A focus on youth programs, a successful drive for the Bowlers to Veterans Link, planning for the upcoming tournaments and the future of the hall of fame.
These are all items on the agenda for the Stark County United States Bowling Congress (USBC) as it continues to evolve following the 2017 merger between the former Greater Canton Bowling Association and the Canton Women’s Bowling Association.
In addition, the former Alliance association joined in 2018, and Massillon came on board prior to the 2021-22 season following the closing of Starway Lanes, the city’s last remaining center.
“Things are going pretty well. There were some people on board who have left because it wasn’t what they thought it was going to be,” Stark County USBC association manager and director Sue Vukmanovich said. “You had to expect some attrition. Now we have a crew that’s been in there for a while.
“People are stepping up. For sure, nobody is afraid to speak up in meetings.”
SOB recently sat down with Vukmanovich to discuss Stark County USBC programs, successes and plans for the future.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Vukmanovich makes no secret that the Stark County USBC’s primary focus at present is building youth programs.
“We started a youth committee early and they are doing a good job. Right now, the concentration is on tournaments and scholarships,” Vukmanovich said. “We are trying to get the youth more involved.”
The organization is offering eight $500 college scholarships this year to area bowlers. Scholarship information was sent to the conference and recently distributed to coaches via email. The deadline for applications for the local scholarships is Feb. 28.
Scholarships available include:
- Lena Bennett and Ed Deskin Memorial Scholarship Awards, rewarded for superior performance and excellence in bowling;
- Dick Moecia Scholarship Award, rewarded for superior performance and excellence in bowling;
- Stark County USBC Scholarship, also awarded for superior performance and bowling excellence;
- Stark County USBC Presidents Award, awarded for individual leadership and sportsmanship;
- Stark County USBC-SCHSBC Scholarship, awarded for performance and excellence in bowling, which is available to all members of the Stark County High School Bowling Conference over the six counties it covers;
- Stark County USBC/Massillon Scholarship, also for performance and excellence in bowling, is open to students residing west of Perry Drive and east of the Wayne County line. There are scholarships for one boy and one girl for this award.
“The two Massillon scholarships are being funded by the Massillon USBC for the next three years,” Vukmanovich said. “The one for the conference is for any bowler involved no matter what county they live in.
“In order to be eligible, however, the bowler must be sanctioned through the USBC.”
And that has been a problem this season, according to Vukmanovich.
“We want to see more high schools sanctioned. That’s a goal,” she added. “Not even half of our conference members are sanctioned through us at this point, even though some may be sanctioned through other local associations. If they are not sanctioned through us, they are not eligible for scholarships.”
Vukmanovich added each conference member received information packets on sanctioning, and the USBC has made efforts to get information returned.
“We are still getting some in piecemeal, but I think we’ve pretty much got what we are going to get,” Vukmanovich said. “It’s a shame because they are losing out on the opportunity for scholarships, achievement awards and certified averages as they head into college programs.
“It’s especially troubling when you have adult family members who are sanctioned.”
One other major scholarship also is available on the state level through the Ohio State USBC, which awards a $3,000 award to one boy and one girl annually. The deadline for submitting that application is March 15.
Former Jackson High School standout Kailey Bonniwell earned the state scholarship two years ago.
“The forms are pretty basic. You need a list of academic work, activities, volunteer and community work, a 500-word essay and two reference letters from a teacher, guidance counselor or principal and another from a coach or someone who can verify bowling achievements,” Vukmanovich said.
Vukmanovich added the local scholarships are payable during the second semester of the student’s freshman year.
“At the end of December, we sent out $4,000 to SMART fund accounts for kids who won last year,” she added. “We are raising money through the city tournaments and through other means to keep this going.”
Vukmanovich added the youth committee also is working on adding more tournaments this season. A challenge shot event was held in October 2021 at Strike Zone and that will continue.
“We also are hoping to run another event toward the end of February and into early March,” she added. “We also have tentatively scheduled an adult-junior tournament in April at Park Centre. We want to get the youth involved.”
USBC TOURNAMENTS
The Stark County USBC women’s and open tournaments will be held at Eastbury Bowling Center this season. The women’s event will begin April 15, with the men starting with the team event April 24 and doubles and singles being held the following week.
“I was embarrassed by the turnout for the women’s tourney last year,” said Vukmanovich, adding only 10 teams were entered. “The money was there with the merger … we had $1,400 added. I’m not sure what to do. We may have to re-examine how we operate next season.”
Forms will be available in the near future at area centers.
BVL SUCCESS
Vukmanovich had praise for area bowlers who contributed during league play to the Bowlers for Veterans Link (BVL) this season.
“I was just ecstatic with what we accomplished. We collected $3,018 from leagues and centers, over $600 more that last year,” Vukmanovich added.
Following its merger into the Stark County USBC, the former Massillon association also agreed to add $2,500 to the fund for the next three years from its remaining funds, making the total donation $5,518. The Stark USBC funds will go to the Lewis Stokes VA Medical Center in Cleveland while Massillon’s funds will go to the Stark County Veterans Center.
“We can designate where our funds go, and we want them to be used locally,” said Vukmanovich, adding a check will be presented to the Stark County group this week. “It’s just awesome that our bowlers went beyond the call of duty to contribute.”
Vukmanovich added other Massillon USBC funds also went toward scholarships and other 501c charitable organizations in Stark County.
HALL OF FAME FUTURE
A bowling hall of fame class has not been inducted since prior to the 2017 merger.
“We are planning to get it going again. It’s a goal we are working on,” Vukmanovich said. “We have been so focused on getting the youth program going that the hall has kind of been pushed to the side, but not intentionally.
“The youth is what is going to bring us up, but the hall of famers are the ones who put us here. The young ones are the people we have to get interested so we can continue.”
Vukmanovich added, with the additions of the Alliance and Massillon associations, the pool of candidates also has grown.
“We know there are a lot of qualified candidates out there, and we have people who would like to set up the guidelines for the hall,” she added. “Alliance had their hall, and we now have their boards on display (at the Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame). Massillon had no hall. Do I think there are qualified candidates in Massillon? Absolutely.”
But, she added, there is no timetable to revive the hall of fame at this point.
DEALING WITH COVID
Vukmanovich said total Stark County USBC sanctions are down about 15 to 20 percent this year after being down 22 percent the previous season.
“Still, there are people not bowling and leagues folded because of COVID,” Vukmanovich said. “There were other leagues this year that didn’t sanction because they were afraid of getting shut down again, and I don’t blame them. We hope to bring them all back.”
But, she added, there is no reason to panic.
“I’m not unhappy and it’s not scaring me,” Vukmanovich added. “We know the reasons, and we accept them. But we still hope to get them back with better programs.”