RENO, Nev. -- Sometimes, what's remarkable about bowlers is their memories of timeless stories they can share with their teammates at the USBC Women's Championships. And sometimes, when bowlers tell those stories, they are as fresh as the day on which they happened, such as the case with Anita Cantaline of Warren, Mich.

Recently honored for making her 60th appearance at the Women's Championships, Cantaline enjoys regaling listeners with stories centered on early Detroit bowlers. One of those was the legendary Fred Wolf, a USBC Hall of Famer and host of the former Championship Bowling television show. Another favorite story subject is her compatriot, Mini Tvaska, formerly of Dearborn, Mich. Tvaska is the all-time participation leader at the Women's Championships with 63 years logged.

"Mini volunteered to shoot movies at one of Fred's bowling events, and we arranged to have a showing for everyone at one of the center's bars," Cantaline said. "So Mini set up the projector, and we all were sitting there watching the screen. When the film began to roll, suddenly the pins went up in the air and stood up on the lane. Next thing, the ball was returning to the bowler's hand, and he was backing up on the approach. Mini had accidentally put the film in backwards - she then offered to stop and fix it, but we wouldn't let her. We were all having too much fun watching it the way it was."

With such good-natured lane tales, peppered with names of Michigan bowling luminaries, it's easy to see why bowling has been Cantaline's sport of choice over the years.

"My mother always said that Anita never married because she was married to her bowling ball," said her sister, Inez Veraldi, who accompanies Cantaline on her bowling excursions. "She has always been so dedicated to bowling. She really loves it."

The right-handed Cantaline, 82, first was introduced to the sport after her high school graduation by her older sisters, who bowled in company leagues for their Detroit-area employers. That led to Sunday leagues and subbing with others, and eventually to employment with the Detroit Women's Bowling Association. She finally retired from her position as day manager for Eastland Bowl.

"My philosophy is to, first thing, have fun," Cantaline said. "I also like to remember what Fred Wolf said: 'You don't have to play a sport good to be a good sport.'"

Cantaline owns a high game of 289 and a high series of 735. She recently down-sized to a 10-pound ball, and bowled for the first time with the Michigan Seniors in May. She calls Continental Lanes of Roseville her home center as a member of the Thursday league.

This year, Cantaline bowled in Division 2, posting a 441 in doubles and 430 in singles. She did not bowl team.

Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Women's Championships are Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Reno. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Sands Regency Casino Hotel, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, Club Cal Neva, and Storm Products Inc.