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DON CARTER ALL-STAR WEST IN DALLAS SET TO HOST 2005 USA BOWLING NATIONAL AMATEURS
from USA Bowling Press Release
December 23, 2004
More than 200 of the best amateur bowlers in the United States will try to earn spots on Team USA 2005 when they compete in the USA Bowling National Amateur Championships (a United States Bowling Congress event) Jan. 9-14 at Don Carter's All-Star Lanes West in Dallas.
This will be the first event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress and the first time the event has been held in Texas. Another unique feature will be the simultaneous conducting of the U.S. Military Tournament featuring 12 players each from the Army, Navy, Air Force
and Marines.
Following registration, sweepers and official practice Jan. 9, all players will roll eight qualifying games Jan. 10, another eight games Jan. 11 and eight more games Jan. 12, with the top 32 men and top 24 women advancing to match play beginning Jan. 13. Match play games continue through Jan. 14 with the top five men and top five women automatically
qualifying for Team USA 2005. Another three men and three women will be chosen by a national selection committee based on such criteria as performance, physical game, mental game and team play.
Serving on the national selection committee will be Team USA coaches Jeri Edwards and Ken Yokobosky, USA Bowling certified coach Susie Minshew and former Team USA members Kendra Gaines and David Garber.
Among those scheduled to compete is Phoenix's Shannon Pluhowsky, who seeks to become the first athlete to win four consecutive U.S. Amateur titles. Defending men's champion Richard Fairley Jr., Lynchburg, Va., and 1999 and 2003 winner Bill Hoffman, Columbus, Ohio, also are entered. Among the other former champions slated to
compete are: Andrew Cain, Tempe, Ariz. (2001); Diandra Asbaty, Chicago (1999); and Lucy Sandelin, Tampa, Fla. (1996).
Other current and past Team USA members scheduled to compete include: Dino Castillo, Dallas; Lisa Noor, Mound, Minn.; David Haynes, Las Vegas; Anita Manns, Austin, Texas; Jennifer Petrick, Canton, Ohio; Sean Rash, Anchorage, Alaska; Ed Roberts, Braintree, Mass.; Derek Sapp, Macomb, Ill.; Kari Schwager, Montgomery, Ill.; Mark Van Meter, Albuquerque, N.M., and Jennifer Wright, West Columbia, S.C.
The tournament will feature lane conditions compliant with the Sport Bowling program. Developed by the American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress, Sport Bowling is a level of sanctioned league and tournament competition designed to emphasize bowlers' skill.
Team USA 2005 members will participate in events such as the World Games, World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships, Tournament of the Americas, WTBA American Zone Championships and AMF World Cup.
FLEET WINS GULF SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Robert H. Kelly
December 12, 2004
Cy Fair Fleet Swim Club scored 1922 points to win the 2004 Gulf Senior Swimming Championships held at Texas A&M University. The Woodlands Swim Team finished in second place with 1524 1/2 points, with Blue Tide Aquatics in third with 1320 points.
Melissa Hain and Eric Mai of Blue Tide Aquatics were the High Point Award Winners at the Championships.
USA DEFEATS CANADA IN FINAL OF NFL GLOBAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Robert Kelly (February 3, 2004)
Entering the championship game with one defeat to Canada, Team USA was hoping to get revenge for their 7-3 defeat in the championship game of the NFL Global Junior Championship VIII. Team USA, which was composed Houston/Harris County All Stars, showed why football is king in Texas, by soundly defeating Canada 31-0.
Canada was never a serious threat during the game
which saw Brandon Jackson score three touchdowns,
while Terrance Nunn had 156 yard receiving.
However, the action on the field was only a small
indication of way this event has developed over the
years. The visiting teams from Canada, Russia, Mexico,
and Japan showed a remarkable knowledge of the game
and the fan support was very intense.
The level of play was very diverse, but the desire to
compete was the same intensity for everybody. The chance
to play the game you love on the international level, was a
great motivator for everyone, no matter what their
ability was.
To view these athletes, most of them ready to start college in
the fall, showed why people should compete in sports, for the "love of the sport."
One could see numerous local high school coaches sitting in the stands and standing around the sideline fence at Tully Stadium, looking down on the games like a father looking at his offspring, very proud at what they saw.
Football is an American game; born, developed, and cultivated here in the good old USA. But by looking on the field and in the stands, it was clear to everyone that football has expanded to beyond our borders, and has truly becoming an international game.
The visiting teams do not have the tradition in football that we have in the United States. Everybody around the world knows American football, and like in so many things, people want to be a part of it. From the cheerleaders of the local high schools who came out to cheer all the players, to the local cultural groups who showed the enthusiasm for the sport.
In the stands, one could see a sampling of the culture of the local community groups and supported the various teams. The fans supporting Japan were especially festive, with paper fans, dragons on sticks, and noisemakers to show their enthusiasm.
This series of games is what scholastic football should be. Good, healthy competition on the field of play, and when it was all over, the players, fans, and supporters shared in an experience that was truly one of a kind.
The USA has won the championship game every year since 2001. They finished in third place in 2000. Before that, the NFL Global Junior Championships had been a showcase of young American football talent from Europe and Mexico. How the Championships has evolved to this year's edition.
The NFL Global Junior Championship was a fine addition to Super Bowl week in Houston. Football played for the reason that all players get into the sport, for the "love of the game."
When everything was over, and all the players and fans return to their homes, they will have the memories of the Championship, and it will be as vivid and intense as the Super Bowl Game that was played in Reliant Stadium.
Olympic Gold Medalist Misty Hyman speaks to Houston area swimmers at the Gulf Swimming Gold Medal Clinic.
By Robert H. Kelly (November 22, 2003)
On November 21, over 150 Gulf swimmers arrived at the new University of Houston Recreation and Wellness Center Pool to attend the 2003 Gulf Association Gold Medal Clinic. Each Gulf swimming team nominated up to five of their top swimmers to attend this prestigious event.
2000 Olympic 200m butterfly gold medalist Misty Hyman highlighted the clinic, instructing the swimmers on the finer points of the sport. In addition, she showed the swimmers some of her "special" techniques that make her one of the best butterfly swimmers in the world.
Misty also gave a talk on her experiences at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the mental aspects of swimming. She told the swimmers that it is possible for an "average person" to achieve great things through goal setting, believing in one's self and having the support of family and friends.
The clinic ended with a question-and-answer session, with Misty later signing autographs and posing for photos with the swimmers.
Later that evening, Misty was the keynote speaker at the 12th Annual Gulf Swimming Awards Banquet. Awards were given to the top Gulf swimmers and coaches for the 2002-2003 season.
First Colony Swim Club Head Coach Bill Bailey, along with Blue Tide Aquatics' Head Coach Steve Wilson and David Harbach of the New Wave Aquatics Team were recognized as Coaches of the Year for the 2003-2004 season.
Bailey was honored as Age Group Coach of the Year, while Wilson and Harbach received Senior Coach of the Year honors.
RECORDS FALL AT STATE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Robert H. Kelly (May 15, 2003)
With the sound of a gun and the roar of the crowd, the 93rd edition of the UIl State Track and Field Championships kicked off on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin's Myers Stadium. This year's event saw nine new state class records and three overall state records broken.
The highlight of the girl's championships was the performance of Hays' Britni Lawrence reclaiming her pole vault state record with a vault of 12 feet 9 inches. Previously holding the state record, she lost her claim to the record the day before when North Richland Hills' Tommie Powers established the new mark on Friday with a performance of 12 feet 7 1/2 inches. She held the top mark for just 24 hours, when Lawrence reclaimed her record with her Saturday performance.
In the boys divisions, the performance of Elgin's Alejandro Ruiz winning the class 3A 1600 meter run with a time of 4:13.84 brought the crowd to their feet. Ruiz's performance broke the 33 year old record of 4:14.01established by Mike Parsons of Olton in 1971. Ruiz will run for Oklahoma State in the fall.
Other state records established were Angel Williams of Clarendon in the Class 1A 100 meter hurdles (:14.27) and the 400 meter dash (:57.27). Crosbyton's Amanda Alley established a new state mark in the Class 1A pole vault with a vault of 12 feet.
Girls Class 4A saw a new mark by Lancaster's 800 meter relay establish a new record with the time of 1:36.68. Katy Cinco Ranch's Scott Sellers high jump mark of 7 feet 4 inches was a new 5A boys record, along with Dallas Skyline's girls 400 meter relay (:44.60) and Houston Westside's girls 1600 meter relay (3:40.53).
The UIL honored six of it's former shot put champions before Saturday evening's session. Fort Worth Masonic Home's DeWitt Coulter, Fort Worth Northside's Darrow Hooper, Belton's Richard Inman, Pampa's Randy Matson, Dallas Skyline's Sam Walker and Dallas South Oak Cliff's Michael Carter.
This year's edition of the UIL State Track and Field Championships saw a renewed interest in the sport. The stands were filled for every session, and the fans saw performances that exceeded their expectations. "I felt this year's meet was heads and shoulders above past year. The fans seemed to be behind the athletes more than they have been in the past. It was great for track in Texas." said John Williams, a fan who was at the meet.
Although the meet lasted only two days, many of these athletes track is not over for the summer .Many will also be competing in the USA National Junior Track and Field Championships in June, and others will be back to this meet next year or competing on the university level.
Track has certainly come a long way to becoming one of the most exciting and highly participated sports in Texas. With more performances like those at the 2004 UIL State Championships, Texas track will take it's spot as the dominate sport in high schools in the United States.
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