FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2013
CONTACT:
Gordon Vadakin
Phone (316) 978-7655
Fax (316) 978-6056
email - shocker.bowling@wichita.edu
www.wichita.edu/bowling
Puerto Rico's Ayala Starts Shocker Medal Avalanche at World Championships
WICHITA, Kan. – Current and former Shocker bowlers shined 2 weeks ago during the WTBA
(World Tenpin Bowling Association) World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Sixteen
Shockers represented 9 different countries while taking home medals from over half
of the events.
The World Championships consisted of singles, doubles, trios, teams and masters events.
After the qualifying portion of each event, the top 4 players or teams entered a medal
round.
Mariana Ayala (’08-‘10) of Puerto Rico began the Shocker’s domination in the second
event by winning the bronze medal in women’s singles.
“I’m really happy,” Ayala said. “It was an amazing experience.”
Not long after Ayala’s bronze medal, Chris Barnes (’88-‘92) and John Szczerbinski
(’06-‘10) captured the men’s doubles gold medal by firing a record 569 score in the
final match.
Shocker team-play proved viable as five different Shockers won medals in trios. Current
Shocker Francois Lavoie (Junior) along with former Shocker Mark Buffa (’01-‘05) claimed
the men’s gold medal. Barnes and his teammates won Bronze while alumni Caroline Lagrange
(’02-‘05) and Samantha How (’01-‘05) of team Canada took home women’s silver.
Team USA along with Barnes and Szczerbinski came up a mere 57 pins short in the team
event, grabbing silver medals.
In the all-events portion of the tournament, total pins from each player’s round
determined the medals. Barnes stole the gold medal in dominating fashion, leading
the silver position by 210 pins.
“It’s been on the bucket list of things to try and accomplish,” Barnes said in an
interview with USBC. “The big doubles score kind of got me away from everybody.”
222 men and 212 women from 45 countries participated in the WTBA World Championships.
Sixteen Shockers represented 9 of those countries, taking home medals in over half
of the events.
All results and statistics can be viewed at www.bowl.com/world2013.
Shocker Representation in the 2013 WTBA World Championships
Australia: Stephen Cowland
Canada: Mark Buffa, Samantha How, Caroline Lagrange, George Lambert, Francois Lavoie
Colombia: Clara Guerrero, Rocio Restrepo
Indonesia: Tannya Roumimper
Mexico: Sandra Gongora, Luis Kassian
Puerto Rico: Mariana Ayala
Singapore: Jazreel Tan
Ukraine: Dasha Kovalova
USA: Chris Barnes, John Szczerbinski
###
The Rhatigan Student Center has been the major financial and administrative supporter
of the Wichita State University bowling program since 1959.