USBC Women's Championships gets underway in Syracuse

With the glitz and glamour of an opening night worthy of Broadway, the curtain was raised on the 2011 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, N.Y. on April 7.

Twinkling scoreboard lights and pulsating music welcomed the first of nearly 6,000 teams during the official opening ceremonies at the newly constructed 48-lane Oncenter venue. The festivities included the ribbon cutting featuring New York's Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney (center), USBC Executive Director Stu Upson (left) and USBC President Darlene Baker (right).

"There is an incredible buzz as people have been excited for this tournament to start," Mahoney said. "You have created a lot of excitement in our city and county, and we welcome you."

Onondaga County legislator Kathy Rapp, dressed in a light blue bowling shirt, rolled the ceremonial first ball. Entertainment was provided by The Mandarins, an all-female acapella group from Syracuse University.

Opening night also featured the presentation of the inaugural gem series championship trophy to Missy Klug of Macomb, Mich. Klug, a three-time Team USA member, won the Scratch Doubles title with Carol Gianotti of Henderson, Nev., last year in El Paso, Texas. This was Klug's first time bowling on opening night.

"I was excited to be a part of opening night," Klug said. "It was awesome to be recognized in front of such a large group of people, and this is something I will remember for a long time."

The Women's Championships has three average-based divisions, which will be contested using 100-percent handicap. The divisions are named Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire.

Nearly 29,000 bowlers, plus family and friends, from 50 states and several foreign countries are expected during this year's 88-day event. The tournament is expected to provide an estimated $40 million boost to the local community. This is the third time in the 92-year history of the Women's Championships that Syracuse has hosted this event. It previously was held there in 1940 and 1954.

This year marks the second consecutive time the tournament is being held in a convention-center setting, similar to the one used for the USBC Open Championships, which was held in Syracuse in 1999. The 2010 Women's Championships was held in El Paso.