This past week, Wallenpaupack Bowling Center made its mark in the history books with a variety of perfect games and a 800 series.
The drama began last Friday night when, for the second time in her career, Kathleen Conklin rolled a perfect game. To date, she is the only woman in the history of Paupack Lanes to achieve perfection.
Conklin’s perfect game came in the middle of two other impressive scores. Combined, she fired a 749 series.
Kathleen’s historic feat was only a sign of things to come for women who strive to compete amongst the men on the lanes.
Last Sunday, Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ made history while competing at the PBA Tour’s Tournament of Champions, for which Kulick was eligible as a result of her Women’s Tour victory last season.
Kulick’s win last week was the first win by a woman on the Lumber Liquidator’s PBA Tour — thus ending a streak of 51 seasons without a victory.
Both Conklin’s and Kulick’s achievements are huge steps towards the advancement of women in the sport of bowling nationwide.
Paupack Lanes continued to make its mark in the history books when, on Thursday evening, Pat Mang rolled a perfect game of his own, en route to a 760 series. However, Mang was not the only high roller that evening.
Paupack’s Jim Kennedy has been building an incredible season for himself. In the first month of the 2009-10 season, Kennedy rolled two perfect games and averaged over the 230 mark.
This past Thursday, during the Wayne Major League, Kennedy ignited a massive firecracker, coming within 24 pins of the house record. Kennedy recorded games of 267, 279, and 299. The 299 was the result of a blowout 7-pin which , according to him, was the best ball he had thrown all night.
Kennedy and Conklin’s scores were not the only high scores thrown by Wallenpaupack’s keglers this week. While Conklin was putting together a historic night for herself, Fred Haase attempted to etch his name into Wallenpaupack’s record books as well.
He missed the 800-series mark by seven pins. Fred’s games were 257, 278 and 258 — good for a 793 series.
Haase is an non-traditional bowler. Standing at 6 foot in height, Fred has acquired an unorthodox bowling style. He rolls off his left foot and throws a ball which is, as fellow bowler Michael Markis says: “Older than me.”
However, each season, Haase averages well over the 200 mark. In the Wayne Commercial League, Haase is averaging 222 with 15 weeks left in the season.
