Penguin bowlers cash in

While $400 might seem like a paltry amount by Las Vegas standards, the Youngstown State women’s bowling club team is more than satisfied.

Not for hitting the slot machines, but for placing third out of eight teams in the Brunswick Coca-Cola Classic at Orleans Lanes inside the Orleans Hotel late last month.

“It was the first time in club history that we cashed in a Tier I tournament,” said Jackie Zook, YSU bowling club president, of the two-day competition.

Individually, out of 50 women with a field average of 158, Grace Sciarra placed third while averaging 187. Dana Bachinger was fifth (182 average), Zook placed 17th (165) and Julia Oslick was 18th (163). Liz Weymer and Jen Wheeler didn’t place.

The $400 will be deposited in the club’s general fund, but it’s nothing to celebrate.

“The entry fee at Las Vegas was $360, so all we did was get our entry fee back,” Zook said.

Still, it was the highlight of the club’s five-year history.

The other seven teams were Central Florida, Fresno State, West Texas A&M, Schoolcraft, Washington State, San Jose State and Cal-Davis.

The women rolled 17 games Jan. 26, then 24 Baker games the following day.

While in Las Vegas, the PBA Tour was in town, bowling at the Red Rock Casino down the street.

However, the women were busy and had their own spectators.

“The teams had their families for support,” Zook said.

Las Vegas represents the only self-pay tournament entered by the Penguins. Other tournaments are covered by club fundraising.

Women in Las Vegas,
Men in Indiana

While the women were in Las Vegas, the YSU men’s team was in South Bend, Ind., participating in the Blue & Gold Classic, also a Tier I event.

The Penguins finished 34th out of 53 teams. Individually, out of 328 men, Matt Clipse was 66th with a 188 average. Robert Harvischak averaged 186 for six games, Ryan Firm averaged 193 for five games and Adam Crooks averaged 184 for two.

As good as the Las Vegas experience was for the women, there was more significance in Toledo, where the women won the Jan. 12 segment and finished runner-up Jan. 13 during back-to-back American Heartland Conference tournaments.

Among eight teams and 44 individuals on opening day, Sciarra was first with a 199 average, followed by Zook’s 198 average. Oslick was eighth (168) and Bachinger was 22nd (156).

The following day YSU finished runner-up out of nine teams. Out of 43 women, Zook captured first with a 188 average and Bachinger was next highest — sixth with 182.

“It was a great experience because we did so well there,” Zook said of Toledo.

On Jan. 12, the men’s “A” team finished fifth out of 29 teams and YSU’s men’s “B” was 24th. Individually, Firm was 32nd with a 186 average. The following day, the “A” squad was sixth out of 28 teams, while “B” finished 19th.

Matt Mikula was YSU’s top bowler (23rd and 199 average), followed by Jim Jarvis in 24th.

What’s coming next
for YSU bowling teams

YSU’s next tournament will be Feb. 23-24 at Wedgewood Lanes where the American Heartland Conference Championships will draw nine women’s teams and 30 men’s teams.

“This would be a great opportunity for any high school bowler to see what goes on during a college tournament,” Zook said of the event starting at 8 a.m. both days.

YSU competed in Heartland Conference matches last year, but this will be the conference’s first championship here. YSU was seeded No. 1 in the conference as of Feb. 6. The event at Wedgewood is open to the public with free admission.

Saginaw Valley’s men’s team and Shippensburg’s women’s team won in 2007 in Columbus.

YSU also competed in the Tier II Bearcat Hoinke Classic in Cincinnati, where the men placed 24th out of 40 teams, while the women finished 13th out of 15 teams. With a 201 average, Bachinger was 10th out of 90 women.

For now, the women are enjoying a best-ever 22nd national ranking, while the men are 53rd as the 64-team USBC collegiate sectionals approach March 14-16 in Allentown, Pa.

Although still in danger of falling out of the top 64, the men could secure a sectional berth if a spot in the Hoosier Open in Indianapolis Feb. 16-17, becomes available. Entry would give the Penguins desirable power points.

Former YSU assistant football coach and current Ohio State offensive quality control coach Nick Siciliano is enjoying quadruplets born Feb. 7. Nick’s wife, Analisa, gave birth to two boys and two girls. The new parents will probably need bigger living quarters.

XWhile Pete Mollica is on vacation John Bassetti is covering YSU sports for The Vindicator. Write to him at bassetti@vindy.com.