September 11, 2009
By: Mark Martin
DETROIT BOWLING HALL OF FAME
The Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame Committee, a committee of the Metro Detroit USBC Association (MDUSBC), has elected seven new members to its Hall of Fame and named four others for special awards. This will increase the number of hall of fame members to 228.
Betty
Trimper of Redford, Jerome Penxa Jr. of Romeo, David Tulak of Taylor, Edwin
Austreng of Waterford Township, Harley Trumbull Jr. of New Boston, Joe Guotana
of New Boston and Janet Willson of Clarkston earned their place in the
prestigious hall. Dolores Skorski of
Trimper is a member of the Michigan Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame, being elected in 2004 and has won the Michigan Queens twice (1994 and 1998).
She recorded her high league average of 221 in the 2003-04 season and owns two 300 games and three 800 series with the highest 221.
As a member of the Detroit Women’s Bowling Association she has earned five All-City nods with four of them first team. She won the city all-events in 1992 and doubles in 2002.
Penxa has been elected in the men’s performance category. His resume includes the Detroit Masters title in 1989 and five all-city selections with the most recent stint as captain in 2009.
His high average was 233 in the 2004-05 season. He has fifty-three 300 games, twenty-seven 299 games, five 298 games and twenty-two 800 series with a high of 848.
His 23-year average in the ABC/USBC National tournament is 200.4.
He
was a member of the winning team in the
In local competition he recorded team titles in 1989 and 1999; and doubles in 2003 and 2004.
His record also includes the OTBA Buckeye Open in 1990.
In All-Star competition he amassed nine titles and three cup victories with various teams.
Tulak has been a steady performer in local competition for over 20 years.
He won the Detroit Masters in 1988 and named to the All-City team five times, most recently in 2009 and captain in 1988. He also was named to the Senior All-City team in 2009.
He has averaged 203 for 20 ABC/USBC National tournaments with a best finish in team event in 1988 with a fifth place finish.
In 1988 he won city titles in team, singles and all-events.
He recorded a high average of 242 both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns.
He owns fifty-nine 300 games, fifteen 299 games and twenty-seven 800 series with a high of 847.
He has three Michigan Majors titles and was inducted in the Michigan Majors Hall of Fame in 2002.
In his professional career he won two PBA Regional tournaments.
Austreng enters the hall in the Veteran’s Category, joining his son Jeff who was inducted in 2008.
In 1971 he won the Michigan State Doubles and All-Events and was named to the All-City team.
His high average is 231 in the 2005-06 season and owns eight 300 games, four 299 games, two 298 games and six 800 series with a high of 825.
He has been named to three Senior All-City teams.
In 2005 he won the Detroit Senior Masters, the same year as his son won the Detroit Masters.
Twice he won the Detroit Senior Masters (1996 and 2002).
He recorded a high average of 229 in the 1993-94 season and is the owner of 14 300 games, seven 299 games, four 298 games and two 800 series with a high of 825.
Twice he was named to the Senior All-City team (1999 and 2002).
He has average 190 in 35 ABC/USBC National tournaments.
He
won two singles and one team event title in
His resume also includes five Mid States Masters titles and is a member of the Mid States Masters Hall of Fame. He also belongs to the Ann Arbor Hall of Fame.
He was a 20-year director of the Western Wayne Youth Traveling Classic.
Guotana has spent an entire lifetime dedicated to bowling, both as an adult and youth leader.
He served on the Greater Detroit Bowling Association Board of Directors for 28 years and was president of the organization in the 1994-95 season. He also represented the association at the national convention for all 28 years.
He has served as a youth coach for over 30 years and still coaching; and served in leadership capacities in the local and state youth associations for several years.
Other honors include the Howard McCullough award for outstanding contributions to youth bowling in 1984; Greater Detroit Bowling Association Meritorious Service award in 1985 and the Judge John D. Watts Award in 2005.
Even today he continues his service to the game as a lane inspector for the Metro Detroit USBC Association.
Willson served the women bowlers in the Pontiac Women’s Bowling Association and the Michigan Women’s Bowling Association for nearly 40 years, prior to the merger that created the Metro Detroit USBC Association.
The last 25 years of service to the PWBA was in the capacity of Secretary-Treasurer, after serving stints as Director, Sergeant at Arms and Vice-President.
Her leadership as Secretary-Treasurer of the association salvaged the association after unfortunate circumstances nearly destroyed it. She also served as Tournament Manager of the Pontiac 500 Club.
She served the Michigan Women’s Bowling Association for nearly 30 years as Director, and Vice-President. During those years she was instrumental as chairman of the Queen’s Tournament and Senior Queen’s Tournament.
She was inducted in the Michigan Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2003 and was honored as MWBA Local Association Secretary of the Year in 1996.
Dolores Skorski will be honored with the Thomas W. McKay Award for a lifetime of service to the sport of bowling.
Lori Tessmar, will receive the Judge Watts Award for making outstanding contributions to the promotion of bowling.
Henry Mistele and Roger Philipi will receive the George Prybyla Industry Award presented for someone involved in the ownership or management of a bowling center that has contributed to the promotion of the sport.
Induction
ceremonies will take place Sunday, October 25, 2009 at DeCarlo’s Banquet and
Convention Center,
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HONOR SCORES
300
Games
Date,
Name, Hometown, Center, League
Aug.
17, Edwin Austreng,
Aug.
24, Kenneth McMillan,
Sept.
8, Chase Siburt,
Sept. 8, Scott Hansen, Madison Hts., Imperial Lanes, Knights & Guards
Sept. 9, Scot Woodward, Auburn Hills, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout
800
Series
Sept.
8, Allen Bordui Jr. (803),
Sept.
8, Chase Siburt (817),
Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column for The Daily Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.