The 61st Beat the Champs Adult Division finals, held at Mardi Gras Lanes, DeKalb, Ill., witnessed a pair of bowlers from the same center take home $10,000 each.
Ladesha Wilson (Four Games: scr. 879; hnd. 144, Total 1,023) and Mario Jones (Four Games: scr. 885; hnd. 111, Total 996) both represented ISBPA and CBPA member
center Burr Oak Bowl enthusiastically took home the coveted first-place prize. The contest secured more than 14,000 bowlers who competed across 45 ISBPA member
bowling centers. The top finishers competed across three Zone Finals to narrow the field to the 64 final bowlers who competed on St. Patrick's Day.
Of the 64 bowlers registered to bowl, 63 participated in the finals; the Youth division, which was held prior to the Adults, had 64 of its 64 registered bowlers appear,
making this year’s BtC Final the best attended in the contest’s 61-year history. The 2nd-5th place winners in both divisions each took home a Smart Television Set,
with bowlers finishing between 6th and 16th took home certificates to receive event sponsor, Storm, bowling balls. The balance of the field each received a 3-Ball Roller Bag.
Once the final numbers are calculated, the net proceeds derived from the tournament operations will be donated to the Bowlers to Veterans Link. Known as the BVL within
the bowling circles, BVL will direct the funds to benefit Veterans Homes throughout the State of Illinois.
The 61st Annual Beat the Champs Contest occupied the 32 lanes at Mardi Gras Lanes, DeKalb, Ill. A perfect beginning to enhance the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day,
the Youth Division kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with 32 Girls and 32 Boys competing for $5,000 in total SMART Scholarship funding. Each participant was given a special
St. Patrick’s Day Jersey by event sponsor Storm Bowling. After only 100 minutes, the Youth Division finals concluded, thus crowing four champions:
• Girls: 11 & under, Lana Wawyrzik, Wood Dale Bowl, Score: 592
• Boys: 11 & Under, Nehemiah Keefer, Stardust Bowl, Score: 717
• Girls: 12-17, Natalie Sykes, Lakeside Bowl, Score: 815
• Boys: 12-17, Cesar Izguerra, Rolling Lanes, Score: 843
Each division will fund SMART equally:
• 1st Place --- $400
• 2nd Place --- $200
• 3rd Place --- $125
• 4th Place --- $125
• 5th – 8th Place --- $100
With half the field already receiving scholarships, PBA Star, Sean Rash donated $25 towards SMART for 9th – 16th places for each of the four divisions ($800 in total).
Rash, who narrated a wonderful pre-bowling speech and Q & A session for his youth bowling fans, was joined by Storm’s Gary Hulsenberg and Doene Moes,
as well as Illinois State BPA President, Tom Doud.
