PRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                

April 5, 2013

Contact: Sean Hargadon

Phone: 847-363-3573

Email: shargadon69@yahoo.com

Website: www.bowlelgin.com

Facebook: Elgin Cross-Town Bowling Classic

Elgin Cross-Town Classic will Kick-Off and Close in Style
Elgin Today’s Jeff Myers, Councilman Steffen and Mayor Kaptain will attend

Elgin, IL, April 5, 2013 – The Elgin Cross-Town Classic will have some special guests when it begins in one week.

Elgin City Councilman John Steffen will help kick-off the event at Bowlway Lanes on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. by rolling out the ceremonial first ball. Councilman Steffen is an active sports fan. When asked about saying a few words to begin the Elgin Cross-Town Classic between Bowlway and Elgin Lanes, he immediately accepted even though he hasn’t bowled in a while. “We may need to set up the bumpers,” he said. “I remember my grandmother used to bowl at the old Schneider’s in downtown Elgin. I think this will be a lot of fun,” Steffen added.

Joining Steffen at the tournament will be Elgin Today host and professional announcer Jeff Myers. He will provide introductions and updates on the bowling action during the event. Myers has been producing original programming about Elgin for 20 years. He recently conducted a promotional spot for the Elgin Cross-Town Classic which can be seen on this month’s Elgin Today show at the City of Elgin Video Center (www.cityofelgin.org) under the On Demand tab and towards the middle of the program. “This is great news for bowling fans,” said Myers. “I’m looking forward to help call the action, talk to the bowlers, and cheer on the teams with the fans.”

Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain will also be attending. His appearance will come on Saturday, April 20, at the end of the tournament when he presents the Elgin Cross-Town Classic Mayor’s Cup to the winning team. Kaptain is no stranger to bowling. “After the second World War, my father bowled at both Bowlway and Elgin Lanes,” he said. “This is special to me because my father bowled for more than 50 years and only stopped bowling when he was 90 years old. I’m excited to attend and hope this event will become a yearly tradition and maybe even expand to our neighbor towns," Kaptain added.

The Elgin Cross-Town Classic will feature the top bowlers at Bowlway against those at Elgin Lanes.  The first three matches will be on Saturday, April 13 at Bowlway Lanes, 810 Villa Street, starting at 1 p.m.  The final three matches will be held on Saturday, April 20 at Elgin Lanes, 402 Shepard Drive, starting at 1 p.m. The team that knocks down the most pins over the two week’s competition will win the Mayor’s Cup and be declared Elgin’s Match Game Champions.

The event is free and open to the public. It’s sponsored by Bowlway Lanes, Elgin Lanes, Miller Lite, madwill creative, City of Elgin Parks and Recreation, Bault Bowling, FLIK Productions, Anderson’s Trophies, and certification is provided by the United States Bowling Congress. To learn more, please go to www.bowlelgin.com. Facebook: Elgin Cross-Town Bowling Classic.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           
April 2, 2013      
  
Bowlway Lanes Sets Lineup for Inaugural Elgin Cross-Town Classic
Team prepares for upcoming matches on April 13 and 20

Elgin, IL, April 2, 2013 – The team is picked and lineup set as five players from Bowlway Lanes prepare to bring life to an old idea.

“We’ve selected a team of stylists,” said Bowlway Lanes owner Norm Grocke. “These guys are easy to watch on the lanes and pack a lot of power.”

Team Bowlway will feature all right handers. Leading off will be Sean Hargadon of Elgin, who returned to the sport in 2012 after a twenty year layoff.  Lee Dowda Jr. of Streamwood follows in the second position and is the Tuesday Nite Men’s league leader in average. Mark Bobb of Elgin brings experience to the middle of the order having shot five sanctioned 300 games during his career. Rounding out the lineup is set-up man Mike Grocke from Schaumburg, fresh from his recent stint at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. And Wayne Curley of Elgin will be playing anchor. He leads all players with a 223 average.  Total average for the five man team is 1035.

“With this lineup, our team will be able to play almost anywhere on the lanes,” added Grocke. “Our guys can play inside and outside, which will make all the difference when the lanes start breaking down and hooking after so many games.”

The Elgin Cross-Town Classic is a throwback to the past. It features challenge matches, a format popular in the 1930’ - 1950’s when bowling centers would form teams of top bowlers to compete against each other.

In Elgin, it will be east side vs. west side, when Bowlway Lanes take on Elgin Lanes.  The first three matches will be on Saturday, April 13 at Bowlway Lanes, 810 Villa Street, starting at 1 p.m.  The final three matches will be held on Saturday, April 20 at Elgin Lanes, 402 Shepard Drive, starting at 1 p.m. The team that knocks down the most pins over the two week’s competition will win the Mayor’s Cup and be declared Elgin’s Match Game Champions.

The event is free and open to the public. It’s sponsored by Bowlway Lanes, Elgin Lanes, Miller Lite, madwill creative, City of Elgin Parks and Recreation, Bault Bowling, FLIK Productions, Anderson’s Trophies, and certification is provided by the United States Bowling Congress. To learn more, please go to www.bowlelgin.com. Facebook: Elgin Cross-Town Bowling Classic.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    

March 11, 2013           

Elgin Cross-Town Classic Coming in April

First-ever bowling match game tournament features Bowlway Lanes against Elgin Lanes

Elgin, IL, March 11, 2013 – It’s east side vs. west side when the Elgin CrossTown Classic features the best bowlers at Bowlway Lanes against those at Elgin Lanes in classic style challenge matches, beginning in April. The event is free and open to the public.

The first three matches will be held on Saturday, April 13, at Bowlway Lanes, 810 Villa Street, starting at 1 p.m. Then the following week on Saturday, April 20, the next three matches will be held at Elgin Lanes at 401 Shepard Drive, starting at 1 p.m. The team with the most total pins be declared Elgin’s first-ever Match Game Champion.

Event Coordinator Sean Hargadon says this is the first year of the event and it’s reminiscent of the challenge matches conducted during the “classic” era of bowling in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. “Back then, teams would challenge other teams in home versus home matches,” he said. “These were highly competitive matches that drew local, and in some cases, national attention.”

Bowlway Lanes owner and former tour professional, who’s also in the Suburban Windy City United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame agrees. “Before the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), team bowling and match game tournaments were the pinnacle of the sport,” said Grocke.  “In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in team bowling at the high school and college level, and even with the new PBA League currently underway.”

The Elgin Cross-Town Classic will feature five players per team, selected by the owners from each bowling center. The format is simple: Bowlway and Elgin Lanes will match their best bowlers against each other for three matches (games) at each bowling center.  Whatever team has the most pin fall after two weekends is declared the winner.

“Bringing back this classic-style tournament is an opportunity, not only for the bowling community, but anyone who loves competition, to come out and see America’s most popular participation sport up close and near the action,” added Grocke.    

The Elgin Cross-Town Classic will be held on Saturdays, April 13 at Bowlway Lanes and April 20 at Elgin Lanes, starting at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. It’s sponsored by Bowlway Lanes, Elgin Lanes, Miller Lite and madwill creative. To learn more, please go to www.bowlelgin.com. Facebook: Elgin Cross-Town Bowling Classic.

###