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Foss' 300--775, Roger Allis' 300 highlight weekly bowling leaders

By Mike Pettinella

Curtis Foss rolled a 300 game -- his second in three weeks -- while Roger Allis posted a 300 game to highlight the list of league bowling leaders for the week of Feb. 12.

Foss, a Medina resident, finished with a 775 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl, while Allis, also of Medina, finished with 732 in the Thursday Firefighters League at Medina Lanes.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Caycee Landers registered 782, the highest series ever by a woman in the Genesee Region USBC (she was featured in Mike Pettinella's Pin Points column).

For more "high rollers," click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the page.

Batavia Alpine's ski team wraps up season with sectional showing

By Howard B. Owens

Earlier this week, both the boys and the girls Alpine Ski teams finished in ninth place at the sectional championships at Bristol Mountain in what Coach Matt Holman described as a deep Class A field.

For the boys, top finishers for were Brandon Bradley (33rd in Slalom, 38th in Giant Slalom), Zack Wagner (35th in SL, 43rd in GS) Alec Wagner (40th in GS), Matt Grover (41st in GS), Ryan Bowen (36th in SL, 47th in GS).

For the girls, top finishers were Aubrey Towner (30th in SL, 31st in GS) and Lily Whiting (38th in GS).

Holman said Batavia has had a ski team since 1991 and he's encouraging more students to participate.

"With the Olympics in full swing," he said, "if anyone who is a student in the Batavia Middle or High School is interested in learning more about ski racing can contact Coach Matt Holman by emailing him at mholman@bataviacsd.org."  

If you are not a Batavia City School District student and interested in ski racing, contact your school's athletic director. In the past Notre Dame High School and Elba Central Schools have been represented in the Southern Tier Race League and have trained with the Batavia Ski Team.

Le Roy boys capture Section V track title

By Howard B. Owens

Information by Le Roy Coach Jay Laitenberger. Photos by Tim McArdle.

Le Roy's boys winter track and field are the 2018 Section V champions a year after missing the title by one point.

Clayton Allen finished sixth in the 1,000 meter with a career personal record after being seeded 10th.

Ryan Driscoll finished fourth in the 3,200 meter with a career personal record that was 14 seconds faster than his indoor PR and 7 seconds faster than his outdoor PR.

Maxin Mckenzie finished second in the mile before anchoring the 4 x 800 team with Clayton, Ryan, and Jacob Montoya. The boys team ran their fastest time of the season -- and the fastest time of the past two seasons.

Jordan Stephens ran an official career personal record in the 3,200.

Bryce Bordonaro threw for a personal record in the shot put to finish sixth overall after being seeded ninth and then went on to finish third in weight throw.

Tom Mellon finished fourth in the weight throw, joining Marshall Schultz with a fourth-place finish in shot put.

Ethan Roy finished third in the pole vault, while Ethan Pocock finished sixth -- both equaled their indoor personal records.

Gaven Cassidy set personal records in the 600 and 55m Hurdles on his way to a pair of second-place finishes. His 600 came up .04 away from the school record. He then finished fourth in the 300.

Athletes of the Meet:

  • Gavin Luckey finished second in the triple jump with a career personal record before winning the high jump with another career personal record. He then picked up a fourth place finish in the long jump with his third personal record of the day.
  • Collin Stauffer started the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 55 meter after being seeded seventh before his first-place finish and one-foot career personal record in the triple jump. He then finished third in the long jump with a near-personal record.

Seniors Gavin Luckey, Gaven Cassidy and Ethan Roy won their second title in four years as freshman members of the 2015 team.

The boys team won for the fifth time since the first indoor title in 2008, and the 10th title in Le Roy Track & Field History (boys / girls / indoor / outdoor).

  • 2018 -- 1st Place
  • 2017 -- 2d Place
  • 2016 -- 5th Place
  • 2015 -- 1st Place
  • 2014 -- 1st Place
  • 2013 -- 3rd Place
  • 2012 -- 3rd Place
  • 2011 -- 1st Place

Batavia Track wins back to back sectional titles

By Steve Ognibene

Batavia High School Indoor Track Team won the boys and girls Section V -- Class C Titles last night at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester.

This makes 31 sectional titles for the batavia track team and back-to-back indoor titles in the last two years.

Seniors Anthony Ray won both shot put and weight throw. Eric Davis won the 55 hurdles, Kiaya Franklin won the 300 and took third in the 600m. Kaitlin Ange took third in weight throw.

Juniors Emily Caccamise won the 1500m race walk, Briana Bromley won the 3000meters. Evan Bartz came in third in weight throw. Elizabeth Cohen took second in the pole vault and third in the 55 hurdles. Jalesa Smith took third in the long jump.

For more results click here: http://live.yentiming.com/#/results/meet/364

Photos submitted by Donna Tourville-Kabel.

Registration day tomorrow at Dick's Sporting Goods for second season of Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball

By Billie Owens

Press release:

After a successful inaugural season in 2017, Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball, also known as the Batavia Stingers, is excited to announce that they will be hosting a registration day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Dick's Sporting Goods in Batavia.

The store is located in the Towne Center at Batavia mall on Veterans Memorial Drive.

Sign-ups will be for teams in the 10u, 12u and 15u divisions. (Sign-ups will be held alongside those for Batavia Minor League Baseball.)

Registration is open to girls who live in the City or Town of Batavia or who attend school in Batavia.

Board members and coaches will be present to answer questions. The registration fee of $75 is not due until April 1.

The 10u and 12u teams begin practice in April, with games beginning in May. The 15u season will begin in June and games will be held from July to the beginning of August.

If you are unable to attend this registration event, please email bataviagfs@gmail.com or visit the league's Facebook page (Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball) in order to download a registration form.

Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball welcomes players of all skill levels, including those who are new to the sport.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Coach Stan Kaus at 370-9861.

Coach Stan Kaus

Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball

P.O. Box 209

Batavia NY 14020

Photos: Section V Hockey Canandaigua 5, Batavia Notre Dame 2

By Steve Ognibene

Canandaigua’s Evan Best scored late in the third period to break a 1-1 tie as Canandaigua defeated Batavia Notre Dame 5-2.

First period Ethan Hutchins scored first for the Irish assist from brother Max Hutchins. Minutes later the Knights' Sam Burley got a pass from Carter McWilliams to tie the game. 

The 1-1 score remained through the second and near the end of the third period. Both teams were evenly matched through the entire contest, had opportunities and came down to either a penalty or player out of position.   

Notre Dame’s Coach Marc Staley was very proud of his players and team this season and is looking forward to next year.

Canandaigua improves to 13-7-1. Batavia Notre Dame ends the season 12-8-1.

For more photos click here.

Gray Jr. keeps emotions in check, posts victory at Genesee Region Masters; Landers rolls record 782 series

By Mike Pettinella

In competitive bowling, the mental game plays as important a role in the road to success as the physical game.

It took some time – and a few cases of “letting your emotions get the best of you” – for Warsaw’s Kevin Gray Jr. to grasp this but now that he has, the 36-year-old left-hander has become a force to be reckoned with on a regular basis.

Gray shook off a couple errant shots during Sunday’s Peterson Point match play finals of the Genesee Region USBC Masters tournament at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo and came through in the clutch to unseat defending champion and fellow lefty Rich Wagner of Batavia.

A 213-204 victory in the position round secured the title for Gray, who took the lead after game four of the eight-game final round and held on to win the $300 first prize and Masters’ champion ring.

Gray entered the last game with a 44-point advantage over Wagner (bowlers receive 30 points for each match victory and plus or minus pins based on their score in relation to 200), which meant he needed to beat Wagner for the crown. Wagner, on the other hand, needed to defeat Gray by at least 15 pins to win the tournament.

An open frame by Gray to start the game, coupled by a double by Wagner put the Batavian in the lead temporarily, but Gray responded with four strikes in a row to pull even. After another open in the seventh, Gray once again bounced back with strikes in the ninth and 10th frame to lock up the match.

“I thought the key for me was being able to leave that stuff (open frames) behind,” said Gray, who won the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial at Mount Morris Lanes in 2016. “I feel I’m better mentally than I’ve ever been.”

Gray, a team leader of the medicine access center at the University of Rochester, was a model of consistency throughout the tournament – qualifying in the third position with 888 for four games and grabbing the fourth spot among the final eight bowlers with 886 on Saturday for a 222 average. And he kept that average on Sunday en route to winning seven of his eight matches.

“I was able to stay focused all day long and not let anything bother me,” said Gray, who used an Ebonite Maverick for the first seven games on Sunday before switching to an Ebonite Gamebreaker II for the last game. “Fortunately, I was able to focus on one match at a time.”

Gray said he dedicated the victory to his late grandfather, Lester Gray, who would have been 102 on Sunday.

Wagner, who picked up $250 for placing second, had the high average for the tournament – 227 – largely due to a 1,024 four-game score (256 average) in the four-game semifinals that propelled him to the No. 1 berth on Sunday.

“I thought I threw it really well, but congratulations to him (Gray). He made the shots in the ninth and 10th when he had to,” Wagner said. “But first and second in two years, it’s a good day.”

Brian Green, another Batavia southpaw and the high qualifier with 956, finished third and earned $200.

He was followed by three-time Masters champion Fred Gravanda of Batavia ($150), Chris Bardol of Brockport ($100), lefty Mike Johnson of Batavia ($100), Scott Culp of Lima ($90) and Brady Weber of Perry ($90).

Other cashers (in ninth through 16th place) were Jim Pursel of Batavia, Matt Balduf of South Byron, Dean Cadieux Jr. of Oakfield, Geoff Harloff of Batavia, Dana Nowack of Livonia, Joe Trigilio of Attica, Paul Spiotta of Batavia and Josh Elliott of Attica.

The tournament drew 45 entries. For qualifying, semifinal and match play results, go to www.bowlgr.com.

Photo at top -- Tournament director Paul Spiotta congratulates Kevin Gray Jr., center, and Rich Wagner, who placed first and second, respectively, at the GRUSBC Masters. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

LANDERS WINS ROCHESTER QUEENS, BREAKS GRUSBC RECORD

Whether you’re talking about her bowling scores, the winter weather or a bowling ball company, former collegiate standout Caycee Landers has taken Western New York by "storm." 

Landers, a 27-year-old right-hander, migrated from Los Angeles about a year ago, and joined the G&W Vending League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen at the invitation of her boyfriend, Chris Bardol of Brockport.

Since then, she has bowled several 700 series, with her latest – a 782 effort on Tuesday night -- breaking the Genesee Region USBC record of 762 previously held by Bardol’s sister, Jennifer.

Landers, using a Roto-Grip Wreck Em ball (manufactured by Storm), posted games of 267-246-269, and raised her league average to 225.

This comes on the heels of her victory on Feb. 3 at the Rochester NY USBC Queens Tournament at AMF Gates Lanes, where she defeated two of Rochester’s best, Tara Mangiola and Shanna Chepelsky, in the finals.

Landers has been so good on the lanes lately that it has made the WNY cold weather a bit more tolerable.

“I haven’t quite been here a year so I guess I’ve survived my first winter,” she said. “It’s all downhill from here, but it certainly has been an adjustment, coming from a big city. What has made it easier is that everyone here is so nice.”

Landers was an Academic All-American while bowling at Newman University in Wichita, Kan., and previously she bowled at Wichita State. She said that she met Bardol at the Team USA Trials in 2008.

“We’ve always stayed connected through bowling and became good friends,” she said, speaking of Bardol, owner of The North Pole Restaurant in Batavia. “We started dating almost a year ago, and we (she and her 5-year-old son, Landyn) moved to Brockport.”

Landers has multiple 300 games and a high series of 837. She thought she should have had another 800 on Tuesday night.

“I was kind of a bonehead,” she said, referring to a pair of one-pin spares that she missed in the first two games.  “Those two single pins cost me an 800.”

Her 782 fell nine pins short of the Rose Garden Bowl women’s record of 791 set by Mangiola in the Triple O Mechanical Tournament (a non-GRUSBC event).

She did fare better than Bardol, however, who rolled a 694 series on his 30th birthday.

Landers said she is considering bowling in the New York State Queens Championship on April 21 in Newburgh, a tournament that has been won by another former Wichita State bowler, Shannon Sellens of Long Island, for the past four years.

SPARE SHOTS: JOB OPEN AT LIVINGSTON LANES; SCHEPIS DUO WINS

-- Livingston Lanes owner Marty Estruch, a Mount Morris resident who owns a few hotels in that area, said he is looking for someone to manage the 16-lane bowling center and bar.

The managerial position will be open at the end of this month, Estruch said, adding that the ideal candidate will have knowledge of the business of bowling, customer service skills and an ability to build programs to increase traffic.

Until then, John LaGeorge will be handling day-to-day duties.

-- The brother-sister team of Mike and Shelly Schepis of Medina won the Love ‘Em & Hate ‘Em mixed doubles handicap tournament at Medina Lanes over the weekend.

They were followed by Marion Singleton of Lockport and Brian Cline of Williamsville, Rob Stefani of Batavia and Sarah Cassidy of Albion, and Jenelle and Rusty Boyd of Lyndonville.

-- Right-hander Matt O’Grady of Rahway, N.J., mowed down a couple heavyweight two-handers on Sunday to win the 53rd PBA Tournament of Champions for his first PBA Tour title.

O’Grady, 31, whose best previous PBA Tour finish was fourth, won four stepladder finals matches at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio, including victories over PBA Player of the Year Jason Belmonte of Australia and Jesper Svensson of Sweden.

Final standings: Matt O’Grady, Rahway, N.J., $50,000; Jesper Svensson, Sweden, $25,000;  Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich. $13,000; Jason Belmonte, Australia, $11,000; BJ Moore, Greensburg, Pa., $10,000.

Stepladder Results: O’Grady def. Moore, 219-174; O’Grady def. Belmonte, 229-225; O’Grady def. Anderson, 194-185; O’Grady def. Svensson, 207-193.

-- Legion Lanes in Le Roy will be hosting the 16th annual Ron Riggi Memorial 4-Person Handicap Tournament on Feb. 23-25, offering a first place prize of $1,000 (based on 40 entries).

Squad times are 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, noon and 3 p.m. Feb. 24 and noon and 3 p.m. Feb. 25. The entry fee is $100 per team.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

-- Three of the five Batavia teams in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League are within striking distance of first-place Rose Garden Bowl I after nine weeks of the 13-team circuit.

Batavia Thunder and Batavia X-Factor gained ground in recent competition at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia with victories over Rose Garden I and Batavia Bombers, respectively.

Rose Garden continues to lead, however, as it is 7.5 points ahead of Batavia Strike Force, 14.5 in front of Oak Orchard Bowl I and16 points ahead of Batavia Thunder and X-Factor.

Individually, James Townsend (Strike Force) topped the list last week with 233—609, while Ben Lennox (Oak Orchard I) had 606 and Sam Miller (Strike Force) posted 603.

For the girls, Samantha Hyde (Le Roy) led the way with a 224 game and 560 series, followed by Corinne Saluste (Strike Force) with 537 and Paige Snook (Oak Orchard I) with 514.

The league bowls at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday at Mount Morris Lanes.

Photos: Boys Basketball - Batavia 51, Greece Odyssey 48

By Steve Ognibene

Steven Gilebarto (pictured above) led the Blue Devils in the second half with 16 points to help his team win 51-48 over Greece Odyssey in their final regular season game last night at Batavia High School.

Senior point guard Naziyhar Pratt had five rebounds and three assists. Junior Antwan Odom had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Odyssey's DJ Billings and Jaden Hartsford both tallied 13 points on the night.

Batavia gets a first-round bye in the Section V Tournament and will play Saturday, Feb. 24th, time T.B.A. at home versus the winner of Honeoye Falls Lima and Vertus game.

For more photos, click here.

Foss 299-826, Greenlief 781 lead weekly bowling score list

By Mike Pettinella

Curtis Foss rolled a 299 game and 826 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl to top the list of bowling scores reported to The Batavian for the week of Feb. 5.

Down the road at Medina Lanes, manager Eric Greenlief posted a 279 game and 781 series to take top honors in the Sunday Rolloffs.

For more high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Alexander wrestler wins Section V title, two awards at tournament

By Howard B. Owens

Alexander wrestler Nick Young won a Section V title yesterday at 132 pounds and will advance to the state championship rounds.

Young beat Le Roy's Andrew Englerth on a 7-2 decision.

He was one of two Section V champions representing local schools. Josh Barber won at 285 pounds for Attica/Batavia.

Young now has four class sectional championships making in the most decorated active high school wrestler in the area. 

He's qualified for the state tournament four times. Earlier this year he placed fourth in the Eastern States tournment. He's ranked #2 in the state in his class.

Besides winning the title yesterday, he won the Brad Paddock Memorial Scholarship Award and Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Submitted photos.

Coaches Tom Aldinger and Dee Gugel with Nick Young.

Notre Dame names new softball coach

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Notre Dame announces the hiring of Tim Frappa of Orchard Park as their new Varsity Softball Coach. He replaces Michelle Panepento who decided not to return in order to spend more time with her family. His impressive resume, love of teaching the game of softball and his personality led to his selection from an impressive group of applicants.

Tim has been an extremely successful travel softball coach in the Buffalo area for the past 10 years. For the last three seasons, he coached the NY Inferno 16U and 18U college showcase teams where he has helped players realize their goal of playing college softball. He is recognized as an excellent teacher of fundamentals and is especially strong in the development of pitchers including two daughters who went on to pitch in college. 

Coach Frappa, who  is the Founder and President of Torino Mosaic Flooring, is excited about the opportunity to coach the young ladies of Notre Dame softball and is looking forward to the challenge of building on the success the program has enjoyed in recent years.

Le Roy beats Warsaw in boys basketball 74-56

By Howard B. Owens

Canyon Roster scored 30 points to help lead Le Roy over Warsaw in boys basketball Friday night.

Roster added six rebounds and two steals.

Reece Tresco scored 12 points, Bobby Locke, 7, and T.Y. Williams, 7.

Warsaw's Ben MacConnell was the game's leading scorer with 34 points.

 

Warsaw falls to 8-11 and LeRoy improves to 13-4.

 

 

 

'Avid baseball players' wanted for startup 18U Tournament Baseball Team

By Billie Owens

Press release:

My name is Brenden von Kramer and I am starting a 18U Tournament Baseball Team that will be both affordable to all and for young men who are looking to play past high school and even potentially the next level.

We will be competing in the Darien Lake tournament and potentially a few other tournaments against top-notch teams from all over. The team will be coached by Chad Winkelman David Hall and myself as well as possibly some other high school coaches from around the area.

We are looking for avid baseball players.

If this interests you or you know someone who would be interested, please contact me as soon as possible via call/text or FB Messenger for further details.

We will be holding tryouts in the near future after the basketball season has ended, at a date to be announced later.

We hope to see you there!

Brenden von Kramer

(585) 208-8595

Olympic Gold Medalist in Women's Speed Skating to visit GCC's Club Fair on Tuesday

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

A big part of what makes Genesee Community College special are the 50 or more student clubs available to enrich any student's college experience.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, each of the student clubs will be showcased at the annual Club Fair. Each club will have representatives at booths from 11:30 a.m. 'til 2 p.m. in the Batavia Campus Forum. All GCC students are encouraged to visit the club booths, ask questions, join the clubs and "Go for the Gold"!

Speaking of the Gold, this year, there will be something a little extra at the Club Fair. GCC's Multicultural Communications Club will host Olympic Gold Medalist Cathy Turner! Turner, in photo above, will be at the Club Fair to meet the students, sign autographs and pose for photos!

Turner is a two-time Gold Medalist in short track speed skating (1992 and 1994), and a Silver and Bronze Medalist as anchor of the 3000m Relay Team. She is one of only two people ever to win Gold Medals in consecutive Winter Olympic Games. With a total of four medals, she ranks fourth for the most medals ever won by a Winter Olympian.

Multi-talented and outgoing, Turner enjoys combining her Olympic success and her amazing story to motivate people of all ages whenever she has the opportunity. Nine years after retiring from her sport to pursue a professional singing career, Turner returned to speed skating and competed in the 1992 Olympic Games. Her childhood dream of winning an Olympic Gold Medal was now within her grasp.

Critics scoffed at the notion that a woman in her 20s could overcome such a tremendous setback, especially being away from the sport so long. Turner proved them wrong by making her dream a reality, winning both Gold and Silver medals in the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France. Draped in the American flag, Turner took her much-deserved "Victory Lap" with the whole world watching.

She retired immediately after the 1992 Games, only to make a stunning comeback just seven months prior to the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Once again, her amazing determination and strong will prevailed as she added two more medals to her collection -- a Gold and Bronze. Once again, Turner challenged herself and came out of retirement in 1998 and earned fifth place in the 3000m Relay in her third Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Turner wrote a chapter in a book entitled, "Awaken the Olympian Within." Her chapter is entitled "See it, believe it, be it." To Turner, "See it, believe it, be it" were essential steps in fulfilling her lifelong dream.

Turner now works as a database administrator at PAYCHEX in Rochester and focuses on her two daughters Britney, 18 and Bayli, 17. Like their Mom, both are very athletic and have participated in many sports including Tae Kwon Do (with Mom), skiing, tennis, gymnastics and of course, speed skating. Bayli is currently a level-10 (out of 10) gymnast, which now has Turner traveling to meets on weekends just like her own parents did for her. Her daughter, Britney, was on the high school tennis team since middle school and is now a sophomore at Ithaca College with a double major, Film Production and German.

PE teachers countywide invited to Pavilion Central School on Monday for free tennis and technology workshops

By Billie Owens
A message from Marianne Witkowski, PE teacher and PE Department Chair at Pavilion Central School:
 
The Physical Education Department at Pavilion Central School is sponsoring a PE Teacher Network Meeting for area schools on Monday, Feb. 12.
 
It will feature a workshop on tennis provided by the U.S. Tennis Association from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; then after lunch, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. there will be a Care to Share session with a focus on integrating technology in PE.
 
The morning of the P.E. Network Meeting will have consultants from the USTA sharing the resources available to districts in an Activity Based Session.
 
Attendees will need to bring a device with them for the training. Also download and sign up for information in the email notification from your Teacher Center Policy Board Member. When you sign up for this USTA program, your district will receive curriculum information, lesson plans and equipment.
 
  • With Net Generation, the USTA is committed to helping teachers introduce and maintain tennis in PE classes and after-school programs. The free, three-hour workshop will introduce teachers to the new SHAPE-collaborated curricula designed to encourage and challenge kids to advance at their own pace guided by the national grade-level outcomes. With the resources and tools of Net Generation, Tennis in Schools has never been easier to teach or more accessible! Learn more by clicking here.
 
The afternoon will be spent exploring the Pavilion PE Department resources and engaging in a Caring and Sharing Session. All participants are asked to bring an activity to share and if appropriate copies for other participants. An emphasis will be on new technology you are utilizing in your districts.
 
The meeting is free to attend. The school is located at 7014 Big Tree Road in Pavilion.

Clyde Bianchi to be inducted into Byron-Bergen High School’s Athletic Wall of Fame on Feb. 9

By Billie Owens

Press release:

This year, Byron-Bergen High School’s athletic department will recognize an alumnus who has demonstrated not only athletic achievement but also character, citizenship, success and leadership during and after their time at the school.

The department is proud to announce that this honor will be awarded to Clyde Bianchi in a ceremony at 6 :15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9,  during the scheduled JV and Varsity basketball games at the Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium.

Bianchi, a 1987 graduate of the school, was an exceptional multisport athlete. He played on the varsity teams for basketball, baseball, and soccer, and was named to the Genesee Region All-Star Teams for all three sports during a stellar high school career.

In 1985, a motor-vehicle accident left the promising young athlete paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.

His spirit and perseverance continued to propel Bianchi forward, however. He graduated with a Regents degree in Math and Art, and worked full time to pay for higher education at Genesee Community College and The College at Brockport where he earned his undergraduate degree in Business, Math and Economics.

He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology from 1997-2000, studying information technology.

From 1994-96, Bianchi played professional basketball with the Rochester Wheels, winning the 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Rochester Championship for all three years. He is also a professional power lifter, a billiards champion, and plays football.

Bianchi had a very successful career as a computer engineer, advancing to director of technology, a position he held for 10 years. Since 2013, he has been the CEO and president of the largest animal boarding facility in the Rochester area, Howlywood. Located in Bloomfield, the company is owned and operated by Bianchi and his family, including his wife and business partner, Kelly.

“Clyde Bianchi is an inspiring role model for our student athletes and for everyone at our school,” said Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “He set the bar on his life high and never compromised.

"He has always made sports and competitive principles an important part of his life and he has made significant contributions to his community. We are absolutely honored and proud to recognize his achievements, and add his name to our Athletic Wall of Fame.”

Byron-Bergen beats Alexander 55-53 in girls basketball

By Howard B. Owens

The Byron-Bergen Lady Bees came back from a sluggish first half to beat Alexander 55-53 in girls basketball Wednesday night.

VanValkenburg scored 22 points, with 17 in the second half, to lead B-B.

For Alexander, Macie Riggs scored 15 points.

Blue Devils get 73-55 win over C-SAT

By Howard B. Owens

Mason McFollins and Antwan Odom scored 19 points each to lead Batavia High School to a 73-55 victory at home Wednesday night over Charter School for Applied Technologies, a Section VI team.

Steve Gilebarto scored 16 points and Jonathan Liciaga scored 11.

McFollins hit five three-point shots.

For C-SAT, Jayden Galleage scored 24 points.

USBC drops ball on the way it handled league 'reclassification' effort

By Mike Pettinella

In my Jan. 18 column, I shared information about the reclassification of leagues by the United States Bowling Congress – the national governing body's analysis of bowler averages that could result in a “Standard (or House)” shot league being changed to a “Challenge” or “Sport” league based on data derived from bowlers who participated in multiple leagues during the 2016-17 season.

While I support the USBC in its effort to even the playing field when it comes to rating bowlers equal to their skill levels, I am not on board with the way the USBC handled a situation that targeted 704 leagues for possible reclassification.

USBC sent letters out of the blue to these leagues, causing a great deal of anger and confusion. This I know because I was copied on the letters from USBC to 39 leagues in New York State (and on several of the appeals from league officials that followed shortly thereafter).

What the USBC should have done was to inform its membership as a whole in advance about the process, letting everyone know that it had been studying averages from last season and that if a league had at least 20 percent of its members who bowled in multiple leagues, it could be subject to reclassification.

For the record, USBC’s research revealed that 99 leagues were statistically more difficult for bowlers with averages of 20 or more pins higher in a Standard or “house shot” league, which showed that those leagues were competing on “Sport” conditions.  It also found 605 leagues in which bowler averages were 10-19 pins higher in Standard leagues, which shows that those leagues were competing on “Challenge” lane conditions.

(Bowlers with league averages designated as “Sport” or “Challenge” are indicated as such on bowl.com, and are subject to using the conversion charts when entering leagues or tournaments bowled on “Standard” oil patterns).

So, instead of informing bowlers with a message on bowl.com and/or an e-mail blast that this was going to happen and of the appeal process, the USBC blindsided its bowlers (and this is not the first time). 

Only after witnessing the negative reaction from league officials for several days did the USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy then shoot off a letter explaining the rationale for its action and acknowledging that other factors could be involved in a league’s scoring pace (bad pins, faulty oil machines, inconsistent maintenance, etc.), before ending with “I hope this letter helps you understand what is going on.”

Talk about shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted!

To date as a result of appeals, the USBC has decided not to change many of the 700 leagues that were targeted. In New York, at least 22 of the 39 leagues identified for reclassification have been kept as "House" leagues.

In the future, I would hope that the USBC brain trust would think things through to avoid alienating its membership base, especially considering that a decade-long trend of declining membership continues.

TOURNEY RESULTS: ‘SENIOR’ FOURSOME 1ST IN HAIGHT MEMORIAL

Results of tournaments in the Genesee Region over the past couple weeks:

Curt Haight Memorial 4-Person No-Tap
Mancuso Bowling Center, Jan. 20

Longtime Batavia bowlers Joe Trigilio, Fred Gravanda, Joe Mortellaro and Paul Spiotta teamed to place first, rolling a score of 3,187 to capture the $880 top prize.

The event drew 43 teams and raised $1,540 for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Other cashers were as follows:

Kim Starken, Caycee Landers, Jeanette Sease, Tom Rohl, 2nd, 3,139, $480; Jason Quilliam, Brian Green, Nate Wright, Mike Lambert, 3rd, 3,097, $240; Justin Burdick, Jim Prucha, Jim Kessler, Steve Wenzka, 4th, 3,069, $230.

Dennis Rogers, Mark Brown, Rob Sease, Chris Bardol, 5th, 3,061, $220; Jen Wagner, Rich Wagner, Jason Gallo, Tony Gallo, 6th, 3,050, $210; Ron Brown, A.J. Allenbrandt, Heather Johnson, Mike Johnson, 7th, 3,033, $200.

Mount Morris Pepsi Open
Mount Morris Lanes, Jan. 19-21

Ricky Zinone of Rochester defeated Matt Burt of Buffalo, 192-174, in the title match to win the $1,500 first prize. The 40th annual scratch tournament drew 108 entries.

Zinone qualified in the eighth position with 949 for four games. Kevin Donovan of Painted Post was the high qualifier with 1,024.

Steve Santini of Mount Morris was the only Genesee Region USBC bowler to make the top 24, qualifying through the one-game, “last chance” squad with a 237.

The field included some of the top bowlers in New York State, including professional Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, Mike Rose Jr. of Rochester, Ken Muscato of Canandaigua and Dan Vick of Rochester.

Help-R-Heroes 4-Person No-Tap
Le Roy Legion Lanes, Jan. 26-28

The Le Roy team of Mickey Hyde, Naomi Hyde, Tom Rohl and Shayne Herold placed first in the handicap tournament with a 3,266 score, winning $600.

They were followed by Mark Brown, Kai Clark, Rob Sease and Norm Bialuski with 3,257, $480; Scott O’Neill, Ian Elliott, Dave Elliott and Bill Van Alst, 3,204, $300, and Tom Fluker, Mike Johnson, Mike Lambert and Nate Wright, 3,105, $200.

Proceeds went toward wounded soldiers returning home.

Baker Style Scratch Doubles
Mancuso Bowling Center, Jan, 27

The Lockport-area duo of Gary Kinyon and Jason Ciliberto defeated the Batavia-area duo of Matt Balduf and Rich Wagner, 465-395, to win the $700 first prize.

Thirty-one teams competed in the tournament, which featured six-game qualifying where bowlers alternate frames. From there, the top eight teams advanced to two-game eliminator style finals where half the field is eliminated in each round.

Balduf and Wagner earned $400 for placing second.

Other local teams cashing were Batavian Gregg Wolff and Brian Green. Tom Fluker of Batavia and his partner, Lowell Schoonmaker of Florida, combined for a 300 game.

MASTERS, CROSSROADS HOUSE TOP FEBRUARY SCHEDULE

-- Livingston Lanes in Geneseo will be hosting the 57th annual Genesee Region USBC Masters Tournament on Feb. 10-11.

Open to current GRUSBC members with at least 21 games in a particular league, the tournament offers a first prize of $525 plus a champion’s ring (based on 80 entries).

Qualifying squads (four games) are set for 10 a.m and 1 p.m. Feb. 10, with the top 16 advancing to the four-game semifinals at 4 p.m. on Feb. 10. From there, the top eight bowlers (eight-game totals) will move on to the eight-game Peterson Point match play finals at 1 p.m. Feb. 11.

The entry fee is $50, and re-entry is allowed provided the re-entry does not prohibit a first-time entrant from competing.

To sign up, contact Paul Spiotta at 585-202-6458.

-- The 22nd annual Betty Ellison Memorial “Strike Out for Crossroads House” benefit tournament is scheduled for Feb. 16-18 at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Squad times for the five-person handicap event are 6 p.m. Feb. 16, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 17 and 1 p.m. Feb. 18. As of Wednesday morning, openings remain on all squads except for the 6 p.m. Friday squad.

The entry fee is $110 per team until Feb. 9; after that date, it increases to $125.

Registration can be done online by going to www.crossroadshouse.com and choosing the Events tab.

All proceeds from the bowling as well as numerous raffles over the weekend will go to benefit Crossroads House, a comfort care home serving the residents of Genesee and Wyoming counties who have been medically determined to be in their last stages of life (three months or less).

For more information, call 585-409-0136.

-- The 12th annual GRUSBC Youth Team Tournament is set for Feb. 17 at Le Roy Legion Lanes, with squads at noon and 3 p.m.

Only a few spots remain as the maximum number of teams in the event is 16. Each team consists of four bowlers.

The entry fee is $64 per team.  Scholarships will be awarded to the first-place teams in each of three divisions, based on team average.

To enter, contact Tom Fluker at 585-284-2637.

YOUTH TRAVEL LEAGUE BOWLS IN BATAVIA ON SUNDAY

The Genesee Region Youth Travel League returns to Mancuso Bowling Center at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday.

Rose Garden Bowl I continues to lead the 13-team league by 4.5 points over Batavia Strike Force, with Oak Orchard Bowl I another 13 points back.

In recent action, Josiah Yantz of Scopano’s Lanes led the way for the boys with a 242 game and 682 series, while Paige Snook of Oak Orchard Bowl I led the girls with a 214 game and 563 series.

CHECK OUT THE NEW ‘PIN POINTS’ SPONSOR: NEO-TAC

I'm pleased to welcome a new "Pin Points" sponsor this week – Neo-Tac, Inc., which is owned by scientist and avid bowler, Frank Bernabei of Middleport.

Bernabei’s company specializes in bowling ball surface management products, such as Hook-It, Renew-It and Liquid Nitro, as well as lane conditioners and cleaners. Just click on his ad to learn more.

And while you’re at it, click on all of the ads on this page and support those businesses that help keep the sport of bowling in the news.

Medina's Allis, Rochester's Emler top list of high rollers

By Mike Pettinella

Scott Allis of Medina rolled an 806 series and Dave Emler of Rochester posted a 300 game -- his second this month -- to highlight last week's league bowling action in the Genesee Region.

Allis had games of 259-270-277 for his eighth USBC-certified 800 series over the past 17 years in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes.

Emler's perfect game came in the G&W Vending League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, where he previously shot 300 on Jan. 2.

In the County Line Stone League at Scopano's Lanes, Paul Spiotta of Batavia registered a 290 game.

For a list of high series and games for the week of Jan. 22, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column will be posted on Thursday.

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