There’s a new awards program for league bowlers

If you are a league bowler,you have probably been awarded a patch or two by the United States Bowling Congress. Most of us are familiar with the little patches the USBC awards to bowlers who attain certain levels of achievement.

Ostensibly, these patches are meant to be sewn on your bowling shirt for all to see and marvel at your bowling prowess. In reality, most of the patches never make it on to a shirt. Instead, they end up in a dresser drawer somewhere and are quickly forgotten. Well, kiss those patches goodbye because the USBC is replacing them with refrigerator magnets.

The new awards program

According the USBC, the awards will be based on an average that matches the accomplishment. Magnets will be issued for 125 game (90 average or less), 150 game (110 average or less), 175 game (130 average or less), 200 game (145 average or less), 225 game (160 average or less), 250 game (180 average or less), 275 game (200 average or less), 300 series (80 average or less), 400 series (105 average or less), 500 series (130 average or less), 600 series (160 average or less) and 700 series (190 average or less).

There will still be high score achievement awards such as 800-plus series, 300 game or 11 strikes in a row. Achievements like league champion, high series, high average, high game and most improved average will also continue to be recognized.

Actually, the USBC has revamped its awards program from top to bottom, including a redesign of its 300 and 800 rings and the introduction of a new 11 strikes in a row trophy. The changes took effect for the 2009-10 league season.

Goodbye to familiar awards

Sadly, some of the more commonplace awards long familiar to bowlers are being eliminated. Pins over average, all spare game, Dutch 200, 7-10 and the Big Four split conversions are all gone from the special achievement program. Gone are the high score achievement awards for 298 and 299 games. Also gone is the triplicate award for rolling three identical consecutive game scores in a series.

All in the family

Bowling an 800 series is something special. It is so special that the USBC awards a gold ring to any league bowler who totals this many pins in three games. Even though 800 series are bowled more frequently now more than ever, it is still a rare accomplishment. That is why it is astonishing that three different family members of the Lavecchia family not only bowled an 800 series but each one of them had the exact same 825 score. 

It all began in 1986 in New York when Dean Lavecchia, then 28 years old, rolled a 300 game en route to an 825 total. Not to be outdone, his brother, Jimmy, put together games of 258, 278, and 289 for an 825 less than a year later. That would have been coincidence enough but earlier this year, Joey Lavecchia, nephew of Dean and Jimmy, exactly matched his uncle Jimmy’s scores of 258, 278 and 289 for his very own 825.  Even more eye-opening is the fact that Joey is only 16 years old. 

Gil Sanchez is a freelance bowling writer for the News & Messenger. Reach him at 703-587-6792 or at .