In what is quickly becoming a Canadian invasion on the ladies side of the Alro Steel / MJMA events, new team champions were crowned on both the girl’s and boy’s side in the 20th Annual Bob Klaczkiewicz Junior Doubles Tournament. The ladies side had half of the field, four of the eight bowlers to make match play, be from across the border in Canada. Long-time member Jennifer Churchill (Windsor, Ont) was joined in match play by second year player Valerie Calberry (Brampton, Ont) and the rookie sister team of Edielyn and Jennifer Besana (Scarborough, Ont). Not only did these ladies make it to match play but all of them joined American natives Christine Bator (Warren, MI) and Sarah Lokker (Chesterfield, MI) in the step-ladder finals.

In the opening match of the finals, it was the team of Calberry and Lokker who teamed up to face the Besana sisters to see who would face Churchill and Bator in the title match. Calberry was locked in on lane 18 as she threw five strikes out of her seven attempts and Lokker did her part to keep the game clean on lane 17 to easily defeat the Besana sisters 211-154. The Besana’s were bowling in only their second MJMA event but they are anticipated to be contenders for many MJMA events in the future.

In the championship match, Bator and Churchill showed why they were the team to beat for the weekend. Their combined 10 MJMA titles gave them a significant advantage in the title game as Calberry and Lokker were bowling in their very first finals match. That experience showed as both Bator and Churchill continued to roll good shots and fill frames as Calberry and Lokker struggled. In the end, it was Bator and Churchill winning the match 205-167 to win their seventh and fifth MJMA titles respectively.

The guy’s side of the equation was no less tension filled as in the final position round game prior to step ladder finals, there were 4 teams separated by less than 60 pins for the fourth and final step ladder position. With a solid finish it was the team of Kevin Kowalski (Bay City, MI) and Brian McMahon (Saginaw, MI) earning the final qualifying position. In the step ladders, the first match featured Kowalski and McMahon against Randy Churchill Jr. (Windsor, Ont), another Canadian, and his partner Trey Raynes (Wayne, MI). This match went back and forth the whole way but in the tenth it was McMahon throwing the strike he needed to defeat Churchill / Raynes 196-193.

In the semi-finals, Kowalski / McMahon would have to contend with the team of Ryan Van Hecke (Sterling Hts, MI) and Jesse Hojnacki (Port Huron, MI). Hojnacki had owned a share of the Adult – Junior doubles title for the two year previous to this and was very comfortable with the Baker doubles format. That showed as he and Van Hecke struggled with the changing lane conditions to win out in a 181-151 victory. IN the finals, the team of Tim Pfeifer (Cranberry Twp, Pa) and Chris Black (Port Clinton, Oh) was waiting. Pfeifer had made it to the finals last year in this event with his partner Jason Wunderlich, who is now an adult bowler, so this was not an uncommon place for him. His partner Black had won this event back in 2004 and was anxious to hoist another banner in what was his very last Alro Steel / MJMA event. Black is moving up to adults after the event and we wish him the best on his future.

Again this match went back and forth throughout and it came down to the tenth frame to be decided. Van Hecke, who had struggled in a couple of frames during the match, needed a double in the tenth to win the match. He calmly threw the front two he needed and then topped out with a good count on the fill ball to win the match and the title 192-188. The win gives Van Hecke two titles this year, his first two in MJMA, and Hojnacki earned his third MJMA title, all in doubles events.

Our next event is to be held on February 17-18, 2007 at a new venue, Salt River Lanes in Chesterfield, Michigan. The event is limited to the first 96 bowlers so getting entries in early will be necessary. Buddy Van Wieringen and his and they staff at Salt River are anxiously awaiting this event. Having a second event in and around the Metropolitan Detroit area is needed and with as many bowlers as we have coming out of the Port Huron area, this will seem like a hometown match for them. Of course the Canadian’s are again expected to be there in full force as are some of the best bowlers from around the Midwest including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan of course.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Chesterfield on February 17-18. Please remember this is Michigan and it is winter time. We have been blessed by travel weather so far and our groundhog friend has predicted an early spring but, treacherous conditions can come up at a moments notice, please travel safely.