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Sunday, February 17, 2002

They make this weekend trip each year to renew friendships, bowl against top competition and hope to pick up a trophy and some cash.

The Brunswick-sponsored team of Jeff Poholsky (Pittsburgh), Robert Alexander (Transfer, Pa.), Roger Kossert (Tampa, Fla.), Bruce Hollen (Baltimore) and Doug Becker (Clermont, Fla.) won the World Team Challenge event in Seminole, Fla. to earn $3,100 and qualify for the Grand Finals in November at a site to be determined. Mike Chontos (Finleyville,) didn't make the trip because of an injury.

First place at the ABC-sanctioned Grand Finals is worth $15,000.

Poholsky, Chontos, Kossert and Alexander formed the nucleus of the Brunswick team that won qualifying events in 1996, '97 and '98 and finished second the past three years.

"We're usually in contention," said Poholsky, a business analyst. "We were due to win again. We're a very experienced team."

Experience is valuable because lane conditions are slick and tough in the qualifiers, forcing the bowlers to make adjustments on almost every toss. The members of the Brunswick team averaged around 202-203 at the qualifier, down approximately 20 pins from their league averages.

There were 49 teams at Seminole, Fla., competing in the first of 14 qualifiers this year for the Grand Finals.

Radio news

Carl Vinroe (Butler) won the Bon Aire Bowl qualifier for the WBUT Bud Light Championship series in a two-frame rolloff against Dan Persic. Jeff Campbell (New Castle) defeated Aaron Bishop (Butler) in a rolloff, 503-358, at Sherwood Lanes to reach the quarterfinals.

The final qualifier will be at Meridian Lanes today, with squad times at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Entry fee is $40.

Everything's ducky

Bill Dlugos (Pittsburgh) won a "doubleheader" sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Duckpin Tournament Association at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. Dlugos defeated Sam Reich in the first event and Mike Zinski in the second. Dlugos had high game of 199 and Mark Uhutch (Charleroi) was the high qualifier in the preliminary round with a score of 468 in three games.

Chet Fossee defended his "King of the Hill" crown and moved into first place in the seasonal points standing, followed by Dlugos, Don Heinecke and Uhutch.

Tournament trail

Jeff Germann (Wheeling, W.Va.) won Week 20 of the Head-to-Head tournament at All American Lanes in Steubenville, Ohio, with a 219-168 victory against P.C. Pebler (Pittsburgh) in the final.

Butch Popeck (Port Vue) defeated John Gentilcore (O'Hara) in the final, 463-305, to win the NABI tournament at the PAA. There will be another tournament Saturday, with squad times at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, call Lorraine at 412-621-2400, Ext. 276.

Triathalon

The bowling doubles event of the annual Braddock Hills VFD triathlon (bowling, pool, shuffleboard) was held at Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama, with Joe Welsh and Lou DelRosso finishing first with a 1,210 series. Ken Cooley's 260 was high game and John Frisoli Jr.'s 672 was high series.

Perfecto

Tom Bohr rolled a 300 and Terry Kuhnhein had a 300/701 at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

Jeff Siesky (207 avg.) posted his first 300 as part of a 713 series in the Jednota Men's League at Playmor Bowl in West Mifflin.

Scholastic stars

Baldwin's Daryl Sherred (254/690), Greensburg Central Catholic's Jason Torrance (247/655), North Hills' Matt Altdorfer (254/676) and Montour's Ray Shimko (269/665) were the marque scorers for the boys in the WPIBL.

For the girls, Penn Trafford's Steffanie Ruffo (216/619), Hempfield's Jen DeLicandro (219) and Jennifer Ridilla (216) led the way.

On a roll

John Hummert pitched a 279/756 in the Friday Autoworkers League at New Great Valley Lanes in North Versailles.

The bowling column will appear every Sunday from September through April. The Post-Gazette will try to publish scores every Tuesday -225 individual and 625 for men and 200 and 600 for juniors and women. We're always looking for good stories, unique happenings and the people behind the scores. If you have an anecdote or an intriguing tidbit, either call Phil Axelrod at 412-253-1103, fax to 412-263-1926 or e-mail to paxelrod@post-gazette.com. Individual scores of 225 and series of 625 for men and 200 and 600 for women will be published every Tuesday.