Despite many obstacles, administrators and coaches of the Pinellas County High School League decided Tuesday to seek recognition of their league from the Florida High School Athletic Association and the Pinellas County School Board.
"We have to do this now so we will not be behind the rest of the state, for the good of our young bowlers and for the good of the league," league administrator Matt Stevenson said. The goal of the recognition is to get the players into the FHSAA's state tournament, held this year for the first time. The Pinellas league has operated 32 seasons without recognition by any organization. The FHSAA is in the process of recognizing bowling as a varsity sport, but each of the state's county school boards has the final say. Pinellas has turned down bids from the PCHSL in the past, most recently last March.
Stevenson and league secretary-treasurer Janet Waddell met with Pinellas County athletic director Walter Weller to determine what steps are needed to gain recognition. They said Weller would need the league's proposal next March before presentation to the School Board's May meeting.
"However, Mr. Weller said we have almost no chance of winning approval next year, considering the current budget situation, and he said that the 2005-06 school budget will be even worse," Stevenson said.
Other obstacles the league must overcome include:
Coaches must become School Board employees, must be fingerprinted and undergo a background check, and must be certified by the board.
A pay scale for the coaches' supplements must be established.
School bus transportation to and from events and practices must be available, if needed, and paid by the School Board.
Bowlers must purchase school insurance and follow School Board rules.
These rules apply, plus those of the FHSAA.
"We first must determine if there is money in the School Board's budget for coaches' pay," Stevenson said. "If not, we're dead from the start."
After a school or league is recognized by its school board and the FHSAA, its players must sit a year before entering the state tournament.
Recognition for the PCHSL is at least three years away.
PREP SEASON ENDS: The Boca Ciega boys and Largo girls won handicap titles as the PCHSL ended its 13-week season. Boca Ciega beat Tarpon Springs and East Lake for the boys championship. The Pirates delivered a season-high 1,113 handicap performance, and Dan McLaughlin rolled a season-high 337 game.
McLaughlin's teammates were Matthew Rose, Trenton Hagley, Chris Ellis and Sean Crosby.
Largo's girls posted the season's top game with a 1,066 and beat Boca Ciega and Seminole for the crown. The Packers' team was Sabrina Permenter, Megan Rogers, Caitlin Poindexter, Katie Ellis and Kristen Ritchie.
DUER WINS: New Port Richey's Ed Duer beat Sarasota's Chuck Souzer 215-201 to win the Senior Eliminator and $200 recently at AMF Clearwater Lanes.
Scott Howard, Tarpon Springs, defeated Lakeland's Jim DuBose 232-226 to capture the open tournament title and $200. Melanie O'Grady beat Ken Waters 193-192 to win the ladies division and $180 at Tarpon Lanes.
AROUND THE LANES: High scorers - Joe Palmer, 300-663, and Bob Smolka, 299-757, at AMF Kenneth City; Chris Springstead, 804, at Twedt's; Scott Howard, 279-813, at AMF Clearwater; Odeen Walker, Andy Waligora, Russell Welsh and Larry Townsend, 300 games, and Bill Malovina, 299-797, at Seminole; and Tom Palmer, 279-815, at Dunedin. ... Clearwater's Jeff Cole won the NABI Club Tournament and $270 at Liberty Lanes, and St. Petersburg's Les Foerster received $195 in the event at Seminole Lanes. ... Tarpon Lanes has scheduled a five-game scratch tournament for Sunday. The entry fee is $60, and $425 goes to the winner, based on 25 entries.
