January Newsletter

Welcome to a new year. Everyone makes resolutions for the new year, here’s mine…

Hall of Fame
Sponsors
Schedule of Activities
Youth Tournament Schedule
Bowl with Butler’s Best
Butler High Bowl-a-Thon
Coach’s Tip
High and Honor Scores

Hall of Fame

The next Hall of Fame election will be in 2027. We need to start collecting applications for the next HOF candidates. Who knows, the bowler you look up to, the secretary who has kept everything in order for years, or the bowler you can never seem to beat may be in the next Hall of Fame class, but someone needs to let us know about them. Applications and requirements can be found on our website here. Don’t be shy, fill out the application and send it in.

Sponsors:
Welcome to VICNOR Farms!

For your automotive needs please visit A Preferred Grove City, Butler, & New Castle, PA Vehicle Source - Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in SLIPPERY ROCK and let them you saw their add here.

Schedule of Events:

The Scratch Masters Tournament was held at Belmont II on January 4, 2026. The competition was intense. In the end, DJ Osborne was victorious. Congratulations DJ!

A word from our Tournament Director Neil Morris – please send in, or hand deliver hard copy of all tournament applications. Please make sure Neil has them in a timely fashion to facilitate getting everything loaded into the computer.

Applications for the Mixed Doubles and the Association Doubles Tournaments are being printed. They will be distributed to the bowling centers soon.

Bowl with Butler’s Best
In the late 1980s, Hall of Fame bowler Tom Fry started the "Bowl with Butler’s Best" youth tournament, pairing young bowlers with Hall of Fame members and top local talent, modeled after a Pro-Am event with scholarship opportunities. This year’s tournament is on February 1, 2026 at Sherwood Lanes. The tradition continues, and elite bowlers from each association center—both men and women—will be invited to participate. If you are invited please confirm your participation promptly. Heather Craine is getting invitations to the Youth Leagues. She will be the main contact for the youths. She can be contacted at hpaul5098@gmail.com

Butler High Bowl-a-Thon:

Coach’s Tip:
Update on last month’s article. Bob has been contacted by the USBC and has been invited to make application to the USBC’s Team USA Paralympic Team. If he is selected, Bob will represent the USA in the event which will take place at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 29 - May 10, 2026. Congratulations Bob, we know you will be selected!!!

Now for this month’s tip:

This month’s tip concerns bowling ball cleaning. First it must be understood that most bowling balls are porous. The coverstock (the outside layer of a bowling ball) acts like a sponge and absorbs oil as the ball rolls down the lane. The ball also picks up dirt and “grime” from the lane, the pin setters, and ball returns. This gunk will remain on and in the ball until some outside force removes it.
Ball cleaning recommendations:

Wipe the ball down with a microfiber towel after each frame.
Use an approved cleaner after each bowling session.
After 50 to 75 games, have a professional remove the oil and resurface the ball.

Remember: The longer the oil sits on the surface of your ball, the more chance it has to sink in and become harder to remove. This means that by cleaning your ball every time you bowl, your ball will stay cleaner for longer.
Have you ever heard of centrifugal force? It is the outward force that pushes a body away from the center of rotation. In the picture below, the people on the swings are pushed away from the center because of centrifugal force.

This also happens to the oil that has soaked into the ball. As the ball rotates going down the lane, the oil trapped in the ball moves to the outside of the ball creating an additional layer of oil for the ball to deal with. The more oil, the less friction. The less friction, the more deflection when the ball contacts the pins. The more deflection, the less pin carry and thus lower scores.

Ball cleaning makes such a difference that the USBC has a rule stating that the only thing that can be used to clean a ball once competition has begun is a dry cloth.

USBC Rule 18 states:

While bowling in USBC competition, a bowling ball cannot:
a. Have the surface altered by the use of an abrasive.
b. Be cleaned with any liquid substance or cleaning agent.
c. Have any foreign material on it including, but not limited to, powder, rosin, marker or paint.

All bowling balls so altered or cleaned must be removed from the competition.

NOTE: Should a foreign substance appear on the outer surface of a bowling ball which cannot be removed with a dry towel, an approved cleaner may be used with consent from a league or tournament officer.

This also means that if you want to change balls once competition has begun, the new ball cannot be cleaned either. Cleaning must be done before or after competition. Competition is defined as the first ball thrown for score in an event. Not necessarily your first ball, but the first ball thrown. More on cleaning and maintenance next month.

High and Honor Scores

Congratulations to all the bowlers who appear in this list. Also, I ask all bowlers to thank their league secretaries for submitting their accomplishments. Without the league secretaries reports, we would not have the information to pass along to our members, however, if your league is not represented in this list, ask your league secretary to send the information to Rich Warheit at rwarheit@zoominternet.net Also, if you see one of the people listed here congratulate them.

Armco C

Jason Mawhinney 280 (182 avg)
Ron Hawke III 199 (147 avg)
Ralph Jockel    225 (186 avg)
Jim Mack    235 (185 avg), 226, 239
Adrian Cardenas 214 (165 avg)
Chuck Carlson 247 (166 avg), 237
Kevin Aaron 195,199-542 (149 avg)
Shawn Follstaedt    223 (177 avg)
Jamie Bolten 226 (154 avg)
Rich Wylie Jr. 210 (167 avg)
Tim Malis    246 (183 avg)
Ray West III 246 (195 avg)
Ben Hoffman    258-724, 256
Paul Simon    225 (180 avg)
Mike Helmstaedtler    237 (196 avg), (265,244-713)
JR Holland    229-666 (188 avg)
Dave Rouda Jr. 236 (197 avg), 236, 235
Eric Cranmer 225 (183 avg)
Jesse Wahler 224 (175 avg)
Scott Emmel    225 (185 avg)
Steve Suchonic 211 (167 avg)
Dave Plaisted    235 (183 avg)
Mike Welsh Sr. 225 (161 avg)
Lou Hinchberger 176 (128 avg)
John R Holland Jr.    194 (153 avg)
Cory Barger    244,240-685 (189 avg)
Rock Kellerman    221 (162 avg)

Belmont 2 Monday Niters

Jeff Suchonic    257, 265
Clint Simons Jr.    278
Tony Pizer 267 (197 avg)
Josh Sullivan 256, (258-707), (258-740), (257-726)
Brian Marcellus 250, (257,268-701), 255
Cody Laue    252, 252
Don Fair Sr.    222 (176 avg), 232
Kevin Richardson 267, (290,279,239-808), (269-755), (259,256-762)
Don Clark 259-719, 278, 255
Dalton Fair    238 (193 avg), 247, 237, 254
Zach Wright    253, 258
Wayne Blank    226 (190 avg)
Brad Buckley    266-722
Hope Griffith    259
Chris Johnson 279 (194 avg), 237, 256
Erin Kennedy 256
Heather McCullough 268 (197 avg)
Neil Morris Jr. 236 (180 avg)
Paris Strezeski 243 (169 avg), 226
Dennis Wiles III 234 (186 avg), 245
Bill Yost 237 (199 avg)
Gary Rankin    244 (193 avg), 244
Corey Detwiler 253 (187 avg), 249
Rocco Rice    279, 247
Dylan Keene 241 (194 avg)
Tanner Pint 265, 253
Barry Barger 258,246,247=751
Will Eller    254
Norm Felmlee 248
Rich Lorenz    264
Cam Buckley    256-713
Ashley Louis 231 (180 avg)
Jim Rice    276-719
Jim Wagner 236 (189 avg)
Nick Bonomo    234 (193 avg), 247
Lindsay Hendrix 232 (191 avg)
Scooter Marzka 244 (198 avg), 244
Paul Zitzman 256
Henry Austin    Triplicate
Andy Kamerer 245,237-651 (199 avg)

Belmont Wednesday Nights

Jon Wright    132 (92 avg),150
Hope Griffith    246
Trent Slater 230 (191 avg)
Paul Zitzman 278-708
Dillon Mayberry 253 (189 avg)
Cody Laue    298,276,235=809
Neil Morris Jr. 214 (171 avg)
Kristy Klabnik    190-501 (143 avg)
Dennis Malinski    212 (150 avg)
Coins

Stacey George 204 (164 avg), 211
Ina Kocian 150 (111 avg)
Candi Barnhart    200 (134 avg)
Marci Gladd 500 Series (145 avg)
Karen Joy    406 Series (110 avg)
Judy Kennedy 201 (147 avg)
Mary Schulthies    153 (115 avg)
Many Ann Eggleton 150 (113 avg)
Tina Hartung 135,165 (96 avg)

Connoquenessing Indians

Rich Bothell    232 (181 avg)
Rick Smith    242 (177 avg)
Greg Bosko 228,234 (181 avg)
Tim Lefever    246 (175 avg)
Charles Guiste 177 (130 avg)
Jacob Altman    204,235-629 (164 avg)
Mike Hilliard    238,245-703 (195 avg)
Parker Hollefreund 213 (157 avg)
Don Mahan 268 (190 avg)
Nicholas Groff    258,205-623 (157 avg)
Jay Wagner 230 (172 avg)
Jacob Wagner    181-500 (127 avg), (191,171,211=573)
Chris Mago 275 (181 avg)
Jason Burket 246-605 (173 avg)
Gage Terwilliger 256-674 (171 avg)
Mike Welsh    247 (158 avg)
Chris Leitem 224-637 (171 avg)
Gavin Terwilliger    176 (134 avg)

Deer Lakes Monday Women

Brittany Becker 225
Lauren Becker 175
Kay Stewart    125-325
Linda Bombich 175

Double Shot
Dalton Fair    233 (185 avg), 223
Will Bowser    300 (194 avg)
James Little 142,145-408 (96 avg)
Randy McClelland    203 (161 avg)
Nick McFadden    214,221-624 (159 avg)
Tanner Pint 230,246 (187 avg), (258-665)
Jason Prementine    235 (163 avg)
Paula Resele    166-423 (115 avg)
Jake Rodgers 213 (154 avg), 196
Pat Shirey    191-517 (144 avg)
Skip Weyand    213 (159 avg)
Jacob Bowser    236
William Everetts 185 (145 avg)
Mike Marano    298-705, (245-646)
Matt Sheppeck    195 (155 avg)
Jamie Martin 220-474 (127 avg)
Dane Coast 234
Roman Davidson    218
Tabatha Wilson 203 (138 avg)
Aaron Marano 225,267-705
Cam Buckley    261-654

Firearms

Dylan Gibbons    201 (158 avg), 201
Chuck Hilliard 204 (157 avg)
Rich Morrill 277
Damian Wheeler 235 (182 avg), 234, 233
Tim Beveridge    181 (134 avg)
Chris Blodgett 238 (186 avg)
Jamie Martin 183 (139 avg)
Will Miller    289,234-724 (190 avg)
Jesse Wahler 212-605 (173 avg)
Adam Walker    255 (186 avg), 242
Mike Hilliard    300-725
Steve Adam    177 (133 avg)
Dee Morrill    179 (136 avg)
Blaise Wheeler    200, 203

Friendship

Mary Jane Snider    224-501 (135 avg)
Carly Conrad    176 (129 avg)

Guzzlers

Mike Beichner 212 (163 avg)
Kyle Cook 190 (139 avg)
Eric Devore 247,247-702
Joe Douglas 226 (183 avg)
Leroy Eddinger 179 (128 avg)
Luke Keene 265
Bill Kline    233 (186 avg)
Jeff Kline    257 (169 avg)
Ashley Louis 244 (189 avg), 234
Ron Marsico    136 (98 avg)
Jeremiah Mourer 167 (119 avg)
Patrick Rainey 247,285-738, (257,266-746)
Casey Shea    266, (248-710)
Deana Snyder 176 (134 avg)
Damian Wheeler 230 (180 avg)
Peg Slye    146-413 (117 avg)
Cody Stroup    255-706 (194 avg)
Lisa Wilbert    139-409 (120 avg)
Rich Wittebort 221 (154 avg)
Brody Allison    190 (139 avg)
Conner Bachman    203 (160 avg)
Donald Bell 176 (133 avg)
Misty Bowser    262-610 (169 avg)
James Crawford    152-409 (108 avg)
Derek Delaney    249 (177 avg)
Rick Douglas    187 (125 avg)
Ethan Keller    204 (155 avg)
Tracy Kline 180 (139 avg)
Joe Rakoci 200 (150 avg)
Chad Reges 259
Morgan Rosenbauer    191 (140 avg)
Donna Schaffner 203 (148 avg)

Hardwood Café

Butch Bagley    188 (157 avg)
Debbie Turowski 182,193 (142 avg)
Pat Shirey    178 (141 avg)
Martha West 173 (128 avg)
Christine Bagley 172 (134 avg)
Lou Reges 244 (182 avg)
Val Coyle    170 (131 avg)
Diane Young 181 (147 avg)
Cindy Martsolf    181 (134 avg)

Jewel (Oct-Dec)

Jane Wolfe    186 (139 avg)
Sheri Gibson 185 (134 avg)
Robin Milewski 188-416 (119 avg)
Chris Cleary    192 (134 avg)
Linda Smith    202 (151 avg)
Sandy Zendron 200 (152 avg)
Mary Beatty    159-406 (114 avg)
Linda Christopher 175 (140 avg)
Cindy Myers 150 (119 avg), (162-403)
Audra Dodgson    158-415 (117 avg)
Marsha Doerr    150 (107 avg)

Jolly Girls

Darla Duster 179 (116 avg)
Denise Shaffer 177 (119 avg)
Jan Ellison 157-451 (119 avg)
Debbie May    178 (130 avg)

Kingpins

Regina Schindler 152 (194 avg)
Darin Schindler 188 (140 avg), 184
Brett Zasadni    247 (186 avg)
Dale Glavin Jr.    268 (177 avg), 285
Rob Schell 220-634 (175 avg)
Tracy Kennedy 180 (140 avg)
Deborah Martin 202 (155 avg)
Jack Oakley 191 (136 avg)
Dave Smolensky 177 (134 avg)
Danene Leasher    179 (137 avg)
Erin Smith 152 (111 avg)
Sherri Grosso    134 (99 avg)
Bob Smolensky 175 (140 avg)

Lads & Lassies (Nov-Dec)

Aleah Dunn 172,214-528 (135 avg),
177, (175,197-527)
Steve Conrad    209 (153 avg)
Michael Gold Jr. 177 (132 avg)
Edward Schreibel IV 246 (183 avg)
Chris Dunn 215 (153 avg), 210
Emily Schreilbel    164 (98 avg)
Richard Webb 242 (188 avg), (237,260-698)
James Atkison Jr.    256 (194 avg)
Georgia Krause 245 (174 avg)
Robin Krause    183-419 (120 avg)
Dennis Truesdale    230 (169 avg)
Shawn McCommon    231 (160 avg)

Mars Men (Sept – Dec)

Ken Bell    241 (164 avg), 200
Sherry Christy 212 (157 avg)
Dale Glavin Jr.    213,227-647 (173 avg)
Derek Cowan    203 (149 avg)
Ken Dietrich 215 (150 avg)
Jason Hartenstein    255 (182 avg), 237, 255
Randy Herbe 234 (176 avg)
Ethan Mincer 245,254-694 (187 avg)
Kaleb Knapp 177 (139 avg), (217-524)
Charles Rhodes 221 (147 avg)
Rich Coll 214 (157 avg)
Mark Dershem    233 (186 avg), 256
Jonathan Marcoline 251 (176 avg)
Mike Schriver 237 (181 avg), 254, 269
David Baylor 214 (142 avg)
Jack Stockman    182 (138 avg)
Greg Haryenstein    223 (163 avg)
Bob Goerl 266 (191 avg), 276
Brian Schwartz 180 (136 avg)
Mike Kennedy    234 (181 avg), 257
Dave Morris    201 (160 avg)
James Rhodes 227 (178 avg), 257

Mixers
Tom Foster    182 (137 avg)
Amber Cogliano    154 (99 avg)
Randy Herbe 220 (164 avg)
Sara Platt    208 (164 avg)
Rachel Eckstrom 163 (117 avg)

Monda Buds (Sept-Dec)

Tracy Fallen    178 (120 avg)
Joy Webber 185 (139 avg), (201-541)
Cheri Grenek    153 (109 avg)
Jen Keefer 211-529 (140 avg)
Gina Brown    158-407 (120 avg)
Darla Klein 153-437 (121 avg)
Candi Barnhart    159-429 (119 avg)
Britney Fallen 190 (140 avg), (199-515)
Kassidy Cororan 145 (73 avg)
Katerina Young    151-346 (107 avg)
Hayle Pletcher 111-300 (84 avg)
Lisa Wilbert    155-436 (117 avg)
Terri Tankersley    177 (136 avg)
Katie Altman    177 (136 avg)
Linda Gutonski 178-5020 (142 avg)

Paul Simon Industrial (Nov-Dec)

Mike Dunkerley    255-714
Jon Workman    220 (143 avg)
Jeremy Johnson 243 (185 avg)
Jeff Guthrie Jr.    279-732
Zach Guthrie 258,243-704 (199 avg)
Bill Bailey 247,259-717 (196 avg)
Scott Faith 259 (194 avg)
Craig King    255 (176 avg)
Aaron Marano 256, 277
Don Makepeace    279,253-733 (190 avg)
Michael Marano II    259-720, 278
Jakob Slomer 254 (185 avg)
Seth Uber    233 (176 avg)
Chuck Weber    245 (182 avg)
Mark Grace 275 (188 avg)
Justin Hagan 268

Penn Street Pizza

Ron Brunner 208 (137 avg)
Tim Connell    207 (169 avg)
Dan Ihlenfeld    234,224 (184 avg), 227, 237
Rob Ekas 236 (177 avg)
Jim Hepler 235 (194 avg)
Denny Hawk 216 (162 avg)
Josh Schrecongost 225,259-699 (182 avg), 234
Jamie Queen 203 (165 avg)
Dave Vinroe    222 (171 avg), 225, 227, 221
Mike Guidotti 220 (154 avg)
Rich Warheit 243 (183 avg)
Don Anderson 247 (190 avg), 236, 236
Joel Smiglewski    222 (169 avg)
Steve Steighner 200 (155 avg)
Brock Hepler 256, 246
Tom Fennell    243
Bill Shever    225 (183 avg)
Randy McClelland    210 (163 avg)
Bil Fay    189 (148 avg)
Codi Fennell    220 (161 avg)
Nick Graham 212 (155 avg)
Bill Hartle 208 (164 avg)

Pioneer Mixed

Tom Trinko 200
Mike Bonefeste    202-530
Tyler Thompson    248
Jennifer Patten 180
Mya Harkinson 130
Brianna Wells 187

Strikes and Spares

Mike Dunkerley    290, (226-651)
Wayne Blank    258-697 (189 avg)
Joe Douglas 234 (183 avg)
Jadon Hill    213-518 (128 avg)
John Hovanec 275-710, 236
John Kriley    200 (161 avg)
Rich Lorenz    255-706, 226
Vern Schrecongost    224 (168 avg)
Adam Walker    228, 243
Jim Bowser 213 (162 avg)
John Lorenz    210,215
Chuck Heshler 224,233-641, (269-694)
Rich Lorenz    254,232,204=690
Ian Hapler 235-640
Tanner Pint 225,255-694
Brad McCullough 244-648
Andy Kamerer 235-666
Paul Johnson 226, 238
Tom Bissett 247, 236
Scott Faith Jr.    223
Mike Hilliard    236-658, 268
Gary Kriess 236
Rich Morrill 227, 223, 227, 233
Mike Strutt 222, 220, 217
Brian Bruce 244
Jeremy Sherd    217 (158 avg)
Buck Hardt 269-677
Kevin Richardson 268,279-784
Skip Weyand    237

Troy Alan

Bryce Cunningham 156 (104 avg)
Gary Rankin    227 (187 avg)
Mike Rihel    213 (164 avg)
Dan Schulties 300-771
Chris Warner 181 (127 avg)
Tim Lefever    245 (179 avg)
Jeff Marzolf    176, 200 (125 avg)
Doug Ritson    226 (180 avg)
Jay Wagner 221 (164 avg)
Steve Hildebrand    254 (192 avg)
Todd Morando    246 (169 avg)
Greg Reen 231 (176 avg)
Dakota Schmidt    236 (169 avg)
Bryan Griffith 299, 299-783
Ray McCune 289 (186 avg)

Women’s Classic Trio

Tina Applegate 232 (159 avg)
Carleen Burns 178 (133 avg)
Olivia Kirsch 147-405 (197 avg)
Alaina Nagel 159 (115 avg), (137-404)
Sara Platt    234 (162 avg)
Kathryn Bruckner 209 (163 avg)
Donna Gaggini    181 (118 avg)
Hayley McCune    167-414 (116 avg)
Heather Pangonis    192 (124 avg)
Lynn Tyo    150 (118 avg)
Kim Grasso Triplicate

Mike Coyle
Butler Area USBC Director

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