2008-09 Sport Bowling High Average Awards go to Galante, Jablonski, Pavone and Pluhowsky
The United States Bowling Congress has declared Ashly Galante of Palm Harbor, Fla., Adam Jablonski of Sterling Heights, Mich., Skip Pavone of San Jose, Calif., and Shannon Pluhowsky of Kettering, Ohio, the 2008-09 USBC Sport Bowling National High Average Award winners.
Pavone and Pluhowsky are first-time winners, capturing the adult male and adult female titles, respectively. Jablonski has now won the youth male award two years in a row while Galante captured the youth female category for a USBC-record fifth-consecutive season.
Galante won this year's award by leading all female youth Sport bowlers with a 216 average during the KTC-WIU Sport Classic League held at the Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla. That mark greatly eclipses her four previous winning averages, which were 204.18, 206, 200.71 and 194.05, respectively.
Galante will not have the opportunity to defend her title in the female youth division as the 2008-09 season was her last in the youth ranks. She is now competing in the adult female division.
"I'm really happy that I won this award again; it was a great way to finish up my youth career," Galante said. "Now, it'll be fun to go up against some of the great women bowlers from across the country because I respect them so much."
Jablonski, who won this year's youth male award by averaging 218 during the Ottman Memorial Junior PBA Sport League at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights, echoed many of the same sentiments as he, too, has now transitioned to the world of adult bowling.
"Being that it was my last year in youth, I wanted to go out on a high note, and this certainly tops it off," Jablonski said. "The first time I won, I just had a great season. This time, I had a lot more ups and downs, so it took a lot more patience and determination for me to get to the top. Winning two years in a row is just a tremendous honor; I couldn't be happier."
The same can be said of Pavone, who earned his place on the podium by putting up a 229 average during PBA Experience competition in the Junior/Adult PBA Experience League at Cambrian Bowl in San Jose, Calif.
"I've been bowling for more than 40 years, and this accomplishment is right up there with anything I've ever done," Pavone said. "This award isn't about being the leader in your bowling center, city or state; this is about leading the entire country. I don't even think winning has sunk in for me yet."
Pluhowsky is a Team USA member who has captured several titles at the national and international levels. As such, one might assume she is so accustomed to victory that she would have little reaction to winning the adult female division with a 215 average during the Dayton Hall of Fame Sport League at Capri Bowling Lanes in Dayton, Ohio. According to Pluhowsky, that is not the case.
"Winning this award was a very different experience than winning a tournament," Pluhowsky said. "Sometimes, you can win a tournament by getting hot for a few days or weeks. Winning this took a lot more consistency and better bowling over a much longer period of time, so I'm very happy to have won."
Pavone and Pluhowsky will receive the distinctive Sport Bowling Crystal Pin award, symbolic of their accomplishments. Jablonski and Galante will receive USBC Youth medals and certificates.
To be eligible for the Sport Bowling National High Average Award, members must have bowled a minimum of 48 games in a certified Sport Bowling league during the 2008-09 season.
