2019 USBC Queens Champion - Dasha Kovalova

source: USBC
Dasha Kovalova, 2019 USBC Queens Champion

Congratulations to former Wichita State women's bowling phenom Dasha Kovalova on winning her first PWBA title, the USBC Queens,

This year's tournament was held at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Dasha's home turf.

Two of the other finalists, Clara Guerrero and Tannya Roumimper, also bowled at Wichita State.

I first wrote about Dasha in 2013 (see June 8, 2013 entry) as one of the outstanding female bowlers on the European tour.

At the time I wrote the entry, the PWBA tour had closed operations in 2003. It relaunched in 2015. All the bowlers I mentioned: Shayna Ng, Jazreel Tan and Dasha's opponent in the European Women's Champtionship, Birgit Poppler, are ALL currently on this year's PWBA tour.
All have at least one PWBA title.

Here's Dasha's match against #2 Jane Sin (also known as Sin Jane Li):

Eight Years Ago

For the past 8 years, May 19 will always bring me back to Spock's quote to Kirk, "I have been and always shall be your friend."

Focused: Conversations with Fran Healy - PBA episode

source: imdb.com

Hoping all moms out there enjoyed their day.

At about the time the PBA Playoffs began, Focused TV aired a mini-documentary on the PBA Tour. It includes interviews with PBA Commissioner Tom Clark, current PBA members Jason Belmonte, Bill O'Neill, Kyle Troup and Norm Duke.

If you don't follow the PBA, or haven't in some time, the interviews will help you bridge the old versus the new PBA. If you have about 20 minutes, it's worth a watch.

Remembering John Havlicek

source: Columbus Dispatch
L to R: Larry Siegfried, Mel Nowell, Joe Roberts, Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek

No blog post from last week as I was at the San Francisco USBC City Tournament all weekend.

On April 25, 2019, Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek passed away at the age of 79. While best known for his prolific 16-year NBA career entirely in Boston, he was also an integral part of the 1959-60 NCAA Championship team with my alma mater, The Ohio State University.

His number 5 jersey at Ohio State and 17 with the Boston Celtics are both retired.

He remains the all-time leading scorer in Celtics history with 26,395 points.