Newark United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame adds veteran trio
Three area bowlers were inducted into the Newark United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame on May 6 at the Newark American Legion Post 85 Hall.
A total of 24 current Hall of Famers welcomed Mike Byers, Trent Speer and Donna Benge into the exclusive club, which was started in 1996 and has 90 members.
Byers began bowling at age 8 in the Junior League at Park Lanes in Heath. Now in his 50s, he bowls in leagues at Park and Redskin Lanes in Utica.
Byers' high average is 230, and he has bowled 25 300 games, with the first coming in February 2002, and one 299. He also has bowled seven 800 series, including a high of 841.
A former vice president of the Newark USBC, Byers is known for his sportsmanship on and off the lanes. Byers was inducted under the Newark USBC Hall of Fame’s Superior Performance category.
Speer, also recognized for Superior Performance, comes from a bowling family that has included his parents, an uncle and two brothers. He joins his late father, Tom, and older brother Matt as inductees of the Newark USBC Hall of Fame.
Speer, 47, began bowling at age 10, along with his twin brother Travis. He recently completed bowling in the Monday 4x4 League at Redskin Lanes in Utica, where he finished with a 236 average. That ranks him in third place behind Bob Jones, a Hall of Fame bowler who had a 241 average, and Roger L. Adams, who finished with a 239 average.
In addition to his high average, Speer has had 10 800 series, six of them coming at Redskin Lanes, with his high being an 849 for three games. He holds the Association’s High Series record of 1,149 in a four-game set, which included three consecutive perfect games.
Benge was inducted into the Hall of Fame under the category of Meritorious Service. She has been bowling for over 40 years and is employed at Park Lanes, where she not only bowls but oversees tracking of all of the house's leagues, including bowlers’ averages, total pins, team standings and team scheduling.
Benge already has served several years as president of the Newark USBC Association’s board of directors and was active for 25 years. She served as a vice president and president of the former Newark Women’s Bowling Association.
At 75, Benge still is going strong, as she was instrumental in reestablishing leagues at Park Lanes following the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been at the front line every time the local bowling community has needed her.
Chris Mooney also was recognized for winning the second Newark USBC Hall of Fame Bowling Tournament, which was held the prior week with 91 bowlers participating.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark USBC Hall of Fame adds veteran trio
