Bye, bye Wisconsin, hello Texas

Bye, bye Wisconsin, hello Texas

John Bassetti Bowling

According to the April edition of the Stars & Strikes online publication, the move of the U.S. Bowling Congress’ national headquarters from Greendale, Wis. to Arlington, Texas, is official.

The USBC will team up with the Bowling Proprietors Association of America to create the International Bowling Campus in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Stars & Strikes publisher/founder Jim Goodwin continues: The city of Milwaukee, where the former American Bowling Congress/USBC has been housed for more than 100 years, (the WIBC moved to Milwaukee in 1972) made a last-minute effort to keep bowling’s governing body in Wisconsin.

But it was not enough.

The new combined headquarters building is located next door to the existing BPAA offices, which officials say will become warehouse space. Both sides were quick to point out that it’s not a merger, just an attempt to streamline and combine operations to save costs and create efficiency and a synergy for both groups.

It was reported that the two groups will share the purchase price of the existing 103,000-square foot building equally and BPAA will occupy about 20 percent of the new building.

Still under discussion in the plan, Goodwin writes, is the inclusion of a new international training center and the possibility of adding the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum, currently located in St. Louis.

There is even a chance that the PBA could move all or part of its Seattle operation to the new site.

Goodwin follows with this question: Will it be good for bowling?

“It may take a few years,” he says, “but I believe it will have a very positive effect. If I could have waved a magic wand only a few years ago when bowling was in the doldrums, this would be one of my top wishes —for BPAA and USBC to work more closely, no matter the location.”

Goodwin continues, “Think about it. The PBA has new ownership, the ABC and WIBC merged, BPAA has turned Bowl Expo into an international event and now this. What’s next? Will the PWBA return? Will USBC membership turn around? Only a few years ago, I saw little hope for such progress, but now, thanks to open-minded strong leaders, it seems like almost anything is possible.”

Alan Puromaki had his first 300 on March 26 during Wed. Men at Holiday. Puromaki’s 746 set was second to Josh Calabrette’s 791 that night.

Also on the 26th, Wed. Men secretary Dan Montemarano had 290.

John Beard’s 300-757 highlighted Holiday Variety Mixed play on March 22, when Jared Orr produced 299.

DeCinda Taylor’s 248-734 paced Thursday Night Matchplay at Amron on March 20, while Susan Mineo’s 714 for three games and 972 for four topped Wedgewood Ladies Trio April 1.

At Bell-Wick, Vince Carter’s 709 led Doughton Businessmen on March 19 in a series that marked his first 700.

On the same night, Craig Cammeron had the dreaded 666, as did Bell-Wick proprietor Francis Zitnik in Spiech Classic on March 24.

A couple of Matts — Clipse and Roscoe — had 758 sets in Austintown Suburban at Wedgewood on March 18, when Dino Balkan and Sam Carissimi each had a 300 and Roscoe a 299.

In Wednesday Nite Ladies at Wedgewood April 2, Andrea Lucente was best with 257-718, while Yolanda Marshall missed a triplicate with 203-204-204 — 611.