Spring 2010 - Kelly Kulick just keeps on rolling to make bowling history!  She has added to her list of winning; most recently the Woman's US Open and the Woman's Queens tournament.  She is the only bowler in professional bowling history to win four consecutive majors in a single year! She is also the first woman to win two of bowling's most prestigious titles in the same year!  Great accomplishments!
January 24, 2010 Kelly Kulick’s historic win Sunday in Las Vegas, Nev., is an ESPN “Instant Classic”.  Kulick became the first woman to win a PBA Tour event, the 45th PBA Tournament of Champions, defeating 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes, 265-195, in the championship match for a $40,000 first prize plus a two-year exemption on the PBA Tour. 

Kelly Kulick's win today at the PBA Tour's Tournament of Champions is not only historic, it serves as a motivational and inspirational event for girls and women competing at all levels all around the world.

Kelly had a great week, defeating several of the top-ranked men bowlers in the world, and hopefully she can truly enjoy the moment and appreciate how it is not only a big deal in bowling, but a major moment in her life and potentially the lives of others.
Comments by Billie Jean King

 Kelly has since been to the White House as a guest of Michelle Obama's as part of Woman's History month.   Read more about Kelly below and on Www.pbatour.com 

Kelly Kulick, Ritger Graduate and Ritger Staff Member,
has earned the right to become the first woman to bowl in the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions due to her victory at Thunderbowl Lanes outside of Detroit, Michigan.  The victory could be seen on ESPN on Sunday afternoon (October 25, 2009).

In 2008, Kelly won gold medals in Masters, all-events, team, trios and doubles with the Woman's Team USA at the 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships. The 2008 PABCON Women's Championships featured 16 countries from the American Zone competing in singles, doubles, trios, team, Masters and all-events.

Kelly's other accomplishments include 2007 USBC Queens Champion, 2003 US Open Champion, and three time TEAM USA member.

Kelly was also the first woman ever exempt on Denny's PBA Tour, PWBA Rookie of the year, four time Collegiate All American, and two time Collegiate Bowler of the Year!  She was also the second woman to win a PBA regional. 

Kelly won a gold medal in the women's singles event at the 14th FIQ World Championships in Oct, 1999, at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She was the only US medalist in the opening competitions. Not only was it a women's record for the event, it was the highest singles score bowled by any competitor in FIQ world championship history, dating back to 1954.

In Feb. 2000, Kelly was named second team WIBC All American team. Team USA member, and a senior at Morehead State University, Kelly was named the Ebonite/BWAA Female Collegiate Bowler of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America for 96/97 and 97/98. Kelly finished 4th place or higher in 10 of the 11 events in which she participated last season, leading her to a unanimous selection by the BWAA Collegiate Committee, a rare event in Collegiate Bowler of the Year balloting. Some additional accomplishments:

• 1996/97 & 1997/98 collegiate bowler of the year and MVP

• MVP collegiate nationals Madison, Wisconsin 1998

• First team All American 1997 and 1998

• National team collegiate champions Morehead State University

• Highest amateur finish in 1998 US Open; 8th

• FIQ World Youth Tenpin championships Inchon, Korea

• Gold doubles

• Silver team

• Silver in Masters

• World Tenpin team cup Netherlands

• Silver team MVP

• Bowler’s Digest bowling writers bowler of the year
  97/98

BWAA Collegiate Bowler of the Year ~ ACU-I Regional Champ Congratulations to our own Jeff Piroozshad named by the Bowling Writers Association of America as the top College Male Bowler of the Year. The announcement was made in Albuquerque at the ABC-BWAA convention March 15th, 2000. He also won the Association of College Unions-International (ACU-I). Jeff shot 2055 for 9 games to qualify to bowl the ACU-I Nationals in Reno May 11-14.>Jeff is currently the team captain as well as bowling coach for the University of Miami bowling team and a Ritger's instructor.

Just a few More Ritger Success Stories!

Gary Hunsucker attended the Charlotte clinic and as one of 1200 entries in the Crown Bowling Association Tournament, won $10,000, and now averages over 200!!

After 55 years of bowling, and one summer at our camp, Bob Bartholf of Ithaca, NY reached that elusive 300 game.

Amanda Burgoyne is currently averaging 210 in league, 206 in traveling league, has had 4 700 series, was Bowler of the Year for Minnesota Jr Bowlers Tour, and at age 14 is the youngest to ever win an MJBT event. Since then, she has won 5 titles, numerous other tournaments, and is a shining star now and for the future! In January, 2000, she rolled 238, 268, 275: 781!!

In one year’s time Wally Kraus of Brookville, IN has rolled 1- 298, 2- 299’s and 1- 300 with an 854 series composed of a 276, 300 and 278! Bowling only twice a week with averages of 207 and 217, Wally has found that he can bowl many more games without tiring using the Ritger method of pendulum swing and letting the ball do the work.

The past two World Bowling Writers Female Amateur Bowlers of the year were trained in the Dick Ritger Basics, technical education and programs: 1996 Cara Honeychurch, Australia, and 1997 Annemiek van den Bogaart, Holland.

Marianne Di Rupo, current 6 time champion on the PWBA. Marianne is one of the best bowlers in the PWBA. "She is consistent in her game both mentally and physically. We are proud to heve her as part of the AMF staff of Champions", stated Dale Niemela, executive director of the AMF Pro Staff.

Michele Feldman, another rising star and the only woman to bowl a 300 on National TV. She won aother title at the Three Rivers Open, Pittsburgh, PA, in Oct. 99.

Amy Robinson won the Massachusetts Youth Scratch Championships, 1998, will be at the National championships in July in Houston.

Tony Billelo, Ritger Staff member and former PBA player, recently completed a stint as the National Coach of the United Arab Emerites team.

Joey Krison broke the Alaska State record with 300 299 246: 845!

Michael Fagan age 16, made the top 24 at the US National Amateur Championships.

Shawn Evans is a member of Team USA

Robin Crawford won the Nashville City Tournament, the Tennessee State Tournament and is a member of the 1998 National Championship Morehead State Team.

Josh Smith bowled the first 300 ever in Pennsylvania State Team Tournament Qualifying.

Tyler Jensen, at age 12, won the Coca Cola State Tournament in Colorado. At 15, he won the Mile Hi YABA Baker Team Challeng, YABA Tour, an entry into the 99 JOG tournament. He placed 17th out of 383 in the JOG 98 tournament in Reno, with a series of 756.

John Losito, Two time National Collegiate Champion, many PBA top 24 finishes, and Ritger Staff Member who coached the National Team of the Phillipines.

Scott Ashley, Farmington, NM, rolled a 300 game and was 4th in the Las Vegas Wipeout Tournament.

Linda Lundsford won the Colorado State Women’s Scratch Tournament.

Flavio Cibra, Milan Italy, won the National Title with 226 average, went on to become the coach of the Hungarian National Team.

Olivia Sandham, at age 13, became the youngest girl to shoot 700 in Colorado with 234, 247, 266, and won the Colorado Jr Masters Annual girl’s scratch tourney.

Daniel Huber, Geneva Switzerland carried the highest average in the country.

Yves Van Eyken is the new National Champion of Belgium

Kelli Rapp, Collegiate Bowler of the Year 1995, National Coaches Assoc Rookie of the Year 96, and NCAA bowler of the year, a member of the San Jose State women’s bowling team.

Dan Ahlquist won the Swedish National Championships, May 1998.

A Few Excerpts of Superlatives
From Recent Graduates

• Kurt Krause - Average increase 164-205

• Jeff Piroozshad - 827 Series 1st week back Brooklyn NY (Center all Time Record)

• David Piroozshad (Brother) 300 in JBT tour

• Leroy Teets - 279 gm 159 pins over avgerage.

• Sandy Argus - 1st 700 Series

• Howard Glassman - 37 pin increase in average

• Eunice Kindred age 13, 6 gm scratch - 1389 in Tampa FL School Tournament Avg. increase 176-191

Here's what some recent graduates had to say:

(From a contingent of recent Michigan attendees)

Some highlights from our kids' accomplishments: Steve had 2-800's, 1-300, 3-299s, is averaging 221, 210. He won a title and was bowler of the year in JTBA (Ohio), was winner of $1725 at MJMA (MIchigan) Scholarship Tournament. He is attending Michigan State. Michelle, 15, averages 175, won a MJMA title, won city open singles tournament. David, 12, averages 185 (up from 168), had sanctioned 253, 656 and was chosen 7 straight years for the All-State Team. Steve and Michelle both were on the All-State Team 6 out of 7 years. Steve, Michelle and David Ewald, St. Clair Shores, Michigan

Thanks to your program I have become a more consistent bowler. I have worked some of my own little things back into my style but not changed the basics that your camp taught me. I would never have bowled these fantastic scores if I hadn't gone to your camp. It has helped me a lot. Thank you.

Tom Jordon, Paterson, N.J.

NOTE: Jordon rolled the highest 3 & 4 game series ever sanctioned by ABC. He had 300, 299, 300, 299 for 899, 1198 at the Garden State Bowl, Union, N.J.

Congratulations! to Gloria and Karen Collura from Canada both graduates of the Dick Ritger Bowling Camp. Karen rolled into 1st place in WIBC open division singles with 747, and was 4th in all events. Teaming with Gloria, her mom, they won the WIBC open division doubles! A $5600 payday!

5000 + Graduating Ritger Students Have Demonstrated an Average Improvement of 20+ pins!