Bowling: Hardesty inducted into local Hall of Fame
October 9, 2012 6:46PM
Al Hardesty is the newest member of the Great Joliet Area Bowling Hall of Fame. | File photo
Updated: November 11, 2012 6:16AM
Al Hardesty’s induction into the Greater Joliet Area Bowling Hall of Fame for superior performance highlighted the 55th annual Joliet Area Bowling Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner over the weekend at the Joliet Moose.
This is the 34th year the Hall of Fame induction coincided with the awards dinner. Hardesty has averaged 194 in 19 ABC/USBC Open Championships, with 210 in 1996 his all-events high. He also has been involved in nine Joliet Bowling Association Tournament team titles in the last 11 years. Seven of those titles are scratch; in 2007 and ’11 he was a member of the handicap team winners.
Hardesty had the distinction of bowling a 247 triplicate at the USBC Open Championships in 1996, setting a record that held for 13 years.
Consistency has helped him to averages from 221 to a peak of 234. He has bowled 18 300 games, with two in 2002 and ’09 and three in ’10. He also has two 800 series, an 800 in 2002 and 814 in ’08.
Hardesty owns and operates The Strike Shop at Crest Hill Lanes.
Sharon Sanchez was named the 2011-12 Senior Queen with 288 points. She received points for a composite average of 162, 24 points for league high games and 102 points for league high series. This is her first year as Senior Queen.
The Senior Queen’s Court also was named: first runner-up Lavon Picco with 275 points, second runner-up Deborah Brown (242), third runner-up Susan Polesel (241) and fourth runner-up Susan Hirner (212).
Steve Benson is the Senior King with 254.83 points. He received points for a composite average of 223.33 and added three for multiple leagues, 10 for singles and 12 points for all-events in the JBA Tournament, two for senior all-events, 1.5 points for age and three for multiple centers. This is his first year as Senior King.
The Senior King’s Court was first runner-up George Kontos (254.36), second runner-up Richard Plant (245.5), third runner-up Tom Hinz (241) and fourth runner-up Scott O’Connor (237.94).
Nikki Lunsford was named Queen for the seventh time. She had 436 points from a composite average of 222. She added 144 points from league high series, 33 from league high games, 17 from JA USBC WBA Tournament all-events, seven from tournament singles and 13 from placing in the Women’s Will County Open.
The Queen’s Court was first runner-up Patti Schultz with 289 points, second runner-up Amanda Perion (265), third runner-up Regina Kettman (251), fourth runner-up Nikki Berry (243), fifth runner-up Tammy Richter (235), sixth runner-up Jenny Petzoldt (231), seventh runner-up Jackie Duvick (228), eighth runner-up Lynda Szczepanski (226) and ninth runner-up Vickie Trouper.
Wade Gayhart was crowned King for the fourth time with 311 points. He received his points from a composite average of 237.33 and added three for multiple leagues, 19 from league series, 32 from league games and 20 from the Will County Open.
The King’s Court was first runner-up Dan Bachar (293), second runner-up Andrew Welz (283), third runner-up Anton Strubel (264), fourth runner-up Eric Sommers (263), fifth runner-up Steven Lunsford (260.84), sixth runner-up Kirk Beissmann (260.33), seventh runner-up Jeffrey Kersey (257), eighth runner-up Chris Paxson (254.82) and ninth runner-up Lawrence Walker (254.42).
The Will County Bowling Proprietors Association hosted the banquet.
The fifth annual Joliet Area Mixed Doubles Tournament, sponsored by Kozol Brothers, will be Oct. 27 and 28 at Town & Country Lanes with $500 guaranteed for first place. Call (815) 436-7569 for information.
