RIVERSIDE LANES

                                           ^ PEE WEES ^                                                                                                ^ BANTAMS ^

                                          ^ JUNIORS ^                                                                                                   ^ SENIORS ^ 

May 23, 2009 

"Alright bowlers - who wants a trophy?"

"Me, ME, me, me, ME!"

"That's what I thought you'd say, so we decided to make a trophy for EVERYONE!"

Yes, another bowling season has come to an end, unfortunately and for the YBC (Youth Bowling Canada Program), I'm willing to argue that it's been our best season ever in two respects - one, for the number of smiles and laughs shared and two, for the number of titles won, of course!

On Saturday May 23, 2009 Riverside Lanes in New Hamburg celebrated the achievements of their 76 youth bowlers from 10am until 10pm with Award Presentations, Cosmic (glow in the dark) Bowling Party, 45 large pepperoni and cheese pizzas courtesy of Pizza Arca and non-stop soft ice cream and slushie!

Starting with the Pee Wee division, those aged 5-7, almost 50 trophies were presented to 20 kids! Using our new ice cream machine as inspiration, we chose ice cream flavours for team names this year - the League Champions were the Mint Chips - Sidney Hiemstra and Cullum Agnew and the Playoff Champions went to the Rainbow Sorbets - Isabelle Becker and Kaitlyn Poth. Individual awards for High Scores went to Kaitlyn Bilton for the girls High Single of 152 and Sam Wagler for the boys High Single of an amazing 179. The girls High Double of 251 went to Rachel Habermehl and the boys High Double of an astounding 301 was awarded to Cullum Agnew. The most important trophy, High Average, was given to Isabelle Becker for the girls this year with an average score of 98 and the boys top prize, being titled the Three Star Award since he deserved all three High Scores for his 182 single, 315 double and an astonishing average score of 111 went to none other than Sidney Hiemstra. Our Most Improved Pee Wee Bowler this year, increasing their average the most from the beginning to the end of the season, by 30 points was Cullum Agnew winning yet again as a first year bowler! Other highlights of the season included Sam Wagler's victory at the Zone Round of the Family Twosome where Sam and his dad, Tim Wagler bowled as a team and move on to the Provincials in Toronto in June. Madison Heipel is another first year player who brought home a Zone Title for the Bowler of the Year Tournament beating her average by more than the rest of the bowlers from around the region including Stratford, Elmira, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge!

By 12pm the Pee Wees were gone and the MCs, Eric Whittaker and Steve Heinbuch had to get the centre ready for another 50 guests. The 16 Bantams, aged 8-10, were all here early to get a good seat with their siblings, parents and even grandparents. Of the 6 teams, only one could be named the League Champions and coming up with their own team names, the Penguins took it - Sam Hiemstra, Angel Rabishaw and Delaney Helmke. Following the regular season is two weeks of playoffs and this year, the 2-man team, the Pin Pals - Keith Sebastian and Kurtis Proksch ran away with it. Individual awards for High Scores followed, with a girl High Single of 187 and a boys High Single of 183, Jessa Becker and Sam Hiemstra were awarded these trophies, respectively. Moving up in importance from a one game score to a three game total is the award for High Triple and this year for the girls, 479 was enough to win it for Alyssa Bender and for the boys, 511 was enough for Keith Sebastian to earn the trophy. Next up, High Average, the bowler with the highest average score, this year technically winning all three High Scores and receiving the Three Star Awards were Hadley Wagler for her 239 single, 567 triple and 145 average and Holden Helmke for his 228 single, 545 triple and 148 average. Our Most Improved Bantam Bowler this year, also increasing their average by a magnificent 30 points was Delaney Helmke. Special mention goes to her as we presented her with the Spirit Award this year because as a first-year Bantam, she switched from two-handed bowling to one and certainly never stopped trying to get better. Other notable achievements go to the girls and boys 4 Steps to Stardom teams, the biggest YBC tournament of the year. This year, the Boys Team: Holden Helmke, Adam Koehler, Keith Sebastian, Jason Kalbfleisch and Coach Steven Tease brought home a Bronze Medal and the Girls Team: Hadley Wagler, Alyssa Bender, Jessa Becker, Rochelle Becker and Coach Sarah Culbert earned the Silver Medal at the Zone Round saying, "I've earned more YBC medals as a coach than I ever did as a YBC bowler!" Another Zone Title went to the pair, Keith Sebastian and Hope Wojcik for their High Low Doubles Tournament win where they went to Etobicoke to compete in the Provincials.

Then it was almost 4pm and the MCs were trying to set up another 50 trophies for the next group, the 16 Juniors, aged 11-13 and all their relatives who came to watch their bowlers accept their trophies. Using chocolate bars and candies for team names this year, the Twixes - Olivia Osburn, Aidan Bruce and Charlotte Kenny were named the League Champions and the Playoff Champions went to the 3 Musketeers (a very fitting name if ever there was one) - Sydney Helmke, Jake Elgood and Lillie Proksch. Individual High Scores in the Junior division improve as the age of the bowlers increase, for the girls, with a High Single of 245, Sydney Helmke deserved this award and for the boys, with a High Single of 220, Ryan Arnold claimed the trophy. The girls High Triple this year went to Kaitlyn Poth for her 627 effort and the boys High Triple belonged to Jake Elgood for his 614 total score. For the girls High Average, Olivia Osburn justified being top bowler with an average score of a very nice 181 and in the boys category, Jordan Becker received the Three Star Award for staying ahead of his fellow bowlers with a 284 single, 654 triple and 183 average. Our Most Improved Junior Bowler was first-year player, Dana Priekschas, who increased her average by 24 points throughout the year. Another award was presented to Jordan Becker for his outstanding performance at the Junior Boys 4 Steps to Stardom Singles Zone Round where he triumphed over bowlers from around the region. Jordan went on to the Provincials as Zone C's Representative against 15 other Zones in Ontario and did us proud. Getting annoyed with silver, Zak Eckert went to the Zone Round for the Bowler of the Year Tournament determined to win gold, but came back disappointed yet again with another second place finish. I keep telling him that second is awesome, but I guess he won't be happy until he gets first - maybe next year!

By 7pm, all the pizza, slushie and ice cream were kicking in and Steve and Eric were ready for all of the teenagers. However, only 12 of the 24 Seniors made it, those aged 14-19; nevertheless, we presented the awards! League Champions in this division were the Kingpins - Daniel Aitken, Sam Gray, Dillon Lautenslager and Rob Doucet. The Playoff Champions went to Tyler's Babes - Jacklyn Weatherup, Samantha Doyle, Shawna Doyle and Tyler Arnold. Individual awards for High Singles went to Jennifer Tease with her 263 and Sam Gray with his 316. High Triples of 667 for the girls and 758 for the boys went to Angela Schiedel and Dylan Schultz, correspondingly. The girls High Average was a very close race among three of them - coming in third with 178.6 was Jennifer Tease, coming in second with 178.7 was Jacklyn Weatherup, but the girl who clinched the award was Victoria Rafuse with 179.0! Conversely, the boys side of things was a completely different story, Jamie Poth had a commanding lead over this opposition and obtained the Three Star Award with a remarkable triad: 374 single, 817 triple and 209 average! I would also like to note that both Victoria and Jamie are 14 years old and first-year Seniors who just moved up from the Junior division this year and to win this award in their first year is quite the achievement. Our Most Improved Senior Bowler was Shawna Doyle, who increased her average by 13 points throughout the year. Another Zone Title went to the pair, Jennifer Tease and Samantha Doyle for their High Low Doubles Tournament win where they went to Etobicoke to compete in the Provincials. An honourable mention goes to Dylan Schultz for his high single of 302 and congratulations to Shawna Doyle, Ben Tiegs and Daniel Aitken for graduating from the YBC.

We, Eric and June Whittaker and Steve Heinbuch too, want to thank James Aoki for being our photographer throughout the year and Michael Hiesmtra for helping out at our year-end party. We appreciate Sheri Tease for being our Senior Supervisor and keeping track of their scores and Laura Becker for being the YBC Program Director. We would also like to recognize Pee Wee and Bantam Coaches, Sara Culbert and Steven Tease; Junior Coach, Tanya Goodwin and Senior Coach, Marcella Habermehl for doing an excellent job with the bowlers, coaching them and cheering them on each and every week. We couldn't do it without you guys! A big thank you to all of the bowlers for a great season and to the parents for bringing them every week and encouraging them, we look forward to seeing everyone again in September, if not sooner, along with hopefully a bunch of new faces to win a bunch more titles - have a great summer!

For ALL of the award winners and pictures, click here!

If you are interested in bowling in the upcoming season, give us a call at 519-662-1938, the 2009-2010 season starts the week after Labour Day in September.

And remember, we have ice cream, so if you see our OPEN sign out front, come on in for a cool treat and throw a few balls!

April 29, 2009 

On March 15, a team from New Hamburg took part in a Special Olympics Bowling Tournament in Cambridge. Kristi Heyer, Rob Edwards, Barry Schaaf, Jeanette George and Barbara Becker were awarded medals for first place and were proclaimed as tournament champions. Lindsay Neubauer received a medal for High Single Female Scratch.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/172485 

February 18, 2009 

Big Brothers Big Sisters is hoping more people will lace up their bowling shoes for the cause this year.

The organization's annual Bowl for Kids Sake is underway and money raised will go towards meeting the high demand for its services.

"We have a waiting list for our in-school mentoring programs and right now the only reason we can't fill those is a combination of resources and volunteers," said Colleen Hicks, fund development manager for the group's local chapter.

"For us to provide support for the programs and grow the programs where there is a need, the financial part of it is a big piece of that."

Bowl for Kids Sake is a national fundraiser that runs from Feb. 14 to the end of March.

Different types of organizations - from banks to grocery stores - are invited to take part in bowling challenges.

"We match it up so it's convenient for people who are interested in taking part," Hicks said. "It's not just one day or one weekend - we can pretty much accommodate everyone's schedule."

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area hope to raise $120,000 through Bowl for Kids Sake 2009, up from the $116,000 it brought in last year.

Despite the current economic situation, Hicks is optimistic they'll hit the target as participation rates are similar to past events.

"We're hopeful we'll meet the goal, otherwise we wouldn't have it out there," she said. Each participant raises at least $50 in pledges and Big Brothers Big Sisters covers the cost of bowling, shoe rentals and pizza.

Proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentoring programs, which help children and youth maximize their potentials. Money raised locally stays in Kitchener-Waterloo and its surrounding areas.

To get involved or to find out more information, contact Hicks at 519-579-5150, ext. 210. "We're really pleased with the people who have signed on already and we're hopeful we'll get more," she said.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/163739

November 21, 2008 

Riverside Lanes hosted the third annual bowlathon for The Children's Hospital of Western Ontario last Wednesday.

New Hamburg's Royal Bank and Mennonite Savings and Credit Union teamed up to raise $3,820. The event has raised just under $10,000 in the past three years.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/106873

August 20, 2008 

A New Hamburg father-daughter team has captured a provincial bowling title.

Tim and Hadley Wagler recently competed in the Youth Bowling Canada sponsored Ontario Family Twosome event.

Tim Wagler said the two have been bowling for about three years together.

"We had bowled in New Hamburg and were one of two teams in New Hamburg that moved onto the zone championship," he said.

The zone championship is a regional event, which was held in Kitchener.

After taking a win at the regional event, the Waglers were sent to Toronto, where, along with the rest of their family, they were put up in a hotel room last weekend.

"It was fun," Hadley said.

They were sent to a Blue Jays baseball game with other competitors and then spent the rest of the afternoon at the bowling alley competing.

"There was some pretty good bowlers," Tim said.

One father, from St. Thomas, frequently bowls in the men's nationals event.

Although they bowled a few good games, they weren't sure how well they were placing against the other teams.

"I had no idea that we were in first," said Hadley.

The two would alternate bowling in each frame.

A handicap was also put in place based on the averages the two bowled.

After the first few games were completed. the duo was hovering around third place.

After four, the two dropped down to sixth place.

Then, the two started to pick up the pace and bowled some solid games.

"Our other daughter came down in the sixth frame of the last game and said 'Hey, you guys are in first,'" Tim said.

"I figured I needed to mark to make a shot at it and I punched the head pin," Tim said.

Hadley came up in the tenth frame, bowling two strikes, followed by another 5 pins.

That solid play by Hadley gave the Wagler's a five-point edge over the second place team.

"Then we just had to wait and see if any other teams had caught us," Tim said.

Hadley said she was excited when listening to the scores to discover they had won the tournament.

Hadley has been bowling for the past three years. Tim also bowled as a youth and has only recently reentered the sport.

"Hadley was pretty excited about going to the tournament, she had been asking about it for weeks," Tim said. "It was a lot of fun as a family."

Bowling must run in the family, as Tim's nephew is Jamie Poth, who recently competed in the Bantam nationals.

The provincial tournament marked the end of the season for the Wagler family. Next year Hadley will continue to compete in the Bantam category and the father-daughter pair may return to the tournament to defend their title.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/140121

May 14, 2008

Jamie Poth placed sixth in the 2008 Youth Bowling Canada National Four Steps to Stardom competition in Edmonton earlier this month.

The New Hamburg teen said it was a great competition. "I got to meet new people from all the other provinces," the 13-year-old said.

There were 13 other boys which Poth competed against over the course of three days and while bowling 24 games. Poth won 14 of the games.

"It was very close," he said, noting the boy who did win took 16 of the games.

The bowling season has finished for Poth, who said the competitive league will start again in September.

Poth has been bowling for nine years now.

He started at the age of five, bowling at Riverside Lanes under the guidance of lanes owner Eric Whittaker.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/128302

March 19, 2008 

New Hamburg Junior bowler Jamie Poth took Four Steps To Stardom to land in the national spotlight after winning the Provincial Youth Bowling Canada (YBC) boys single Championship in Ottawa on March 9.

The 13-year old bowler is aiming to win big in Edmonton in May when he will compete against other bowlers his age from across Canada in a three-day tournament to crown the national champion.

At the nationals in Edmonton the tables will be turned on the bowlers since they'll be playing a double round-robin match-play system.

Bowlers will play twice in each round, earning one point for a win, half a point for a tie and nothing for a loss. At the end of the tournament the player with the most points wins. There will be no scoring or point totals to get them through.

"Winning is the most important thing," says Riverside Lanes owner Erich Whittaker. "Not to get the average."

"He better be in good shape," he adds. "You've got to build your stamina up. It's a lot."

Whittaker knows what he's talking about. He went to the provincials on the men's team 15 times.

"I've always taught him there's only one thing in bowling," Whittaker says. "Attack, attack, attack!" Match play requires players to back off and take a more defensive strategy.

Leading up to the nationals, Whittaker says he'll be working with Jamie to play eight games a day in preparation for the grueling 24-game tournament.

The bowling alley operator has watched Poth rise to the occasion in two previous provincial boys single championships and now he's hoping to welcome home a national champion.

If he wins, it will be a first for the New Hamburg centre. Poth is already the first bowler from New Hamburg to advance to national competition representing southern Ontario and wearing the provincial colours.

Jamie is a Grade 8 student at Forest Glen school in New Hamburg where he plays soccer and varsity basketball.

The athletic teen recently earned MVP on his school basketball team.

"He's already been told when he gets a little older he's on my men's team," Whittaker says.

Jamie started bowling at Riverside Lanes at age 5 and quickly began to demonstrate a natural ability for the sport.

Jamie's dad Andy recalls that two years ago when his son traveled to his first provincial tournament, most of the other players in his division thought he was in the wrong lane.

Jamie will be traveling to Edmonton and flying for the first time, with his dad.

The entire trip is paid for by YBC.

At the provincials earlier this month, Poth started strong with a first-game score of 217 to land him in fourth in the competition. His second game rolled out to a 219 to earn him fifth place among the 16 competitors. In his third game, Jamie struggled to earn a strike or a spare through the first few frames. In six frames he emerged with a score of 71. But through the next three frames his game got stronger, eventually earning him a 174 and a sixth-place finish, almost 100 points behind the leader.

Game 4 was all his.

He started with four strikes in a row and earned two spares in the fifth and sixth frames for a score of 213. The game ended with a score of 273. Poth moved up to third place and 41 points behind the leader.

By Game 5, fatigue was starting to show in all of the bowlers. Poth started with two spares and a strike to end five frames with 100 points. In the final frames he bowled three strikes to finish with a score of 190 and an overall total of 1,073. The score was enough to put him in first place followed by David Phipps, of Tillsonburg and Alexander Marshall, of Peterborough.

The provincials marked the third step in YBC's Four Steps to Stardom competition which starts with a house round, progresses to zone finals, then to provincials and finally national competition.

Poth qualified to take his first step in December when he won the house round in New Hamburg. From there he beat out the competition from the other centers in Zone C, including Elmira, Kitchener, Startford and Cambridge, to move on to the provincial tournament at the Walkley Bowling Centre in Ottawa.

The national championships in Edmonton are being held May 3, 4 and 5. The event will welcome 36 boys and girls competing in singles or team events in Bantam, Junior and Senior age levels.

Source: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/121060

March 16, 2003 

Bowling at Dickson Bowl in Cambridge on Sunday, the Senior Boys team from Riverside Lanes emerged as the Zone Champions by beating 11 other teams from the Region. They now continue on to the Provincial Championships, also being held in Cambridge on March 16.

Steve Heinbuch led the local team averaging 266, with single games of 325 and 314. Matthew Read averaged 239 for the day, with a spectacular 386 single.

Matt Parsons, bowling in the lead position averaged 238 with a 291 single effort. Jason Vandermolen and Devon Otterbein made up the remainder of the team and averaged 213 and 196 respectively.

The team was coached by Master Bowler Marcella Habermehl and the victory was the first 4 Steps team event for Riverside Lanes under current owners June and Eric Whittaker.

February 23, 1997

The Master Bowlers and their Youth Bowling (YBC) team members from Riverside Lanes in New Hamburg travelled to Victoria Lanes for the Regional Master Bantam roll-offs in Kitchener.

Locally, five teams competed, each consisting of one Master, one YBC Bantam boy and one YBC Bantam girl.

The teams had great success, qualifying first, second and third.

In first place was the team of Kerry Swartz, Matthew Read and Jenna Swartz with a score of +247.

Finishing second was the local team of Marcella Habermehl, Kevin Gingerich and Carrie Martin with a score of +245.

Finishing third was Jason Zehr, Tommy Forler and Abbey Gingerich with a score of +172.

Capturing the high single score for the boys with a score of 210 was David Hohl.

Another highlight of the tournament was Master Bowler Kerry Swartz rolling a single game score of 430.

Due to winning the regional roll-offs, the team Kerry Swartz, Matthew Read and Jenna Swart will bowl on April 5 in Hamilton for the provincial title.