HOLIDAY BOWL

champs Zach Wojciechowski & Alyssa Williams

        Two veterans added JBT titles to their collections in exciting New Mexico-Texas Conference action at Albuquerque's Holiday Bowl.

        After five games on a high scoring pattern, finalists played 'pick your poison', where the higher seeds choose who they want to play in matchplay.  Harley Sweigart, the previous day's champion, was brilliant again this day, averaging an even 250 with a 300 game en route to the top seed.  He has derailed both Harvey brothers repeatedly in previous events, so unsurprisingly he chose to bowl Zach, but this time a Harvey finally had the antidote for a Harley, as Zach defeated Sweigart in a terrific 473-463 match.  Zach consolidated that witha semifinal win over his brother 246-208 to reach the finals. 

        "Wojo", meanwhile, had the mojo in his matches, with wins over Matt Lenz and Brother Jonah Seawright to reach the title match.  He was just as sharp in the finale, stringing the strikes in a 246-200 win over Harvey, good for the third title of his JBT career.

        Montana Cdebaca qualified last for pick your poison, but the people who picked her regretted that choice, as she mowed past qualifying leader Brandyn MacPhee and Jay Heffer to reach the title game.  Williams' road to the finals, meanwhile, led through Kelly McNeil, and then Jacob Marquis, who earlier fired a 288 scratch game for a 332 total, the 7th highest handicap game in JBT history.

        Both girls rolled excellent games in the title match, but in the end Alyssa squeezed out a 238-221 win, also the third title of her JBT career.

        MacPhee's excellent day also included a win over Nathan Nguyen for the day's U-17 side event title.  Bree Vargas prevented Vanessa Romero from sweeping the girls scratch weekend with a title match win in the girls scratch event.  Matteo Bergonzi took home the day's Ebonite ball of his choice.  In addition to Sweigart's perfecto, John Newton avenged a painful 299 last season with a perfect 300 game here, the first of his career.

        Thanks as always to the crew at Holiday for an excellent hosting job!  Want in on all this fun for all ages and all averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!

Qualifying scores: