Oct. 7 was a night to remember for bowlers in the Joliet area as the best were honored at the annual bowling awards banquet.
Hosted by the Joliet Bowling Council, the event featured the induction of three bowlers into the Greater Joliet Bowling Hall of Fame and the naming of the 2016-17 royalty. Recognition also was given to three bowlers for their outstanding accomplishments.
Sam Esposito IV of Homer Glen was recognized as the first to bowl a 900 series in the Joliet area and the second in Illinois. Eric Ullian from Lincoln-Way West was recognized for being named to the 2016-2017 Dexter/U.S. Bowling Congress High School All-America Team. Only five boys and five girls receive that honor. Taylor Bailey, a Joliet West graduate, was recognized for her many accomplishments, most recently a member of the McKendree University NCAA championship team.
Inducted into the Greater Joliet Area Bowling Hall of Fame were Lisa Paxson, Tammy Richter and her brother, Anthony Jordan, the first brother/sister duo in the hall. All three were inducted into the Superior Performance category.
Paxson began bowling in her mid-teens and has been a constant force in leagues and tournaments since. She has had a 300 game, 782 high series and averages above 200, with a high of 211. She has been a member of six Scratch Championship teams in the Joliet Area USBC WBA tournament, was on the Scratch Championship team in the Illinois USBC WBA Tournament in 2000 and the Irene Kearney Tournament in Springfield in 2001 and 2002. She also was on the Joliet Area Queen’s Court 10 years in a row, a record.
Richter, a bowler since a young child, has been a champion from the get-go. She was crowned a princess seven times in youth leagues, and her excellent bowling, high school grades and community service earned her the Illinois Star of Tomorrow award in 1995. She bowled for the University of Nebraska when the Cornhuskers won several titles. Her proudest achievement was winning three gold medals for singles, mixed foursome and team all events in the Tournament of Americas in 1997. She has had three 300 games, a personal-high 806 series and high 218 average. Joliet championships include team in 2010, doubles in 2012 and all events in 2012 and 2015. She was honored by induction into the Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September.
Jordan was the recipient of many awards in his youth as he made his journey into the adult leagues. He has 21 300 games, six series over 800 with a high of 848 and a high average of 239. In the Joliet area, he won championships in the team event in 1993, 1996, and 1998, and doubles in 1994 and 1999. He was crowned King of Joliet Bowling in 1996 and 2000, and won the Will County Open in 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2005. In the Illinois BA Tournament he was a team champion in 2001 and won all events in 2003 and 2005. He has won tournaments in various states and earned his Team All Events Eagle in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2008. He also is a member of the Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the DeKalb Bowling Hall of Fame. A physical education teacher, he is a bronze-level bowling coach.
The 2016-17 courts were revealed. Their naming is based on points earned throughout the season. Super Senior King is Frank Brandolino with 254.19 points, followed by Randy Kemp 233 and Jack Sandoval 220.33. Super Senior Queen is Irma Cooley with 198.39 points, followed by Barbara Williams 182.84 and Juanita Caruso with 182.45.
Senior King is Scott O’Connor with 249.55 points; followed by Mario Medved, 247.94; Dennis Veraveic, 233.09; Wayne Nosse, 229.52; and Charles Hubbs, 229.10. Senior Queen is Patti Schultz with 275.56 points, followed by Sherry Carson, 213; Sandy Cialoni, 201; Jackie Taylor, 192; and Sandra Gilbert, 182.
The King of Joliet bowling is Kristopher Prather with 301.59 points derived from a composite average of 238.59, 44 points for league series and 19 for league game. He was followed by Wade Gayhart, 295.51 points; Sam Esposito IV, 273.15; Bryan Blair, 268.19; Ryan Lakota, 259.51; Thomas Heniff, 259.28; Barry Thomas, 256.55; Dan Bachar, 255.88; Richard Chapman, 254.44; and Jeff Kersey, 253.68.
The Queen is Jenny Petzoldt with 355.16 points derived from a composite average of 218.16, 84 points for league series, 25 for league games, 20 for All Events in Association Tournament and eight for Singles in Association Tournament. Her court consisted of Nikki Lunsford, 244.15; Patti Schultz, 242.56; Sharon Klepacz, 242.52; Tara Paxson, 242.36; Tammy Richter, 237.53; Lisa McLuckie, 229.27; Morgan Flaherty, 228.51 points; Andrea French, 222.80; and Samantha Isaacson, 207.76.