The community of St. Paul is going to be well represented in the senior’s division at the upcoming Master Bowlers Association of Canada National Five-Pin Championship, which is taking place from June 27 to July 3 in Burlington and Hamilton, Ont.
Rollie Poitras and Marie Yuschyshyn have earned two of the five spots available on the senior’s team to represent Alberta. The rest of the team consists of players from Medicine Hat, Calgary and Red Deer.
“Our team is spread all across Alberta,” says Poitras. “The five of us have never actually played together before. We can’t get together before the tournament. With other provinces they probably have an opportunity to be closer-knit than we do.”
Poitras and Yuschyshyn don’t really play with each other on a regular basis either. She plays every Wednesday, while Poitras plays on Saturday. They only play together at Masters events.
The two St. Paul bowlers clinched a spot on Team Alberta at the Masters Senior Provincial tournament hosted at the Taber Bowling Centre March 21 and 22. Poitras and Yuschyshyn competed at individuals at the Taber tournament, and they competed in different types of bowling competitions.
Poitras participated in the scratch bowling competition, which means his overall score in the tournament is solely based on the total amount of pins he knocks down. There are no handicaps influencing the score. Poitras was ranked as the best scratch bowler in Taber, and the highest scoring player out of all the players in the tournament. As a result of finishing on top of provincials, he will represent Alberta in the senior’s single competition.
Yuschyshyn participated in the pins-over-average tournament. The winners of this tournament are the competitors who beat their average score by the greatest margin. She was one of three pins-over-average players that make up Team Alberta.
Both St. Paul bowlers have some experience competing in nationals.
Yuschyshyn represented Canada in the 2007 tournament in Surrey, B.C., while Poitras earned gold medals with Team Alberta at the 2011 games in Gatineau, Que., and in 2013 at Calgary.
“The bowling at this tournament is extremely competitive,” says Yuschyshyn. “There is no trash talking or anything like that, but there is a very competitive atmosphere.”
“But you also get to make a lot of friends,” adds Poitras. “It is a lot of fun.”
Team Alberta will be provided many opportunities to show off their bowling chops. On the four competition days of the seven-day tournament, Poitras, Yuschyshyn and the rest of the team will participate in 20 games.
Poitras will compete in round robin games from June 29 to July 1. The finals for the singles will take place on July 2.
When Poitras, Yuschyshyn and the other tournament attendees are not bowling, they will have an opportunity to participate in the tournament’s opening ceremonies, Canada Day celebrations in downtown Burlington, a victory banquet and a Vegas-themed night at Burlington’s Holiday Inn.
