Men in the News  (updated 08-21-08)

Open State Local Winners List

To see a list of those that cashed at the 2008 Iowa State Open Tournament that are listed as Mt. Pleasant Association, Click Here.  Some of our local bowlers were listed as New London Association, and those aren't included in the list at this time. 

Local Bowlers place High at the Open State Tournament

     The Iowa State Open Tournament was held in far away Council Bluffs in 2008.  The Mt. Pleasant Association had some of its members place high in the event. 

     The Booster Team Division saw the PSSI team finish in third place, and the Shottenkirk team finish in twenty-first.  Booster All-Events had Harry Wykert and Aaron Dilks in the top thirteen bowlers.  Booster Doubles finished with Dilks and partner Laurie Gotsch in seventeenth place. 

     These bowlers may have been able to feel rested thanks to a bus charter that was arranged by the association.  To go to the page with all the official prize lists of the past six tournaments, please go to the Iowa State Bowling Association website. 

Town & Country Bowler Allan Miller Rolls 300 Game

     Wednesday March 5, 2008 turned out to be a special night in the history of Mt. Pleasant bowling.  Allan Miller, who bowls on the "Unknowns" team, bowled his first ever 700 series with the help of his first ever 300 game.

     Miller, who was averaging 179 before the start of league play for the night, may have very well bowled the first 300 game in the history of the Town & Country League.  The league bowls at 9:00 on Wednesday evenings, and is an Open League.  We will do some checking into this fact, but I cannot remember any at least in the last 11 years. 

     The honor game came in the third game of the series, after games of 235 and 181.  The series total for the night was 716.

     In getting some quotes a couple weeks after the fact, Miller said that he was "not nervous in the tenth but was in the eleventh frame,"  and that the final ball in the twelfth frame was "solid in the pocket."  Miller, who is 69 and has bowled off and on since he was 16 years old says he was "pretty lucky" to get his first 300, and felt as if perhaps "God was throwing the ball." 

     This game was a fantastic event for the Town & Country League, the Association, and Iris Bowling Center.  This decade, most large honor scores have come from people that you expect to have a game or two of that magnitude during the course of the season.  Miller's game was a reward for lifetime of bowling leagues.  Great job Allan!

Open City Final Results

     The Open Association Tournament held the last week in January at Iris Bowling Center concluded with the Wednesday night Guys & Dolls league being well represented in the final standings. 

     Tournament winners out of this League were the Team Champions of Men In Black (Gary Ruth, Doug Westercamp, Brian Holt, Justin Malone, and Ray Souder), Brian Holt in Division 2 Singles, Larry Wolf & Jeff Jackson for Division 2 Doubles, and Jackson again in Division 2 All Events.

     The defending champions in the Division 1 Doubles were victorious again this year.  Verne Schmitt and Randy Herr fought through some inconsistent games to retain the title for the second consecutive year. 

     The Division 1 Singles, All Events, and Scratch All Events winner was Kevin Kirchner.  Kirchner shot around his average for the Tournament, which was good enough to take the prize on very tough lane conditions.

     Thanks to all who bowled and good luck the rest of the season.

 Kevin Kirchner has 800 Series with 300 game in American League

     Tuesday night, January 15 saw a little bit of history made at Iris Bowling Center.  In American League, Kevin Kirchner scored games of 225-300-279 for a series total of 804.  This makes Kevin only the second person (Russ Nichols) to have recorded at least two 800 series in sanctioned play at Iris Bowling Center.  Also, Kirchner ties an Association record for amount of 300 Games (Dave Adams 2005-2006) in a season at three. 

     I was on hand to witness the event.  It was not made easy by the distraction of the continuing ball return problems on the pair of lanes to the left of Kirchner.  Often Kirchner would be set to roll only to have to pause because of play to the left.  But Kirchner's team was bowling against the blind, so the minor delays were able to be taken in stride.

     This was one of Kevin's better technical efforts I have seen.  There was only one ball during the last two games that I thought his timing off, but the shot settled fine and found the mark. Kirchner was also helped by the fact that he didn't have a lot of time to think about his bowling that second game...because the webmaster was making him, our president,  finally write his "2007-2008 Welcome Letter" for the website (only four months late LOL.)

     All kidding aside, it was a great effort.  Great Job to you Kevin and hope you and others post great scores the second have of the season. 

     Results for BVL Mail in Singles Tournament Available

     Congratulations to Jeff Lorenz who placed second in the "BVL Mail-In Singles Tournament."  His 898 Handicap Series total was good for $30.00 in the Open 171 Average and over Division.  For complete results for local bowlers please Click Here.

Kevin Kirchner Scores Second Association 300 Game of the Season

     When you're hot you're hot.  On Sunday October 21, Kevin Kirchner had his second 300 game in a 12 days. 

     This time it was the first game that held the honor score.  Kirchner held serve throughout the rest of the evening finishing with a total of 724, which was high series in the league for the evening.  Currently Kirchner has the high average on Sunday Nights, and the Association with 228.

     The night ended an incredible week for local bowlers.  This week saw (without counting) around 50 USBC Awards earned.  Our local bowlers are waking from their slumber. 

Kevin Kirchner Scores First Association 300 Game of the Season

      For the third straight season, Kevin Kirchner has rolled a 300 game on the Tuesday night American Bowling League.  Bowling down on lanes 9 & 10, Kirchner had a 300 his second game of the evening.  His 666 series was high in the league for the evening. 

      True, this may be Kirchner's second straight 300 Game without shooting over 700.  However, when it is high series in the league, that says something for the difficulty of the shot.  Nice job Kevin!

Mark Fulton wins share of Open State Tournament Booster Division Doubles Crown

     Sometimes being on the sub list is a good thing.  Teaming with Larry Stevens, also filling as a substitute, local bowler Mark Fulton of Winfield won the Booster Division of the Iowa State Open Tournament Doubles with a score of 1364. 

     Fulton has bowled full time for the Access Energy team in the American Bowling League for the past three seasons.  Last year saw a great tournament year for Fulton.  To go along with his State Doubles Crown he also had a second place in the Handicap Division of Match Games and Division 2 Doubles in the local Open Tournament, and won the Division 2 Singles of the Open Tournament.

     More will be written in when I get to talk to Mark.

     To view the complete Tournament results please to to the Iowa State Bowling Association website.  Please note, anyone that substituted in the Tournament will be listed under the town that the entry was from.