Looking back at the year 2012 with regard to bowling in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties, there were a number of highlights that deserve mention, including fine performances in league play and in national and state tournaments. Reviewing the past year on the local bowling scene:
Local association tournament results
* SMCBA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Jamie Garrett of Sarasota won three events by substantial margins in the 63rd annual Sarasota-Manatee County USBC Bowling Association championships at Sarasota Lanes. To read about his impressive performance, click here.
* SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: A team sponsored by Siesta Key Oyster Bar captured first place in the team event in the annual Sarasota-Manatee County USBC Bowling Association's senior championship tournament, and all four of its members were also prominent elsewhere on the prize list. Click here to review the report.
* 700-PLUS TOURNAMENT: Saul Insignares defeated top-seeded Paula Wenzel 211-206 to prevail in the stepladder finals of the 700-Plus Tournament's scratch singles division at Sarasota Lanes. Click here for the full story.
In other local tournaments ...
* BEST THREE-OF-FOUR: Jeff Stapleton and Thomas DeDona Jr. emerged victorious in their respective divisions of the 3rd annual Andy Rapone Memorial Best-3-of-4 singles tournament at Sarasota Lanes in August, and to read about it, click here.
* VALENTINE MIXED DOUBLES: Tony and Delinda Kormansek prevailed by a two-pin margin in the first annual Bill Wenzel Valentine Mixed Doubles competition at AMF Bradenton. For the report, click here.
* BOBBY COMBS CENTURY DOUBLES: This continues to be one of the area's most popular tournaments, and to see the reports, click on the month of the event: March ... June ... September ... December
Area bowlers shine in national and state tournaments
* SWIETEK WINS NATIONAL TITLE: Ed Swietek of Sarasota was the Classified Division All-Events winner in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championship Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. To review the complete Examiner.com coverage, click here.
* GRICH A WOMEN'S STATE CHAMP: With a three-game score of 738, Cindy Grich of Sarasota topped the final leaderboard in scratch singles in the Florida State USBC Women's Bowling Association's annual championship tournament conducted in the Sarasota area. To read about it, click here.
* SOUZER WINS TWO SENIOR STATE TITLES: Chuck Souzer of Sarasota was a two-time champion in the Florida Senior Bowling Association's annual championship tournament in Orlando, and for the report, click here.
* DONELSON SECOND IN WOMEN'S SENIOR STATE: Judy Donelson of Sarasota, with a close runner-up finish in Division 2 singles, was the top area performer in the annual Senior Women's Doubles and Singles Tournament, sponsored by the Florida State USBC Women's Bowling Association in Fort Myers. For full information, click here.
* ROHL SHINES IN FSBA STATE: With three finishes in the Top 10, Tim Rohl of Venice was the top area performer in the Florida State Bowling Association's 78th annual championship tournament in Fort Myers. For the story, click here.
* SARASOTA TEAM SIXTH IN ST. PETE: A local team called Spares And Pairs finished sixth in the 59th annual Gulf Coast USBC Women's Classic Tournament in St. Petersburg. To read about it, click here.
* GUSTKE MAKES 54TH NATIONAL APPEARANCE: Paul Gustke of Sarasota continued to add to an impressive national tournament longevity string when he made his 54st appearance in the USBC Open Championship Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., in April. Read all about it by clicking here.
Some top accomplishments in area league play
* ALESHIRE FIRES BACK-TO-BACK 800s, TWICE: Red-hot Mike Aleshire rolled an 817 series on the final night of a summer league at Treasure Lanes, then followed that up with an 857 series at AMF Venice. For that story, click here. http://www.examiner.com/article/aleshire-goes-on-a-tear-rolling-800s-on-... Then, two months later, the Port Charlotte bowler rolled back-to-back 800 series in the After Hours Bail Bonds/Advance Home Improvement League at AMF Venice. Click here for the Examiner.com report.
* JANOSIK, ELLIOTT EACH POST FOUR 300s IN ONE LEAGUE: Twenty-year-old righthander Mike Janosik rolled four perfect games during a single season in the Al Davis Memorial League at Bowland Port Charlotte, and for the details, click here. And lefthander Mike Elliott blasted four 300s in the Craig Raymond James League at AMF Venice. Read all about it by clicking here.
* KIRK PERFECT ON BACK-TO-BACK NIGHTS: Doug Kirk had rolled four perfect games in league play at Englewood Bowl, but the 29-year-old righthander reached perfection in two more area centers -- on back-to-back nights, no less. For the report, click here.
Information on youth tournaments and scholarships
* SARASOTA-MANATEE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS: Pebbles Rodriguez of Bradenton was a four-event winner in the Sarasota-Manatee County Youth Championship Tournament at AMF Gulf Gate. For a full report on the tournament, click here.
* AREA YOUTHS WIN STATE SCHOLARSHIPS: Two teams representing the Sarasota-Manatee County USBC Bowling Association earned scholarship money in the the 47th annual Florida State USBC Youth championship tournament. To read about it, click here. And three Sarasota area youths -- Kenny Smith, Robert Sutton and Sarah Sutton -- were awarded scholarships valued at $1,000 each by the Florida State USBC Youth Scholarship Committee, and to view a full report, click here.
Reports on local and state women's 600 Club tournaments
* SARASOTA WOMEN TAKE STATE CROWNS: A pair of Sarasota women, Peggy Parker and Sandra DelMoro, were two-time winners in the 56th annual tournament of the Florida State 600 Club, held in October in Pinellas County, and to check out the story, click here.
* CISLER CAPTURES LOCAL TOURNAMENT: Joanne Cisler posted the first-place score of 785 in the second annual Sarasota-Manatee Women's 600 Club tournament at Sarasota Lanes. Read about it by clicking here.
Bradenton's Dave Soutar retires from pro bowling after 51 years
With three final-frame strikes, Dave Soutar of Bradenton concluded his brilliant 51-season Professional Bowlers Association career in August's PBA Senior Decatur (Ill.) Open. The 72-year-old righthander's final-game 214 ended a career that merited induction into both the PBA and United States Bowling Congress Halls of Fame. For a full recap of Soutar's stellar career, click here.
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