SCCC women overcome health issues to capture NJCAA title

Categories: College Sports, Sports

The bus ride home from Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga last weekend was surprisingly quiet for the Schenectady County Community College bowling teams.

While the defending champion SCCC’s men’s team didn’t quite reach its lofty expectations of another national title, finishing third, the SCCC women should have been ecstatic after claiming their second straight NJCAA crown.

But the Royals were sleeping. They were too sick to celebrate.

“It was a very interesting weekend,” SCCC coach Ray Ross said. “The guys didn’t bowl as well we had hoped, but I’m still very proud of them. But most of the women were sick. You need five women to bowl, and of the eight women on the team, we only had six available because of illness. Two girls had bronchitis, and Janelle Irwin was so sick that she had to go to the bathroom after every other shot. I’m not sure how she was able to finish.”

The SCCC women were in third place, 96 pins behind the leaders, after the first day of competition, but despite their health woes, they came on strong the second day and knocked down a total of 11,298 pins. Jordan Byrnes finished third individually for the women with an average of 181.5. Joining her with NJCAA All-American status was Irwin.

Although the men didn’t win another national title, Justin Carl was fourth overall and joined Zach Porter as an NJCAA All-American.

“I’m very happy,” Ross said. “To win another national title for the women is just great. It was another fine performance for everyone. Now, we are ready to compete with the four-year schools at the overall nationals. We’ll see how we do there.”

STRIKES & SPARES

The NYSPHSAA Bowling Championships will be held this weekend at the same Airport Lanes where the SCCC bowling teams competed last weekend. Leading the local contingent will be the Lansingburgh boys, the boys’ all-section team, the Columbia girls and the girls’ all-section team.

There will be a benefit bowling tournament for Tim Buell April 30 at 1 p.m. at Boulevard Bowl. Buell, who is on disability, lost his home in Sacandaga to a fire. Call Boulevard Bowl for more information.

There will be makeup squads this weekend for the lost squads last month in the 83rd Annual Schenectady USBC Bowling Championship City Championship. The squads, for team, doubles and singles, all at Rolling Greens, are tonight at 6:30, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. The regularly scheduled squads for this month (March 11 at 6:30, March 12 at 2 and March 13 at 5) are still in effect. Cost for each event is $20. Top prize for the team event is $1,200 for a four-person team. Call Chet (577-8562) or Keith (300-0209) for more information.

Boulevard Bowl hosts the first squad for the 21st Annual Blizzard Bowl Sunday at 11:45 a.m. Entry fee is $80 per team. Cost includes a Continental breakfast.

Entries are still being accepted for the Women’s Doubles Tournament Sunday at Boulevard Bowl. Entry fee is $60 per team, and there is an optional singles event for $5. Door prizes and a 50/50 raffle are also available. Teams will cash on a one-in-five basis, and other prizes will be awarded for high single in each game, including handicap. Handicap will be based on 70 percent of 240. For reservations or more information, call tournament director Amanda Szczepkowski at 421-8734.

One of the top tournaments for senior handicap bowlers is the 27th Annual Charlie Bechard Senior Tournament at Green Island Lanes. Named in honor of the late bowler and administrator, nicknamed “The Hand,” who used to keep score on the old TV Tournament Time bowling program, the Bechard event will be split into the A (age 50-62) and B (63-plus) age divisions. Entry fee is $23. Format is three games. Available shifts are March 15 (10 a.m.), March 16 (noon), March 19 (1 p.m.) and March 20 (1 p.m.). Call Green Island Lanes at 273-2322 for more information.

The next Huck Finn Handicap Singles tournament will be held March 20 at Spare Time-Latham. There will be one squad at 9:30 a.m. Only bowlers with averages less than 220 are eligible. Handicap will be 100 percent to 220. The format will be three games, and one in six bowlers will cash. The top four advance to the TV taping later that same day. Entry fee is $30 if paid by March 30, or $40 after that date. Checks should be made payable to NEBPONY. For more information, call Jim Burton at 209-4748.