BOWLING Industry task force meeting is step forward, toward unity

Talks were positive about merging all bowling organizations into one entity.
A task force representing bowling industry leaders met in Milwaukee on June 10 to further address the single membership concept.
In what is viewed as a powerful step in the direction of industry unity, the task force met to determine possible changes in the original proposal intended to create the United States Bowling Congress. The goal is to bring a new plan to the 2004 American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress delegations for approval.
The task force is comprised of representatives of the ABC, WIBC, Young American Bowling Alliance, USA Bowling and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. Since the task force was originally named, WIBC director Joe Dimond was added to the 20-member group.
Talks positive
At the close of the day, talks remained positive and set the tone for a follow-up meeting to finish discussions. No action items or further plans -- beyond the follow-up meeting -- were finalized. A date for the next task force meeting was not set.
A proposal to form the USBC met opposition this past spring from voting delegates of two of the merging organizations. The rejection of the Plan of Merger at the ABC convention and the WIBC annual meeting subsequently stalled the plan in its current format, even though an overwhelming majority of ABC and WIBC delegates favored the single membership concept.
The YABA and USA Bowling boards of directors had already approved the plan and only needed either ABC or WIBC to continue with the creation of USBC.
The organizations' leaders decided to continue discussions for a single membership organization, citing a firm belief in moving forward together to achieve consolidation of the membership organizations.
New director
Former professional bowler Steve Wunderlich has been named director of sport bowling for the ABC and WIBC.
The St. Louis native, who retired from the PBA Tour in 1992, previously served as a sales representative for Strike Ten Entertainment.
In 1985, Wunderlich won the ABC Masters and teamed up with ABC Hall of Fame member Les Zikes to win the Senior/Touring Pro Doubles. While on the PBA Tour, Wunderlich was a member of the tournament committee for several years, including serving as its chairman.
"As sport bowling continues to grow, we must dedicate a full-time employee to the program," WIBC executive director Roseann Kuhn said. "We are confident Steve's passion for and knowledge of bowling will bring sport bowling to the next level."
Responsibilities
Wunderlich's responsibilities will be to oversee the day-to-day activities of the sport bowling program and build on the successes achieved in its first two seasons of competition.
Originally projected for 50 leagues in its inaugural season, sport bowling quickly surpassed expectations with 139 leagues and more than 5,000 ABC and WIBC members participating in its first year.
"I've bowled on and participated in many tournaments featuring sport conditions and feel it is a tremendous supplement to the sport of bowling," said Wunderlich. "Sport bowling has a great future and I'm excited to try and take it to the next level."
Developed by ABC and WIBC in 2001, sport bowling is an optional level of membership consisting of league and tournament competition on challenging lane conditions.
Sport bowling emphasizes technique and spare shooting and places a greater emphasis on players' skills than typical house conditions.
Canton native wins
Junior Team USA 2003 member Jennifer Petrick of Canton (Stark State Community College) defeated University of Nebraska standout Shannon Pluhowsky from Phoenix, 243-150, to win the 2003 Pepsi Professional Women's Bowling Association Women's Collegiate Shootout on June 15 in Rockford, Ill.
The event, which featured entrants from 21 colleges, was held in conjunction with the PWBA Pepsi Greater Rockford Classic. The finals will be televised on ESPN2, July 2 at 6 p.m.
"I know what I am capable of doing and the limitations of my game," said Petrick, who heads to San Juan, Puerto Rico to compete as a Junior Team USA member in the second International Friendship Tournament.
Petrick, a Team USA 2002 member, advanced to the final match after knocking off Jocelyn Stutz of Cheektowaga, N.Y. (Indiana State University), 212-144 in match two.