By By Mike Carson/The Meridian Star
Dec. 26, 2001
The final results are in for the recently completed YABA City Tournament. A complete list of the winners of each division are listed below with the league scores. The Officers and Board of Directors would like to thank all those who helped make this tournament a success. A special thanks goes to the following businesses and individuals for their contributions to the scholarship fund: Shi-Nell Industries, Mr. C.O. Gray, Luigi's New York Style Pizzeria, Meridian Women Bowling Association, the Meridian Bowling Association, and Anonymous. Through their generous donations four scholarships valued at $225 each were awarded to our local youth bowlers. The scholarship winners were Tyler Kimm, Matt Smith, Emily Davis and Nikki Cacapit.
In the recently completed Stan's Classic Tournament, local bowler Bill Fike was the big winner in the Scratch division. Fike averaged 237 over eight games to take home the $400 First Place award. Other Meridian Bowlers placing in the top ten were Johnnie Blackmon, Chuck Gray, Tyrone McAlpine, Curtis Rutledge, Stan Bottorff and M.A. Copeland. In the Handicap division, James Upchurch of Tupelo took home the $350 top prize while Greg Taylor, C.O. Gray, Ryan Relinski and Jonathan Berg of Meridian also performed well.
All leagues are off this week for the holiday break, but that doesn't mean the bowling will stop. Dixie Bowl will be hosting a 4 Game Handicap Sweeper on Wednesday, December 26 at 6 p.m. Check-in begins at 5:30 and the entry fee is $35. This event will be bowled on "Sport Shot" conditions and will also include optional brackets, doubles and high game pots. Regular league action resumes Wednesday, January 2, 2002.
In local action this week big numbers continue to explode from the lanes. Robert Brown just missed perfection with a 299 in the Wednesday Night Mixed league while Marty McMullen and Dennis Hobson each recorded games of 288. Andrew Clay completed the rare triplicate, and did it in style with three games of 236 in the Hucklebuck league. The high series of the week went to Leon Fike who reeled off a nice 747 series in the Ball and Chain League.
Leading the ladies this week was Gina Robertson's 243 game and Janie Tisdale's 633 series. Janice Kasper added a 622 series while Nita Fike posted a 618 and Mary Copeland got on the board with a 611.
As we head into the New Year, let us take this opportunity to thank all our bowlers who have made 2001 a banner year for our sport. Keep up the good work and we are eagerly looking forward to 2002 with high expectations. Thank you for your support over the previous years and may each of you have a very happy and safe new year.