Teammates Roll 300s in Same Game

Longtime teammates Debbie Hanson of Dearborn Heights and Michelle Sterbenz of Brownstown Township (Detroit-area suburbs) set a national doubles record Monday night when they each bowled 300 in the same game.

"I was ecstatic with mine and just overwhelmed with hers,'' Sterbenz said Tuesday. "I just can't describe it in words.''

Mark Miller, editor of Bowlers Encyclopedia at American Bowling Congress/Women's International Bowling Congress headquarters in Greendale, Wis., confirmed Tuesday that their 600 total for the second game of their three-game series is a record. It beat the previous mark of 598 set in Bloomington, Ill., in 2002.

"There are lots of men's 600s, but this is definitely a first for women,'' Miller said.

"It was very exciting and nerve-wracking,'' said Hanson, whose son Michael shot 300 last week practicing with Dearborn Crestwood High School. "We weren't thinking about a record. We were really just trying our best. And we were both using new balls. I used the MoRich Mayhem and she used the Onslaught.''

Sterbenz, averaging about 223, completed her 300 game first on Monday night.

"All solid hits,'' Hanson said. "Everyone stopped to watch her finish, and we just hugged each other after the final strike.''

Then it was Hanson's turn. When all the pins fell on her third shot, "We just hugged each other and we both shouted at the same time, `We did it! I can't believe we did it!' ''