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Pros visit Holiday Lanes, tell locals how they roll

PRO POINTERS — Michelle Mullen, seated at left, and Aleta Rzepecki-Sill, standing, were on hand at Holiday Lanes in Weirton Saturday, offering a clinic for 13 area youth bowlers to assist them in improving their skills. A similar clinic was offered for adults in the afternoon. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — A group of area youth bowlers received a few tips from the pros Saturday, as part of a clinic held at Holiday Lanes.

Aleta Rzepecki-Sill and Michelle Mullen, both highly decorated professional bowlers and coaches, were in Weirton, working with 13 members of the Holiday Lanes Youth Bowling League to assist in improving their game.

“We coach all skill levels,” Mullen said. “We help each individual bowler get to their next level.”

As part of the process, the coaches observed each of the youth bowlers, talking to them about their experiences and filming their techniques.

“We have video software we use to film them,” Sill said, explaining they show the bowlers the video while providing them with suggestions. “It really helps when you see what we’re talking about.”

They also use footage of professional bowlers to provide additional examples, all with the goal of improving timing, swing and balance.

This is the third year Sill and Mullen have come to Weirton to offer their guidance, expressing their appreciation to youth league director and coach Bob Babinchak.

“I’ve not seen in a long time someone care about the youth so much,” Sill said.

Babinchak explained in the last three years, the youth league has been able to grow from 56 bowlers to 94, with growth also seen in the junior gold program.

He also thanked Sill and Mullen for their work, noting three of the Weirton youth they have worked with have earned state championships.

Mullen said it’s rewarding to see the accomplishments of the youth bowlers, adding the local program has begun to receive attention across the country.

“It’s a privilege to come here,” Mullen said.

Sill is a native of Detroit, and a 31-time PWBA champion. She is the first woman to earn $1 million bowling and has won the Triple Crown twice. She is a member of seven bowling halls of fame, including the Professional Women’s Bowling Association, United States Bowling Congress and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. She is a USBC Silver Certified Coach with close to 30 years of experience.

Mullen is a USBC Gold Level Coach and international author who has been coaching for 30 years. She has earned four professional titles, is a former coach of Team U.S.A., has been named Pro Regional Player of the Decade, has bowled 21 perfect games and has been ranked among the nation’s top 100 coaches.

A clinic for adult bowlers also was held Saturday afternoon.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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