Mercer Hall of Fame bowling fete slated

The Mercer County Bowling Hall of Fame will have its induction on Feb. 23 at the Radisson Hotel in West Middlesex.

Brian Chec, Kathy Henry, Dave McGranahan Sr., Dorothy Morris and Rick Walter are the individuals due for inclusion. Christopher Lysek will be a youth recognition honoree.

Tickets may be purchased by calling Donna Stewart (724) 735-5059 or Fred Tonty (724) 981-4371.

Dinner begins at 6 p.m.

Chec

Has bowled for over 34 years, including 17 in the former Mercer County Bowling Association.

Holds a high average of 223 along with 37 perfect games and 15 series of 800 or better. His top set is 840.

He was also the first man to shoot an 800 (813) at Sharpsville Bowl.

Chec was a three-time all-conference bowler at Robert Morris College and participated in the National Collegiate Bowling Championships in 1988.

He has two top 16 finishes at the Las Vegas High Rollers, a tournament that has over 1,000 entrants.

He was the first person to bowl a 300 at the 12th annual Cream of the Crop tournament in Port Richey, Fla.

He placed third in the Petersen Classic and has two top 10 finishes at the ABC Nationals team and doubles event.

In 1992, Chec was named the Pennsylvania state amateur champion and has seven Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour titles. He also has two Brunswick Team Challenge titles.

Henry

She is not only a bowler, but a promoter, having helped develop a new scholarship program that enabled all YABA members to earn money toward their education. Together with her husband and proprietors of Celebrity Bowl, the Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship Tournament was born. It is now in its 10th year with approximately 30 participants per month.

Henry’s high average is 175, high game 264 and high series 632.

She has held positions in the Greater Keystone Youth Association, as well as league officer positions. Kathy is a three-time 9-pin no-tap champion at Celebrity Bowl, back-to-back Shenango Valley Women’s Doubles champion and has shared in several team championships.

She also won the Celebrity Bowl and Mercer Co. Youth-Adult tournament with her son, Jason, when she bowled her first 200 game.

Walter

Began his bowling at age 19.

Has been a constant competitor with high series of 858, a feat that he attained in the Sunday Jolly Four with his wife.

Rick has four 300 games and high average of 214. His last 15-year composite average is 203.

Gave his time to the youth by coaching the former Z & Z Lanes junior program, distributing bowling balls and taking kids to several tournaments, including the Pa. Keystone State Games.

Walter has been “Bowler of the Year” finalist at the former Z & Z 12 times and a three-time “Bowler of the Year” champion at Greenville Bowling Center, including a shared title with his wife in 2000. He was the Shamrock Singles champion in 1992 and the Valentine’s Doubles champion with his daughter, Tracy, in 2005. He had back-to-back 300s to win the Canfield Doubles Championships with his wife, Debbie, as his partner.

Morris

Has been with the Shenango Valley Women’s Bowling Association for over 30 years.

Along with Joe Miller and John Wanacheck, she started and held together the former Mercer County American Junior Bowling Congress in the early 1960s. Moving on to bigger objectives, Dorothy first brought, then ran by herself, the Coca-Cola (now Pepsi) tournament to the Shenango Valley by holding it at Hickory Bowl (now Ten Pin Alley). The first event had 200 entrants.

In her bowling prime, Morris had a high series of 590, high game of 231 and held a 163 average.

McGranahan

Been with the Mercer Men’s Association for more than 33 years with a lifetime average of 199.84.

Coming from a bowling family, David had six 300 games and numerous 700 series including a 790. His highest league average, a 218, was held at the Greenville Bowling Center.

In 1976, McGranahan and his mother, Dot, shared the “Bowler of the Year” title at Greenville.

He also shared first place in the Junior/Senior tournament with his nephew, Kyle. For over 20 years, David has organized teams for participation in the annual Slovak tournament. Has traveled to Reno to bowl in the national tournament. In 2003, won the 5th annual Monster Tournament held at Greenville Bowling Center and was the Senior tournament champion with a six-game series of 1275.

Notes

Bill “Snake” Moxley had 300 in B & B Mixed at Holiday on Jan. 27— week 21 of 32, when his total was 742.

Tom Simon, Jim Dodge and Rob Vukovich had 300s on the same night in Belchyk/Ferkula Classic at Holiday, while Ken Vaupel’s 11-in-a-row beginning in the second frame ended in a 278 single during Fuzzy Toman Memorial action at Holiday on Jan. 28.

Joe Beeson Jr. had 300 and John Doughton Jr. 299 in Bell-Wick’s Spiech Classic on Feb. 11.

Shirley Carson was close to a 209 triplicate before rolling 204 for her final game in Swan’s Mixed at Wedgewood on Feb. 2.

XJohn Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Write to him at bassetti@vindy.com.