Successful but sad, Weldon must move on

Erik Weldon, 18, of New Bedford is sad that his junior career is fast coming to an end.

Bowling in the NCAA Junior Doubles League at Wonder Bowl for the summer, he sees college looming in the very near future.

"I will miss bowling with my friends," he said. "Most of them are a year or two younger, so I'll have to leave them behind."

Weldon will head to Northeastern University in Boston in the fall where he will major in biochemistry. He claims he will try to fit some bowling in between classes, co-op and studying.

Featured in this month's Young American Bowling Association (YABA) Express publication, he has bowled three 300 games in his 12-year career and has more than 180 trophies, plaques and awards (the article wrongly stated he has more than 300 awards).

The right-handed bowler's first 300 game was in December of 1995, the second in December of 1997 and his most recent was in October of 1998. His highest series was a 775 last year.

Weldon plans to take the name plates off his trophies and donate the trophies to a handicap/disabled league. The only ones he will save are the ones for his 300 games.

"I will either mount the name plates on a large board or put them in a baseball card-type album," he said. "I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do yet.

"Whatever it is, it will be time consuming and it will be weird to see my room with no trophies. They've been there almost all of my life."

Last season in the Classic Junior League at Wonder Bowl, he ended with a 207 average, which was the highest in his division (Major boy) in the Southeastern Massachusetts Junior Bowling Association (SMJBA) and which he hopes will be the highest in Massachusetts.

He was a member of the SMJBA All-Star Tournament championship team representing the Classic Junior League at Wonder Bowl with teammates Gilly Geer, Brad Goodman, Kevin Silva and Amy Robinson.

His last official act as a junior bowler will be Aug. 14 at the Southeastern Massachusetts Bowling Association/Southern Bristol County Women's Bowling Association annual award's banquet, where he will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

"I'm a little nervous about attending the banquet and having to go up and accept the scholarship in front of everyone," he said. "But it certainly will be a help in paying the tuition."

If Weldon attacks his studies as he did the lanes, Northeastern will wonder what the ruckus is.

Tip of the week

Contrary to popular belief, excessive revolutions are not necessarily the key to a great strike percentage, according to John Jowdy, former coach for Team USA.

Average revolutions, accurately delivered, are far more effective than wide-arcing balls that cover 10 to 15 boards and enter the pocket at an extreme angle.

Although a ball that rotates fewer times lacks the hitting power of high-revolution deliveries, entering the pocket at a more effective point can equalize the strike percentage.

Upcoming events

The annual Southeastern Massachusetts Bowling Association (SMBA)/Southern Bristol County Women's Bowling Association (SBCWBA) Awards' Banquet is Aug. 14 at the Venus DeMilo in Swansea. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m. Awards are after dinner and dancing follows the awards. Tickets are $21 each with a choice of prime rib or baked stuffed shrimp. For tickets, call any of the area bowling centers -- Wonder Bowl, 993-1746; Holiday Lanes in Westport, 674-2224; AMF Holiday Lanes in Somerset, 672-3131, or contact any association member.

A notice from the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) states: WIBC will honor the 1994-95 pin point certificates through July 31, 1999. These certificates do not have an expiration date printed on them. Because of liability issues, however, it is necessary to establish a time limit on those points distributed during the 1994-95 season. Since beginning with the 1995-96 season, all points were issued with a three-year expiration date, the 1995-96 pin point certificates will also expire on July 31, 1999.

The NFL Seniors League at Wonder Bowl will begin its 1999-2000 season on Aug. 23. It's an ABC-sanctioned male only league. Any senior aged 55 and over is invited to join this league. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 10 by leaving your name at the control desk at the lanes (993-1746) or by calling league secretary Len Travers at 994-8863. A complete profile of the league will appear in next week's bowling column.

Any league secretary wishing to profile his or her league in this column, is welcome to call me at 993-0680 or contact me through the newspaper at the numbers at the end of the column.

Highlights

Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) member Lil Johnson, of Lawton, Okla., was in the area recently, visiting her in-laws.

Her husband Gary Johnson was born and raised in New Bedford and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Johnson still reside here.

She and her PWBA roommate, Marla Chicase, of Youngstown, Ohio, left New Bedford Thursday in their 36-foot motorhome (towing a jeep) headed for the PWBA/PBA U.S. Open in Milford, Conn. that will begin this weekend with a pro-am event.

Prior to arriving in the area, Lil finished fifth in a PWBA Regional event in Altoona, Pa., last week.

In June, she won a PWBA Regional event in Illinois and Chicase won an event earlier this month in Ohio.

Last week's scores were: Bowlmor Lanes Sunday Tournament (June 13) -- 1st, Bill Tyrie, 64 pins over average; 2nd, Lauren Rodriques, plus 40; 3rd, Larry Harney, plus 37; Harney, 148; Rodriques, 152/382; Tyrie, 177/442; Sandy Edgell, 146/401; Pete Petrides, 159; John Ross, 155. Sunday Tournament (June 20) -- 1st, Tom Brownlee, plus 92 pins; 2nd, Jim Teixeira, plus 85; 3rd, Mike Murphy, plus 53; Brownlee, 151/422; Teixeira, 163/427; Murphy, 145; Pete Petrides, 160/401; John Ross, 169; Larry Harney, 137; Sandra Edgell, 140/391; Bill Tyrie, 134; Manny Alfonse, 148. Sunday Tournament (June 27) -- 1st, Sandra Edgell, plus 64 pins; 2nd, Wilfred Fortin, plus 20; 3rd, Pete Petrides, plus 10; Edgell, 163/436; Fortin, 132; Petrides, 147; Bill Tyrie, 130. Tuesday Summer -- Joe Lewis, 139; Leo St. Pierre, 149/415; 143/402; Jim Furtado, 141; 149; Gene Edgell, 161; Tom O'Leary, 400; 157/421; Walt Shepard, 147; Bud Ellis, 140; 131; Ken Stickney, 148/409; Janice Belmore, 134; Tony Cincotta, 147; Cathy West, 148; 140; Jim Teixiera, 178/412; 154; Ron Rocha, 142/413; Joel Wales, 146; Harry Potter, 146; Carol D'Auteuil, 132; Robert Chase, 140; Ray Foisy, 157/402; Andy Baroody, 151; Ed Swift, 154; Neil Macedo, 181/460; Henry Hartley, 148; John Hammond, 149. Wonder Bowl Adult/Child -- Gilly Geer, 279/659; Bill Sorell, 258, 232/680; Scott Drouin, 286/678; Don Hardy, 258, 227/694; Jon Norton, 246/671; Moe Dean, 246; Rick Kelley, 245/655; Joey Nereu, 234; Wayne Rebello, 232; Vicki Prevost, 236; Chery Pimental, 201/538; Pat Dubois, 523; Susan Briggs, 532; Chris Souza, 219; Joseph O'Brien, 213; Brad Raphael, 202; Melody Lanouette, 195/530; Angela Mello, 191/513; Jessica West, 183; Crystal Houghton, 181; Ryan Pinto, 211, Arthur Martin, 200; Melissa Venancio, 171, 179; Angel Morin, 146. Classie Lassies -- Dawn Brocklehurst, 246, 200/637; Debbie Wilson, 215/505; Linda MacKenzie, 530; Sharon Swistak, 200, 206; JoAnn Gurney, 245, 203, 243/691; Gayle Koczera, 221; Linda Pierce, 234, 206/609; Marilyn Alves, 205; Dianne Finger, 503; Lindy Jenkins, 211; Lois Grindrod, 210/555. Lady Bugs -- Terry Greenwalt, 211/508; Mary Galarz, 511; Shirley Alves, 228/580. Major League -- Larry Barcellos, 225; Bob Loureiro, 243, 206/625; George Harkins, 236. NCAA Junior Doubles -- Kolby Aguiar, 178; Chad Avila, 185; Eric Avila, 181, 188/542; Josh Carroll, 223, 220; Shaun Carroll, 256, 213/651; Kevin Ducas, 224, 228; Chad Luiz, 191, 200/548; Patrick Pasteris, 183; Danisha Platt, 105; Duane Platt, 102; Brad Raphael, 242; Billy Sorell, 225, 208, 203/636; Brett Tavares, 193; Erik Weldon, 204, 247/621. Summer Classic -- Alex Aguiar, 257, 266/994; Dale Westgate, 203; Gayle Koczera, 235; Dave Lassiter, 236; Pete Arruda, 257; Mike Dupuis, 260/922; Joe Rosa, 247/884; Gary Felix, 258; Wayne Venancio, 265; Duke Perry, 235; Rick Martin, 258; Ozzie Oswald, 244; Dick Ryle, 235; Ron Racine, 223/840; Joey Sylvia, 244; Paul Favreau, 233; George Roy, 276/936; Paul Joerres, 246; Bob Martin, 246; Art Martin, 267, 254/908; Peg McCuen, 217; Steve Szymanski, 225; John Jasent, 225; Mike Monast, 235; Dave Dupuis, 246; Jaime Alves, 221/816; Wally Wilson, 215; Jim Abdelnour, 236; Bob Martin, 245; Greg Smith, 205; Derek Pontes, 251/911. Summer Get-Together -- Art Blais, 212; John Fabian, 217; Don Marginson, 235; Walter Dixon, 201; Larry Barcellos, 211, 224, 233/668; Larry Letourneau, 207; Ron Dupont, 206. Tuesday Night Mixed -- Valerie Reynolds, 532; Jeff Goggin, 200; Joe Teixeira, 211; Tony Alfonso, 201; Randy Bryden, 232; Tony Avylla, 2809/683; Erma Dewhurst, 538; Dwayne Lovell, 213; Bob Eldridge, 214. Senior Tournament (July 16) -- 1st, Art Blais, 688; 2nd, Leo Romanowicz, 664; 3rd, Ron Dupont, 662; 4th, Tony Ferreira, 659; 5th, Joe Sears, 655; 6th (tie), Joe Teixeira and Zip Pothier, 640; 8th, Terry Heyes, 637.

Vicki Prevost is a correspondent for The Standard-Times. She can be reached by e-mail at sports@s-t.com, by fax at (508) 997-7491 or in writing to Sports Dept., The Standard-Times, 25 Elm St., New Bedford, MA, 02740.