AKRON — Six people will join an illustrious group as the Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame honors its 2024 class of inductees on June 7.
The 2024 class includes Tiffany Schmitt, Frank Testa and Emily Westfall in the outstanding performance category; Augie Koch in the outstanding service category; and this year’s Bill White Pioneer Award winners John Seaburn and Doris Warnick.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Guy’s Party Center. Tickets are $50, $45 for past inductees.
For tickets contact Jim Mitchell (jimmitchell324@gmail.com) or Julie Molenaur (jlmolenaur1956@gmail.com).
Here is a look at this year’s inductees (as provided by the Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame board of directors):
TIFFANY SCHMITT
Tiffany has accomplished an outstanding Hall of Fame résume over her career. She has been the Summit County USBC Bowler of the Year and has been on many SCUSBC All Star teams. She is an Ohio State USBC singles champion and has been on a state championship team. She has bowled four 300 games with a high series of 795. Her lifetime high league average is 217.
FRANK TESTA
While in grade school, Frank spent a lot of his time at Stonehedge and all he wanted to do was bowl. He remembers going to watch his dad bowl in leagues at local bowling centers like Akron Recreation and Bories. His passion was the game that would put him in the Hall of Fame. He would watch in detail local stars like Dean Billings, Ron Bell, Mike Turnbull and Ed Carter (all Hall of Famers) and had many conversations with PBA legend Harry “Tiger” Smith. He would take tiny details from each star and incorporate them into his game, and it paid off. Frank won the world famous Hoinke Classic and the West Virginia Masters beating several PBA champions at the young age of 21. He has bowled a 300 game in a PBA Tour event the USBC Nationals, the Ohio USBC State Tournament and the Summit County USBC Championships. He owns more than 60 800 series in his career and also reached match play in the USBC Masters this season.
EMILY WESTFALL
Her love for the game started when she a young woman keeping score for her parents during league play at Turkeyfoot Lanes.
She took every little bit of knowledge she would receive from her father, Wayne, Phil Ames and family friend, Bill Wright, and used to her advantage and become a Junior All Star all through high school. She was 17 years old when she rolled her first 300 game at Magic City Lanes and was the youngest female in the tri-county area (at that time) to accomplish. that. She bowled for North High School where her outstanding performance banners still hang today.
She has rolled nine career 300 games, a high series of 844 (five career) and owns a lifetime high average 230.
AUGUST “AUGIE” KOCH
Koch is a quiet man, but he knows how to get things done and is well respected in the tai-county bowling community. Augie was a good bowler, who owns six career 300 games and a high series of 796 with a lifetime high average of 207. But he is known for his work off the lanes. Over his 40-year bowling career he was the director of Greater Summit Bowling Association, (twice) secretary-treasurer of the Akron Bowling Council and the president of Akron Men’s Bowling Association. He is a recipient of the “Most for Bowling Award” From the Akron Bowling Council. He has served as secretary/treasurer for dozens of bowling leagues and over the past 24 years Augie has been on the board of directors for the Tri County Bowling Hall of Fame.
BILL WHITE PIONEERS
This year’s Bill White Pioneer Award winners are former Akron Beacon Journal bowling writer John Seaburn and Doris Warnick. Their families will receive the awards.
