onefrombills
06-28-2009, 05:33 AM
Ohio bowler is perfect at Open Championships
6/27/2009
By Matt Cannizzaro and Jason Pinter
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Six months ago, Frank Testa of Akron, Ohio, was in a slump like he has never experienced before, and thanks to some recent coaching, he was able to revive his game in time for the 2009 USBC Open Championships.
Testa sought the help of Open Championships titlist and current Regular Doubles leader Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., and the extra effort paid off as Testa rolled the 28th perfect game of this year's event Friday at Cashman Center.
"I have to thank Mike Shady for helping me fix my game," said Testa, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "Six months ago, my game was in shambles. I have never had a slump like that, and I was at my ultimate low. Ever since Shady came along, everything has been better. I couldn't ask for a better coach."
Using everything Shady, a 2005 Team All-Events champion, taught him, the 27-year-old right-hander headed into his team event with confidence. Testa opened with a 204 game, and toward the end, he knew the lane was opening up for him. He then rattled off 12 consecutive strikes for a 300 game and finished with 215 for a 719 series. He helped Parker Laundry to a 2,994 team total.
"I let the lanes come to me," said Testa, who bowls regularly at Bill White's Akron Lanes. "I wanted to grind the first game out, make good shots and pick up all my spares and then let the lanes open up. In the 10th frame of my first game, I started to notice something."
Once the time came to test his nerves, Testa knew what he had to do for perfection. He previously had a shot at it when he started a game at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont., with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving two pins on his next delivery.
"I had an idea of what it was going to be like in this situation," Testa said. "I didn't do anything different from frames one to 10. I had the same routine from wiping my ball, to holding my hand over the air for the same amount of time, to counting my steps. I wanted everything the same. That last shot was the best shot I threw all game. When it went over the arrows, I knew it would be close. It was just a matter of whether or not the 10 would fall."
While Testa, who also practiced with USBC Silver coach Mike Jasnau before competing at the Open Championships, was up to the challenge Friday, his fiance,, Mandi, had a little trouble dealing with the pressure.
"My fiance, was more nervous than I was," Testa said. "I went to her during the game and she said she was shaking in her boots and couldn't watch. It took her until the fifth frame of the next game to calm down."
After achieving perfection, Testa looked back on how hard the conditions were at the Open Championships, and it made him realize what he did was something special.
"Carrying is always an issue out here," Testa said. "You can't get into the mentality of every time you hit the pocket you will strike. It just doesn't happen. This definitely has not sunk in yet. The best part about it is the history. Every time I come back here, my name will be announced. It is one of the greatest honors I could ever get."
From here, Testa will focus on his goal of making a living on the lanes. Last month, he took his chance at the Professional Bowlers Association Tour Trials but came up short, finishing 44th. That only made him more determined, and now, the University of Akron pharmacy student will try his luck again when the PBA World Series of Bowling kicks off in Detroit in August.
"It is my long term goal to be on Tour, but you never know what your future will hold," Testa said. "Would I like to be out there? Absolutely. But if I can be a pharmacist, I would choose that for a career. Bowling for me is a passion."
On Saturday morning, Rick Pittman of Tavares, Fla., also made a run at perfection before a 6 pin on his final shot left him with the 16th 299 game of this year's Open Championships.
"Out of all the 300s I've had, this one would've been the most memorable by far," said Pittman, who finished his 16th tournament appearance with 661 in singles, 639 in doubles and 624 in team for a 1,924 all-events total. "At the end, I was just relieved that I was done with the pressure. I was excited that I shot 299, and even though I didn't shoot 300, I wasn't disappointed. It just felt good to know that I could bowl a game like that on this kind of lane condition."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
6/27/2009
By Matt Cannizzaro and Jason Pinter
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Six months ago, Frank Testa of Akron, Ohio, was in a slump like he has never experienced before, and thanks to some recent coaching, he was able to revive his game in time for the 2009 USBC Open Championships.
Testa sought the help of Open Championships titlist and current Regular Doubles leader Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., and the extra effort paid off as Testa rolled the 28th perfect game of this year's event Friday at Cashman Center.
"I have to thank Mike Shady for helping me fix my game," said Testa, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "Six months ago, my game was in shambles. I have never had a slump like that, and I was at my ultimate low. Ever since Shady came along, everything has been better. I couldn't ask for a better coach."
Using everything Shady, a 2005 Team All-Events champion, taught him, the 27-year-old right-hander headed into his team event with confidence. Testa opened with a 204 game, and toward the end, he knew the lane was opening up for him. He then rattled off 12 consecutive strikes for a 300 game and finished with 215 for a 719 series. He helped Parker Laundry to a 2,994 team total.
"I let the lanes come to me," said Testa, who bowls regularly at Bill White's Akron Lanes. "I wanted to grind the first game out, make good shots and pick up all my spares and then let the lanes open up. In the 10th frame of my first game, I started to notice something."
Once the time came to test his nerves, Testa knew what he had to do for perfection. He previously had a shot at it when he started a game at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont., with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving two pins on his next delivery.
"I had an idea of what it was going to be like in this situation," Testa said. "I didn't do anything different from frames one to 10. I had the same routine from wiping my ball, to holding my hand over the air for the same amount of time, to counting my steps. I wanted everything the same. That last shot was the best shot I threw all game. When it went over the arrows, I knew it would be close. It was just a matter of whether or not the 10 would fall."
While Testa, who also practiced with USBC Silver coach Mike Jasnau before competing at the Open Championships, was up to the challenge Friday, his fiance,, Mandi, had a little trouble dealing with the pressure.
"My fiance, was more nervous than I was," Testa said. "I went to her during the game and she said she was shaking in her boots and couldn't watch. It took her until the fifth frame of the next game to calm down."
After achieving perfection, Testa looked back on how hard the conditions were at the Open Championships, and it made him realize what he did was something special.
"Carrying is always an issue out here," Testa said. "You can't get into the mentality of every time you hit the pocket you will strike. It just doesn't happen. This definitely has not sunk in yet. The best part about it is the history. Every time I come back here, my name will be announced. It is one of the greatest honors I could ever get."
From here, Testa will focus on his goal of making a living on the lanes. Last month, he took his chance at the Professional Bowlers Association Tour Trials but came up short, finishing 44th. That only made him more determined, and now, the University of Akron pharmacy student will try his luck again when the PBA World Series of Bowling kicks off in Detroit in August.
"It is my long term goal to be on Tour, but you never know what your future will hold," Testa said. "Would I like to be out there? Absolutely. But if I can be a pharmacist, I would choose that for a career. Bowling for me is a passion."
On Saturday morning, Rick Pittman of Tavares, Fla., also made a run at perfection before a 6 pin on his final shot left him with the 16th 299 game of this year's Open Championships.
"Out of all the 300s I've had, this one would've been the most memorable by far," said Pittman, who finished his 16th tournament appearance with 661 in singles, 639 in doubles and 624 in team for a 1,924 all-events total. "At the end, I was just relieved that I was done with the pressure. I was excited that I shot 299, and even though I didn't shoot 300, I wasn't disappointed. It just felt good to know that I could bowl a game like that on this kind of lane condition."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.