beer sponsors; The Advocate, official publication sponsor; Brunswick, official lane provider; Steltronic, official scoring system; Storm Bowling Products and Nationwide Insurance.

Photo provided by USBC.

HOPKINSVILLE, KY – Ebonite international has announced Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., as the new Southwest District Sales Manager (DSM). Previously the Program Development Manager at South Point Bowling Center, Wodka brings experience and organization to the sales team.

“We are pleased to bring Wodka to the team,” said Mike Judy, National Sales Manager. “He has great relationships with the people in Las Vegas and southern California, and in the business of bowling, relationships are everything. Dave is a natural fit in that territory, and brings a wealth of bowling, sales, and territory management experience.”

Wodka’s area of coverage will include the Las Vegas area, Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the Ebonite International team,” said Wodka. “There’s not a better team in the bowling industry, and I will enjoy creating ideas and projects to boost sales and excitement in my part of the country.”

An Ebonite PBA staff member until 2000, Wodka was a member of the sales team from 2000 to 2007, when he left to manage a bowling center in southern California. While working in the bowling center as a manager and pro shop operator, and then as Program Development Coordinator at South Point, Wodka gained a great deal of experience on his resume that he feels will help him relate to Ebonite International’s pro shop and bowling center customers.

“I was a member of Ebonite’s pro staff in 1992, and I’ve always been proud to be associated with the company,” added Wodka. “The products today are better than they’ve ever been, and I look forward to picking up where Shawn Morris left off in the southwest.”

Wodka’s tenure begins immediately after the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer in Indianapolis, IN.

Barta started the night with games of 235 and 204 before calmly stepping up in the final frame of doubles and firing three clutch strikes for a 279 finish and 718 series. Miller added games of 269, 209 and 233 for a 711 set, and the two passed Ryan Whitney of Lewisville, Texas, and Chris Hans of Rocky Mount, N.C., who previously held the lead with 1,420.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Barta, a 32-year-old right-hander, who made his 11th USBC Open Championships appearance. “It’s something that everyone who bowls this tournament dreams of. To be in the position to take the lead, and knowing you need those strikes to do it, adds a little pressure, but it’s a dream everybody wants. Luckily, Hugh and I were able to take advantage of it. He doubled in the 10th, and I struck out, and it’s an awesome feeling.”

Barta added 636 in team and 629 in singles for a 1,983 all-events total. Miller, a seven-time Professional Bowlers Association national champion, ended his 28th tournament appearance with 598 in singles and 576 in team for 1,885. Ryan Whitney leads Regular All-Events with 2,170.

Although this win is not in the books, the potential is there as Barta and Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., took hold of the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,429 total at the Baton Rouge River Center. The 2012 USBC Open Championships kicked off Feb. 11 and will conclude July 10.

Barta started the night with games of 235 and 204 before calmly stepping up in the final frame of doubles and firing three clutch strikes for 279 finish and 718 series. Miller added games of 269, 209 and 233 for a 711 set, and the two passed Ryan Whitney of Lewisville, Texas, and Chris Hans of Rocky Mount, N.C., who previously held the lead with 1,420.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Barta, a 32-year-old right-hander, who made his 11th Open Championships appearance. “It’s something that everyone who bowls this tournament dreams of. To be in the position to take the lead, and knowing you need those strikes to do it, adds a little pressure, but it’s a dream everybody wants. Luckily, Hugh and I were able to take advantage of it. He doubled in the 10th, and I struck out, and it’s an awesome feeling.”

Barta has won several national events, including The National Bowling Association Reed-Hawthorne Classic, Cincinnati’s Hoinke Super Classic and three Brunswick World Team Challenge titles. He was able to call upon those experiences to help him perform on bowling’s biggest stage.

“I’ve bowled in a lot of major amateur tournaments,” said Barta, who is a collections manager at The Cable Company. “There have been multiple times where I needed two or three strikes to either win a match or make the other person strike out, so having the experience helped out today. Being in that situation gives you more of a comfort level, so you’re not as nervous. Bowling all of the amateur tournaments that I have bowled in has helped out a lot. I took advantage of it and was able to do it.”

Miller, whose resume includes seven Professional Bowlers Association national titles, 32 PBA regional wins, one PBA Senior Tour victory and two PBA Senior regional titles, could come full circle if their score can withstand the test of time. The 55-year-old left-hander made his first Open Championships appearance as a high school senior at the 1975 event in Dayton, Ohio, and a win here would make him feel young again.

“I bowled my first nationals in 1975,” said Miller, who recently became the 40th bowler to accumulate $1 million dollars in PBA earnings. “At that time, being a senior in high school, winning here was one of my goals in bowling. I’ve won 40 titles professionally and was one of the top earners on the Tour, but I don’t bowl that much anymore. So to me, it would be kind of like going back to my younger days.”

Barta added 636 in team and 629 in singles for a 1,983 all-events total, while Miller’s 28th tournament appearance ended with 598 in singles and 576 in team for 1,885. Ryan Whitney leads Regular All-Events with 2,170.

Sponsors for the 2012 USBC Open Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include the Belle of Baton Rouge, official brackets sponsor; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Humana, official registration sponsor; Bud Light and Budweiser, official beer sponsors; The Advocate, official publication sponsor; Brunswick, official lane provider; Steltronic, official scoring system; Storm Bowling Products and Nationwide Insurance.

Duke, of Clermont, Fla., defeated reigning PBA Player of the Year and No. 1 seed Finland native Mika Koivuniemi, 266-217, in the championship match at Thunderbowl Lanes to win the $10,000 first prize which pushed his career earnings over the $3 million mark.  Koivuniemi, who now makes his home in Hartland, Mich., was trying for his 10th career Tour title.

Duke joins fellow Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber as the only players to earn more than $3 million and his 35 wins also moved him into fourth on the all-time career list for titles won.

Williams is PBA’s all-time career titles leader with 47 followed by Earl Anthony with 43 and Weber with 36.  Williams holds the all-time career earnings mark with $4.35 million followed by Weber with $3.52 million.

“At this point in my career I feel just blessed to be able to compete,” said the 47-year-old Duke. “It’s just so hard to win out here that at this point in my career I’m just blessed — that’s all I can say. I’m jealous of what the young guys can do so it makes it all the more special.”

Duke, the No. 2 seed, soundly defeated 2009 PBA World Championship winner Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., in the semi-final match 288-178 to advance to the championship match. Duke attributed his success to reducing the amount of practice he took before each match.

“Usually, everyone wants as much practice as they can get but for me that’s not always the case,” Duke said. “Sometimes you need the practice but other times you have to know when to get out of there.

“The guys with the big rev rates will just burn up the lane and I didn’t want to add to that. Fortunately, I was able to play outside on the lane where I like to play. I had to make a one-board adjustment in the first game but even in the championship match I had to make a three and a half board adjustment.”

In the opening stepladder match, Smallwood, who was trying for his second career title, defeated three-time Tour titlist Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., 245-214, to advance to the semifinal against Duke.

The Detroit Open was the third PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel.  The next stop for the PBA Tour will be the Dick Weber Playoffs from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis March 30-April 1 which will also be streamed live on Xtra Frame.

PBA DETROIT OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS:
1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., two games, 554 pins, $10,000.
2, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, one game, 217 pins, $5,000.
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., two games, 423 pins, $3,200.
4, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., one game, 214 pins, $2,500.

PLAYOFF RESULTS:
Match One – Smallwood def. O’Neill, 245-214.
Semifinal match – Duke def. Smallwood, 288-178.
Championship match – Duke def. Koivuniemi, 266-217.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS
After 22 games, including match play records and total pinfall including bonus pins. Top four advanced to stepladder finals.

1, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 10-3, 5,629.
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 11-2, 5,598.
3, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-3, 5,499.
4, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 9-4, 5,484.
5, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7-6, 5,373, $2,300.
6, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 5-7-1, 5,372, $2,000.
7, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 10-3, 5,299, $1,900.
8, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 6-6-1, 5,296, $1,800.
9, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 7-6, 5,264, $1,750.
10, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 8-5, 5,241, $1,700.
11, Jeffrey Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 6-7, 5,227, $1,750.
12, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5-8, 5,209, $1,600.
13, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 4-9, 5,201, $1,550.
14, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7-6, 5,200, $1,500.
15, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-9, 5,195, $1,450.
16, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 7-6, 5,147, $1,400.
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 8-5, 5,121, $1,350.
18, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 5-8, 5,117, $1,300.
19, Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich., 6-7, 5,067, $1,275.
20, Troy Stus, South Lyon, Mich., 5-8, 5,023, $1,250.
21, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 4-9, 5,015, $1,225.
22, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 4-9, 4,956, $1,200.
23, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5-8, 4,940, $1,275.
24, Justin O’Hara, Westland, Mich., 2-11, 4,613, $1,150.

After more than a 15-year absence, Abingdon revived its once-successful bowling program this season. The high school had won state titles in girls bowling in 1973, 1976 and 1979, but the program ended in the 1990s. A student survey showed overwhelming support to bring back the sport, and 27 of the school’s 249 students signed up when the bowling program returned with both a boys’ and girls’ team.

“With Abingdon’s rich bowling history, resurrecting the bowling team has already created a positive buzz in the community,” David J. Black, superintendent of the Abingdon Community Unit School District, said in the school’s grant application. “Thanks to the support of this grant, Abingdon will have a chance to reestablish itself as one of the premier, downstate bowling programs in the state.”

With no available funds from the district for this season, the bowling team had fundraisers and also received assistance from the local Kiwanis organization and the high school booster club. Projected costs for the season were nearly $8,000, including lane time for practices/meets, travel costs and uniforms.

Head coach Amanda Stenger, along with Black and athletic director Joe Nichols, worked together on the application to the High School Grant Program, which provides assistance to bowling programs that have a financial need because of budget cuts or other changes, and to schools that request funding to start a new program. The grant program, administered by the International Bowling Campus Youth Development Team, can award up to four $2,500 grants a year.

“This will help our program tremendously,” Stenger, who coaches both the boys’ and girls’ teams with assistant Steve Batson, said of the grant. “We were using borrowed balls and used ones. This will definitely help us get some team equipment. This grant will also allow us to continue to provide time for our bowlers to use our bowling center and continue to get better.”

Stenger said the teams did well in their first season, with every bowler improving over the course of the season. The boys finished sixth out of 13 teams at their sectional, while the girls were 12th out of 19 teams.

“Because of our YES Fund partners, these grants are available to schools such as Abingdon that need assistance,” said IBC Managing Director of Youth Development Chad Murphy. “The students have shown they want to compete in the sport and hopefully this grant will help to build a successful program.”

The YES Fund is a joint initiative of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and the United States Bowling Congress. The YES Fund also is supported by its founding partners Brunswick, Columbia 300, Ebonite, 900 Global, Hammer, North Pointe Insurance, QubicaAMF, Roto Grip, Storm and Track.

To learn more about the High School Grant Program, visit BOWL.com/highschool.

About International Bowling Campus
The International Bowling Campus (IBC) is the headquarters for the bowling industry and directly serves the more than 71 million bowlers in the United States. The IBC houses the resources of the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body and membership organization for the sport; the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, representing the business interests of bowling centers; Strike Ten Entertainment, the marketing arm for the industry; the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame; The Bowling Foundation; the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association; the Bowling Writers Association of America; the Bowling News Network; the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America; and the International Training and Research Center.

It is the first time in the history of the event that the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships will be televised. All four shows will air on CBS Sports Network. Dave LaMont will handle play-by-play, while USBC spokesman and Team USA member Chris Barnes will provide color commentary for the shows.

CBS Sports Network will air the one-hour shows, which will be shown in high definition for the first time, over a four-week period each Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern starting May 4. The Intercollegiate Team Championships and Intercollegiate Singles Championships annually crown national champions in college bowling and this year marks the first time the events have been held together.

“Once again, the International Bowling Campus has come together, this time to double the collegiate bowling presence on national TV,” said Chad Murphy, IBC Managing Director of Youth Development. “Our hope is that young bowlers everywhere will tune in and say, ‘I have to be part of that’ and they will start working toward the goal of becoming a collegiate bowler.”

All four shows will be taped at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Neb., on April 21. The Intercollegiate Team Championships will be featured on two of the broadcasts - the men’s final and the women’s final. The remaining two broadcasts will feature the top four men and top four women in the Intercollegiate Singles Championships battling in the semifinals and finals.

“This agreement allows us to showcase more college bowling to a national television audience,” USBC Managing Director of Media and Events Pete Tredwell said. “These are the pinnacle events of the college bowling season, and we are pleased to be able to bring them to the country on CBS Sports Network.”

Leading up to the taped television shows, bowling fans will be able to watch all rounds of qualifying and match play at both events on BowlTV. The Intercollegiate Singles Championships will be shown April 17, while the Intercollegiate Team Championships will be shown April 19-20.

The broadcast agreement for the Intercollegiate Team Championships and Intercollegiate Singles Championships was coordinated in conjunction with Strike Ten Entertainment and made possible through the efforts of the Youth Education Services (YES) Fund. The YES Fund is a joint initiative of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and the United States Bowling Congress. The YES Fund also is supported by its founding partners Brunswick, Columbia 300, Ebonite, 900 Global, Hammer, North Pointe Insurance, QubicaAMF, Roto Grip, Storm and Track.

For more information USBC Collegiate, visit BOWL.com/collegiate.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body for the sport. USBC is a membership organization that provides standardized rules, regulations and benefits to make bowling fair and fun for everyone.

The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.

CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network, the cable channel of CBS Sports, features comprehensive sports programming. The Network covers more than 300 live games annually, showcasing 30 men’s and women’s sports, in addition to a variety of studio shows, documentaries and original programs. CBSSN’s live programming is highlighted by college sports including, teams from the Mountain West, Conference USA, Atlantic 10, Patriot League, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy, as well as Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League. The Network also airs the weekday “Tim Brando Show” and is the new home of Professional Bull Riders (PBR). 

CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers on Verizon FiOS Channel 94 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 643 (1643 in HD) and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 152. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

After winning three titles along with multiple other Top-10 finishes on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour in 2011, Jason Belmonte of Australia was the leading vote-getter. Voters for the All-America teams used statistics from the calendar year 2011 to make their decisions.

Joining Belmonte on the men’s All-America team are Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., and Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa.

US Bowler, the official membership publication of the USBC, also recognizes five women and five senior All-Americans.

Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., was the women’s top vote-getter for the second consecutive year. Kulick won four medals for Team USA in international competition in 2011, finished second at the U.S. Women’s Open and 13th at the USBC Queens.

Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., Shannon Pluhowsky of Kettering, Ohio, Leanne Hulsenberg of Roseville, Calif., and Missy Parkin of Lake Forest, Calif., join Kulick on the women’s team.

For the seniors, Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, topped the ballots after winning four Senior PBA Tour titles and finishing in the Top 5 in five other events.

Joining Mohr on the senior All-America team is Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., Tom Baker of King, N.C., Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich., and Dale Eagle of Laguna Niguel, Calif.

The US Bowler All-America teams are selected in voting by a national panel of bowling journalists, USBC Hall of Famers and USBC association leaders. Each All-American will be presented with a customized plaque.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body for the sport. USBC is a membership organization that provides standardized rules, regulations and benefits to make bowling fair and fun for everyone.

The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.