Detroit All-Star League keeps on rolling - News, Notes and Quotes - Brief Article

Bowling Digest, Oct, 2002 by Larry Paladino

THE PRESTIGIOUS PEPSI Detroit All-Star Classic League--which just completed its 67th year this spring--started the season on somewhat shaky ground. Several teams dropped out, reducing the league to 10 teams.

But everyone seemed upbeat in May at the postseason banquet for the league, which Stroh's Beer team member Joe Norris helped found in 1935 and which has sent 33 members to the ABC Hall of Fame.

Tom Reaume, first vice president of the league and master of ceremonies at the annual banquet, said two new teams already are lined up for next year and that the companion Hamtramck Singles All-Star Traveling Classic is expected to have 14 teams, up from 12.

Jesse Bowersock, secretary of the All-Star Classic, says: "We got a good deal from Thunderbowl [Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.] and are looking forward to expanding our league. We are going to increase the jackpots. We expect the league to come back stronger next year."

The arena section of Thunderbowl Lanes has been the home of the Classic since the mid-'70s. A variety of reasons were cited last year when some teams left, including a disagreement over a league ruling and jackpots some bowlers felt were too low. Plus, some teams couldn't find sponsors.

At the time, league president Lou Ivancik expressed no doubt that the league would rebound. And it looks like Ivancik, who received the Raymond Kowalski Memorial Award for his promotion of All-Star bowling in Detroit, was right.

The Pepsi-USA team captured the All-Star Classic overall season title, but Red Robin Restaurants/Lind Shoes captured the John Gavie All-Star Cup. Ken Kossick of Pepsi went home with a slew of awards, including the title "Joe Norris King of Bowlers" for leading in average with 231. He had the high series, 816, and was Bowler of the Month four times.

Teammate Todd Kurowski won his second consecutive Joe Paulus Sportsmanship Award and was seventh with a 225 average. Matt Randall of Cozy Inn was the Rookie of the Year with a 217 average, and Earl Doe of Eastown Printing/Can-Am Bakers Doubles was the most improved, adding 10 points to his 207 average of last year. Sixty-seven bowlers averaged 200 or better.

Of the 11 perfect games, one was bowled by Linda Higenell of Eastown. It was the league's first by a woman. She was a member of Team Canada for four straight years and earned 12 medals. Her husband, Jerry Sikora, is a former Team USA member.

"I've never seen an incident in this league that was ever any more than a few harsh words," says Joe Paulus, a member of the Michigan and Detroit bowling halls of fame, as well as the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Paulus' connection to Detroit All-Star bowling stretches back to the first league banquet back in 1941 at the old Palm Beach Gardens Lanes.

Meanwhile, the Ansara's Big Boy Restaurants team walked off with most of the honors in the Traveling Classic, becoming the first team since 1982-83 to win both halves of the season. And it won the Gavie Cup championship tourney.

The top three averages were by Chuck Morris of All-Star Grille (228.36), Kurowski of AMF (227.91), and Nick Wissinger of sponsor Lou Ansara's team (226.51). Six 300 games were bowled and there were three 800 series, two by Jess Austreng of Bowlers Paddock/Storm Balls (814, 806) and one by Ken Wyatt (810) of Ansara's. The league had 80 bowlers who averaged 200 or better.

The new All-Star League seasons kicked off with the annual John Gavie preseason tournament at Thunderbowl on August 19.