Stasia Czernicki

Stasia Czernicki (—January 171993) [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-27996136.html "Candlepin's Babe Ruth dies at 70"—Stasia Czernicki obituary on NPR's "Weekend Edition" of] January 231993] was an American professional candlepin bowler widely considered the most accomplished competitor in the history of her field. She set, in her birthplace of Webster, Massachusetts, the all-time candlepin record for ten strings with 1388.

Stasia Czernicki had a series of personal highs, including 194 single, 466 triple, and 707 five strings. In her high single, she tossed 5 consecutive strikes in the first 5 boxes. She also shares the world record for women's doubles-2382, mixed doubles-2676 and women's five strings-707.

She was world champion 8 times, singles queen 6 times, a member of the women's doubles title team 3 times, mixed doubles team twice and a member of the world's women's title team in 1965.

The World Candlepin Bowling Council and World Candlepin Bowling Congress recognized her as Woman Bowler of the Year in 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

In 1987, Czernicki was inducted into the International Candlepin Bowling Association Hall of Fame [ [http://www.candlepinbowling.com/competitive_ability.htm#Stasia_Czernicki Stasia Czernicki biographical sketch on the "Competitive Ability" website (includes photograph)] ] . In her honor, the International Candlepin Bowling Association has established the Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award to recognize players who also exhibit fine sportsmanship. [ [http://www.candlepinbowling.com/stasia_czernicki.htm Report on the winner (in 1996) of the fourth annual Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award] ]

Czernicki was the first woman bowler regularly seen on the long-running TV show "Candlepin Bowling Stars", broadcast on Boston's WCVB-TV, Channel 5. Hosts Jim Britt (1958-67) and Don Gillis (1967-96) frequently introduced her as the star of the show. Her 41-12 match record includes 18 consecutive wins, more than any other female competitor. Tom Olszta holds the male record of 22 consecutive wins. Her television high was 399. She was a certified Massachusetts Bowling Association (MBA) bowling instructor and served as director of the MBA Instructors School and as a member of the World Candlepin Bowling Congress' executive board.

Stasia Czernicki died in her hometown of Webster at the age of 70.

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