Massachusetts USBC Youth Association

Each one of our board members have their own accomplishments, reasons or how they got started.  We wanted to share a little bit of personal history about our board.

Peter Marchetti
It all began in 1988 when Lou Orazio dragged me to a Berkshire county YABA board meeting and nominated me Association Secretary/Treasurer.  I served my first year as an officer as well as a junior bowler.  I was willing to join because of my love for the sport that started at the age of 8 when it was still AJBC (American Junior Bowling Congress.)  In 1990, I contacted Lauren Eramo, the state secretary and asked why Berkshire County had been neglected and was told I had my facts wrong.  That year I joined the state board and helped bring the "missing link from Berkshire County."  I felt out of place my first year, since I was the youngest board member.  After a couple of  years, I took on the challenge to create an association policy manual that had been requested by the existing state President and surprised many people.  In 1996, the President stepped down from his duties and I ran and have been President ever since.  I enjoy my work with the board because of the many bonds and friendships that have been made over the years.               

 Rose Hamilton
I started bowling at the age of 14, in the Youth League at Westgate Lanes in Brockton.  Over the years, I became more interested in bowling and especially Youth bowling.  When my children became old enough to bowl we started them at Westgate Lanes.  I became a Certified Coach, and worked with the youth.  I became a board member in 1987.  Since then, things have changed.  Both my children are adult bowlers, and now we are starting to work with our 2-1/2 year old granddaughter, Angelina.  I am still involved with the youth program at Westgate Lanes, it is was keeps me going.  I still bowl in two leagues and most recently, I represented the State of Massachusetts at the Senior National Championships in Reno, Nevada.  Youth bowling has changed.  The youth are able to compete for scholarships to help them with their education.  I wish I had the chance to do that, and the Junior Olympic Gold program, where some of the best Youth Bowlers compete.  Over the years, the MAUSBCYA Board is part of my family, and I will always cherish the friendships I have made.

Bob Taraskiewicz
I have bowled for over 40 years.  In my many years of bowling, I have been fortunate to bowl 20 honor scores.  I have (6) 290 games, (2) 298 games, (2) 299 games and (10) 300 games.  My high series is 804, with (5) series over 794.  I have bowled in many tournaments.  I went to the ABC Nationals 4 times and bowled well, but never cashed.  My best moment in a tournament was winning the doubles, with a good friend in Vermont during the Green Mountain Open. I have been past President and Vice President of the Pittsfield Bowling Association and a Director for over 20 years.  I am the current President of the Berkshire County Youth Association.  I have been on the State Board for 7 years and currently hold the position of 2nd Vice President.

Lauren Eramo
I started bowling when I  moved to Massachusetts in 1968.  When I physically retired from bowling I carried a 169 average.  I got involved with the youth when my children were young and became the program director of their program in 1975-present.  I've been a certified coach for the past 27 years.  I was a coach instructor for 15 years and taught more than 400 coaches in the state of Massachusetts over that time period.  I came on the YABA board in 1982 as the Sargent-at-Arms and then became the Secretary/Treasurer in 1985.  I held that position until 2006 when we became USBC and then I became the Association Manager.  The thing I love about bowling, is watching the youth coming in knowing nothing and then become great bowlers.  Also, this is a sport everyone can enjoy, no matter what age or physical challenges.  It is a sport you can do anytime and make great friends wherever you go.  I love watching the youth start as Bantams with very low averages and then become great bowlers.  I love the youth and that's why I believe I've been doing it for so long.

George Sylvester
I have been bowling since 6 years old.  My father was an avid candle pin bowler, but supported me in ten pin bowling.  He never bowled ten pin.  I have been to three coaching schools where I learned how to put the fun back into the game of bowling.  I have been coaching the youth for 15 years.  I have served youth bowling as a coach, head coach & assistant program director.  In the local association, I have been director, vice-president & president and in the state association served as director and Sargent at arms.  I have 5 children of which 2 are still in the junior program and 4 grandchildren of which 2 are in the junior program. I have a son that went to YBC Nationals and placed 9th in his division.  I am also involved with the boy scouts and just recently received the Silver Beaver Award.  I am currently an assistant district commissioner with the local council.  I am also a team leader with the CERT team in my town.  One phrase I like to use with the youth is "it doesn't matter how many pins you knock down just have fun and come back with a smile when your turn is done.  If you had a bad frame shake it off and treat the next frame like it's a new game."  Let's all enjoy the game of bowling and have some fun.

Dot Taraskiewicz
I became involved with bowling 22 years ago, when I bowled in a mixed league.  I enjoyed the sport very much and extended my involvement when my children joined the junior league.  Since then, I've taken a coaching class and been a certified coach for 15 years working with the bantams and instructional bowlers. As my bowling years accumulated, I have gotten involved in many other areas.  I was treasurer of a Friday night women's league,  a member of the Berkshire County Women's Board for 8 years and on the MA State Board for 12 years.  I am enjoying the time that I spend with the young youths, helping them to learn and enjoy the game of bowling.

 

Deborah McGrath
I have been bowling since the age of five.  My parents were avid bowlers, my brother and myself and now my children are as well.  I grew up in the youth program winning scholarship money on occasion and using that towards my college education.  I have been certified as a coach and a newer member to the MAUSBCYA State Board.  Bowling is something everyone can do!  It can be fun or frustrating depending on the level of seriousness.  It has become much more popular over the last several years.                                                                

Richard Walker
Bowling runs in my family.  My father, children and myself enjoy the sport.  I am an avid bowler who looks forward to the competition.  Whether it is against another bowler or to reach a higher goal.  Six times I have bowled eleven strikes in a row.  I most recently bowled a 299 game and have bowled an 824 total for three games.  I have served in the capacity of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of different leagues.  When my children started bowling, I started coaching and then became a certified coach.  Soon after I joined the Massachusetts State Board, and now I'm in my tenth year as a state director.  I'm the Pepsi Youth Bowling Championships Tournament director, and have been for the past 7 years.  I enjoy interacting with both the junior bowlers and the other members of the state board.  To me bowling is FUN.

Lourine Brown
I have been bowling for over thirty years.  I have taught my seven children, nieces and nephews and now my grandchildren how to bowl.  I am a Certified Coach, current Program Director at Boston Bowl and also a Director on the MAUSBCYA State Board.  I love to see the excitement on the young bowlers face, especially the Pee-Wees and the Bantams, when they knock down pins and when they receive their awards.  It is a great feeling to know I have helped them accomplish something.  Bowling is a lot of fun.

 

Richard Mines
I started bowling in the Marines while stationed in Japan (for fun).  I took bowling serious later on, when I developed a passion for the sport.  I started training and was part owner of a Pro Shop in Boston, where I developed a great love for bowling and to see others do well.  I love working with the kids because it is easier instructing while they are young.  I bowl in five leagues presently.  I am President of three of them and having been coaching the youth bowlers for twenty years.  I have been a board member of the MAUSBCYA for three years.

 

Carl Bergstrom
I haven't been a serious bowler all that long, comparatively speaking.  I started about 8 1/2 years ago, after my wife got my sons started in the sport.  I enjoy the different levels from which you can approach the sport, the weekend warrior who bowls strictly for fun to the all-out competitor who learns everything there is to know.  Previously having been a volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts of America; I've served as a Cub Den Leader, Assistant Cub-master, Cub-Master, and Assistant Scoutmaster; it was an easy transition to being a youth bowling coach and state board member for the youth organization.  Perhaps it's working with the caliber of youth that come to these organizations that fills me with hope for the future; I've had the very great pleasure of working with some of our state's finest young people.  This work has very rarely been a chore and is always surprising and a delight.  Also, I find that, working with them through their difficulties in bowling, I learn more about what I might be doing wrong.  After all, we're at about the same level in terms of years spent bowling.

Joanne Taraskiewicz
I started off as a junior bowler and now have been a youth coach for 6 years.  I have been on the state board for one year. 

 

 

 

Youth Leaders from Left to Right: 
(Back Row) Meghan Pierson, Matt Peter, Dan Huntley, Chris Colella
(Front Row) Amanda LaBoissiere and Nathan Duphiney

Matt Peter
How did I get into bowling?  I went with my mom after I helped out at her school one summer day 3 years ago.  I really enjoyed it and saw that they were taking sign-ups for the winter league.  I joined the winter league and then I went to my first tournament and I loved it.  I learned about the styles of bowling and I heard there were tournaments everywhere.  That only got me more excited.  Now, 3 years later, I have increased my average from about an 80 to almost 200.  I compete in tournaments everywhere and I never stop having fun.