JOHN BASSETTI \ Bowling High school sport is sanctioned

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has adopted boys and girls bowling as an official sport beginning with the 2006-07 school year.
Unanimous approval came April 6.
"The members of the subcommittee and those who work with Ohio High School Bowling did an outstanding job in their presentation and have done a tremendous job the last several years promoting the sport statewide," OHSAA Commissioner Dan Ross said.
The unanimous vote by the OHSAA Board of Control shows that it supports the opportunity for many students across the state to participate in a school-sponsored activity for the first time. It will also help their parents become more connected to the schools and that the participants will reap the benefits of involvement in educational athletics.
"They will learn lessons that will last a lifetime," Ross said.
Pays its dues
Ohio High School Bowling (OHSB) has been conducting statewide competition, including a state tournament, since the 2000-01 school year and during that time participants and schools have adhered to OHSAA bylaws and sports regulations.
Currently, there are approximately 160 boys and 160 girls interscholastic teams in Ohio, and OHSAA regulations do not permit the Board to consider recognizing a new sport unless a minimum of 150 schools sponsor teams.
Preliminary plans call for the 2006-07 bowling season to begin with practices on Nov. 10, with competition to start a week later. Teams will be permitted to conduct two scrimmages and participate in 22 contests before OHSAA postseason play begins with sectional tournaments, followed by district tournaments and concluding with the state tournament, which will include team and individual qualifiers. The season will end in early March.
The general rules of the United States Bowling Congress will be adopted and modified according to OHSAA bylaws and sports regulations. Five bowlers per team will participate during contests or tournaments with maximum rosters for all OHSAA postseason tournaments limited to eight.
The addition of boys and girls bowling increases the number of sports sanctioned by the OHSAA to 24, which includes 12 for boys and 12 for girls. The OHSAA last added a sport in 1993 when girls golf was adopted. The last sport adopted for both boys and girls was soccer, which became a boys sports in 1976 and a girls sport in 1985.
"On behalf of Ohio High School Bowling, including the Bowling Centers Association and the more than 4,500 participants, I wish to express sincere gratitude and unqualified excitement with the decision of the OHSAA Board of Control to recognize boys and girls bowling as the newest Ohio interscholastic sport," said Greg Coulles, OHSB Commissioner. "Our association will commit its full energy and best efforts to make the transition to OHSAA control of Ohio high school bowling as smooth as possible, and we pledge to cooperate in the successful launch of bowling as an interscholastic sport."
"Two-game" Chaney has 300
Leroy Chaney had his first 300 in Mahoning Valley Men at Holiday on March 16.
However, it was one of only two games for Chaney that night, MVM secretary Bill Brown said.
"He was late getting there, so he didn't bowl at first," Brown said. "Then he bowled the last two. They'll carry six or seven on a team, so the first five to show up bowl. He waited until the first game finished. That's how that worked out."
His second and final game was 212 for a 512 series.
Chaney's 300 was Mahoning Valley Men's first this season.
Nick Hanuschak had 300, Nick Gesacion 298 and Shawn Skelton 297 in Monday Night Men's Classic at Wedgewood on March 27.
Rich Dripps had 300, Guy DePizzo 299, Bob Backus 296 and Bill Daley an 11-in-a-row 290 in UAW 1112-Lucianno's Restaurant Men's at Wedgewood on March 22.
Don Morrison had 300 in Friday Challenge at McKinley Lanes while Jon Ramsbottom Jr. did likewise in Wednesday Men at Holiday on March 29.
Michele Mineo's 278-(793)-1015 led Wedgewood Ladies Trio on April 4.
The Handicappers of Sue Simion, Paula Meeker and Alice Lyth won Good Times' second half at Bell-Wick.
bassetti@vindy.com