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Former prep standouts now hone skills at FSU

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published March 3, 2006

As the bumper sticker goes, four Pinellas kids and their parents' money went to Florida State. Their bowling balls went along, too.

Josh Guinand, 20, Teresa Scanlon, 20, and Chris Fecke, 20, of the 2003 PCHSL championship Palm Harbor University squad and Andrew Owens, 20, of Tarpon Springs High fame, all teamed up in Tallahassee for the Seminoles' collegiate team.

Guinand, the men's' No. 1 with a running 230-average, took the top individual finish at the Brunswick Classic in Orlando last weekend, guiding his team to a second-place finish.

After a successful 2005 season, nearly clinching a berth into Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, and a strong start this season, the money is all but gone.

FSU bowling teams are labeled clubs, much like the bowling-heavy University of Central Florida and this year's No. 1-ranked men's and women's teams from Wichita State.

Bowlers pay tuition, receive zero scholarships, have to pay to try out, and travel expenses come from their own pockets or fundraising. Speaking of fundraising, there will be two such tournaments at Countryside Lanes in two weeks.

Team parents Linda Guinand and Kent Fecke are directing an adult and youth tournament March 19. Fecke runs the Junior Gold program at Countryside, , where all four FSU bowlers got their start.

"It has definitely been fun bowling in college," said Guinand from Crenshaw Lanes on the campus's Oglesby Union, where first-year coach and past IBC champion Mike Fine manages and operates FSU bowling.

"You play competitively every day. You bowl with the best of your age. It's a great experience and you can only get better."

Scanlon is the acting club president while taking a year off the girls travel team for biology and nursing studies after a tremendous 2005, which included the YABA girls state singles title.

Owens, a business major, was a NCAA Academic All-American in '05 and has been improving his average alongside Fecke, an information systems major; both share a 180-ish average.

Guinand doubles in real estate and marketing and has been a consistent qualifier in national tournaments and the team's top turner heading into the upcoming sectional meet in Fort Worth, Texas, with a trip to the IBC on the line.

"That's really what matters, is the next one," Guinand said. "Everything we practice every day for is on the line in this one. If we bowl well, which I think we will, we get to go to the championships (at the end of April in Rockford, Ill.) and get that national title."

Squad times for both the youth and adult divisions at Countryside Lanes are at 10 and 11:30 am. and 1 pm. Coach Fine and the Seminoles will all be there.

Both divisions have handicapped and scratch winners and both have doubles sides. Re-entry is also available. Semifinals will start around 3 p.m. with the top male and female handicapper automatically making the cut. Call (727) 781-5558 to pre-register.

IN MEMORY: Rocco J. Sarley, former owner of Southland Lanes off 66th St. in Pinellas Park, died Feb. 25 at Largo Medical Center. He was 82 years old.

Sarley moved to Seminole in 1982 from his native Chicago. He built Southland from scratch in 1986 and operated it until August when the property went up for sale.

Sarley will be remembered for his passion for the game and the people who played it.

"He loved the bowlers, loved the business," said Rocco Jr., one of Sarley's three surviving sons who managed Southland with his father. "He was an honorable guy. He would do anything for anybody. It wasn't always just about bowling."

ABT: The Amateur Bowlers Tour was at Countryside on Feb. 19, where Tim Franklin, 41, of Lakeland landed first place and won $750.

Michael Eakins of Oldsmar finished ninth, winning $70, Michael Bixler of Largo and Mark Marcello of Palm Harbor finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Next up is the region tournament, which runs through Sunday at Casselberry AMF in Orlando with $10,000 on the table. Contact the ABT Space Coast Branch at (321) 728-7926 for information.

PCHSL: Countryside No. 1 continues to lead by 16 points on the scratch side over East Lake No. 1 despite the Eagles' 708 last week, the second-best team score of the season.

Allie Edgar led all girls series with a 600 for East Lake. Clearwater No. 1, with Tyler McCann's 265 last week, took a slim three-point handicapped lead over Palm Harbor Univ. No. 1. East Lake's Joe May leads both leagues and led last week's scores with a 290-734.

Other nice scores belonged to Tom Frain (623), Jon Brady (603) and Chris Grube (601) for the boys, and Ashly Galante (588) and Brittany Scanlon (526) for the girls.

USBC: A Cincinnati-area bowler rolled the eighth approved perfect three-game series in the 111-year history of certified league bowling and first under the USBC.

Lonnie Billiter Jr. rolled three consecutive 300 games for a 900 series Feb. 13 at Fairfield Lanes in Fairfield, Ohio. The 24-year-old became the first to bowl an approved 900 series since Darin Pomije of New Prague, Minn., on Dec. 9, 2004.

Billiter, who carries a 225 league average, has 16 certified 300 games and eight certified 800 series to his credit.

PBA: Last week, Doug Kent won his first title since 2002, defeating Norm Duke 222-201 in the title match of the GEICO Classic at AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, N.Y. Kent advanced to the title match with a 227-213 win over his brother-in-law, Parker Bohn III.

The family affair was the first TV match-up between brothers-in-law since Steve Cook and Mike Aulby faced off in 1992.

Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) continues to lead the World Point Rankings, while Wes Malott (Round Rock, Texas) moved up to second. Norm Duke (Clermont), thanks to his third second-place finish of the season, is third.

This week, the PBA returns to the Akron area a second straight season for the Pepsi Championship at historic AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio. The live ESPN televised finals are Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

COMING UP: NABI play resumes at Countryside Lanes on Sunday for Club 570. The jackpot is at $220 and the strikepot is at $388. Club 580 will be at Semoran AMF on Sunday as well. Call (863) 667-4779 or check out centralflorida.bowlnabi.com for more details.

can be e-mailed at Emuskatevc@aol.com

TARPON LANES - Tahitian Gardens: Ken Rivard 227/585, Ray Brooke 195/542. Highland Lakes: Bob Linn 195/544, Don Kovalcik 197/521. Monday Mixers: Rick Burger 230-215/657. Sr. Men: Sonny Neglia 228-214/613, Bob Fusco 246/611. Sun Valley: Rhodes Carr 194/541, Bob Coulson 245/541. Key West: Gene Sparks 236-214/651, Sam Ash 249-202/626. Stonehedge: Gary Campbell 199/562, Paul Dornboss 191/529. Highland Lakes Sr.: Bob Rodgers 188/514. Industrial: Joe Riendeau 278-236/736, Jack Schwind 269-228/681. Tarpon Shores: John Scheuch 268-234/719, Joe Pochron 237/601.

TWEDT'S LANES - Men: Joe Alore 748, Bob Hubbard Jr. 717, Mark Marks 707, Chris Springstead 695, Guy Blazier 673, Tod Janssen 664, Ron Mattingly 630, Herb Craine Jr. 622, John Olton 621, Brian Bennett 619, Rob Brown 615, Jeremy Dwyer 614, Jeff Marriorr 600. Women: Christine Srock 643, Mary McAtteer 591, Lee Reagan 591, Michelle Huff 579, Renee Halstrom 573, Kay McAleer 564, Dottie Blazier 541, Shirley Jamison 534, Vicki Lee 532, Andrea Sanchez 531, Melissa Lawson 529, Lynn Weaver 524, Joan Rutledge 524, Claudia Carr 519, Ann Ryber 518, Linda Stopinski 514.

SEMINOLE LANES - Charlie Ludwig 280/786, Greg Ickes 279-776, Ron Demillion 761, Josh Hemingway 760, Darryl Dempsey 748, Joey Panebianco 742, Dennis Slininger 278-735, Christine Srock 258/724, Smokey Clark 289-720, Scott Baird 713, Kevin Krauss 705, Richard Williams 278/703,Esperanza King 246-699, Cathy Johnson 299/697, Jodi Gillispie 221-620. Match Game AM 500s: Kati Hendricks (503), Cindy Gieschen (515). Cokettes' League 500s: Kati Hendricks (545), Kandy Falvey (529), Marian Love (507).

LIBERTY LANES - Marty Murphy 266/778, Billy Burke Jr. 745, Pat Lauro 279/743, David Cabey 278/740, Jeff English 738, Darryl Dempsey 298/734Mike Russ 290/733, Tom Milton 278/731, Brian Korcak 729, Tim Davis 727, Sean Harris 724, Walt Coddington 268/724, Dick Correa 722, Matt Mayhugh 257/719, Robert Montone 267/718, Lisa Bereczki 256/717, Dave Taylor 279/715, Dwayne Smith 713, Ray Baumbach 712, Gary Garrett 279/712, Billy Wilder Jr. 279/709, Joe Palmer 709, Greg Ickes 707, Eddie Ohara 705, Eric Troung 704, Jim Hintz 704, Jamie Prawl 703, Ken Kokemohr 703, Chris Springstead 702, Bobby Redmond 701, Dave Warner 700, Bobby Redmond 277/699, John Ebert 279/683, Pat Berwick 238/656, Christy Scnaga 620.

SUNRISE LANES - Special Delivery: Dale Barber 230-223/650, Sean Wolford 268/635. Meadowlawn Srs.: Earl Jacob 237, John Heron 224. Village Green: Jean Jukich 243, Joe Posey 211. Mainlands #6: John Jemapete 212. Winston Park: Juluis Okrzesik 223, Clyde Severance 220. Pinellas Park Srs.: Ron Coury 218, Henry Maynard 218. Strike N Spare: Prentiss Davis 259/688, Justin Veitch 269/694, Jim Dipple 255/695, John Lewis 255/683, Chau Le 277/693. Romany Park: Robert Cormier 210. Springwood: Gary Hampshire 247/651, Libby Smith 206. Jolly Srs.: Norm Serle 221. Commercial: Steve Closuit 255/677, Clay Hatfield 680, Tom Vizenor 300/706, Mike Cornelison 724, Walter Fredenberg 254/662, Justin Veitch 268/666, Frank Mainenti 257/664, Mike O'Neill 258/707, Rich Sipple 663, John Lancaster 660, Joe Zwolski 268/717, Dave Ulm 279/715. Funtime Mixed: Alex Tarver 255/640, Gary Gray 275/669, Scott Macclinchy 267, Lee Smith 268/652, Brian Crane 267/653, Henry Perez 675. FMSS: Stan Dzierba 238-248/718, Ray Hickox 237, Dan Lebo 233, Walt Davis 240, Jim Schmidt 268; Don Ferrier 224; Pat Roe 236. Pinewood: Carmen Fruscio 226. Sat Nite Live: David Fay 686, Carl Canali 667. TGIF: Frank Mainenti 266/706, Tony Mainenti 669, Christina Taylor 225/621, Veronica Kessler 245/633. Latemates: Ben Johnson 299/741, Angela Brandel 215. Youth Adult: David Dunn 257/678.

TEN PIN LANES - Men: Glenn Jeffers 712, Mike Vitel Jr. 706, Bill Henry 699, Rich Desgrosiellier 695, Don Vachon 667, Doug Miller 666,Glen Hewlett 664, Jake Sorensen 664, Sean Herrod 662. Women: Jen Layton 692, BJ Plank 612, Jan Hood 571, Robin Hintz 564, Carey Blackwelder 544, Rosalie McGinnis 536, Deb Bailey 532, Brigitte Stanton 525, Nola Beckham 505. Sr. Men: Ron Wade 681, Dave DeLorenzo 589, Carl Hakansson 551, Ken Bayley 550, Jinx Talbot 535, Jack McMeekin 535, Bob Fogel 513, Ray Gladd 509. Sr. Women: Mary Girourd 512, Phyllis Beckman 504, Marian Love 495, Darla Brown 492, Margaret Grover 486, Lee Simons 477, Joan Hendrickson 470, Claudia Patton 466.

[Last modified March 3, 2006, 02:15:34]