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Team USA cruises to sweep of doubles gold medals
By Kevin Hazaert // United States Bowling Congress // July 25, 2007
EDIT: The Mexico women's team was disqualified due to the use of a ball that wasn't registered for play. Brazil receives the bronze. Corrects 3rd and 9th grafs and women's agate to reflect ruling.
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July 24, 2007
TEAM USA SWEEPS DOUBLES GOLD AT PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Strong starts distance Asbaty and Milligan, Page and Schaub from the field
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Powered by strong first games from both the men and the women, Team USA ran away with a pair of doubles gold medals Tuesday at the Pan American Games.
Diandra Asbaty of Chicago and Tennelle Milligan of Costa Mesa, Calif., finished with a 12-game total of 5,356 to win the women's event by 387 pins, while Rhino Page of Topeka, Kan., and Cassidy Schaub of Polk, Ohio, totaled 5,260 for a 158-pin victory at Barra Bowling Center.
Victories by both duos continued the trend of American success at the Pan American Games. Since bowling received medal-sport status in 1991, the U.S. has amassed 24 medals, well ahead of second-best Mexico with 11.
With a 164-pin lead entering Tuesday's play, Asbaty's 258 and Milligan's 225 helped push their lead to 238 with five games remaining and they never looked back.
"It's an honor to win a gold medal with Tennelle and for the U.S.," said Asbaty, who had 1,398 in Tuesday's six games and averaged 229.75 in doubles - no game lower than 205. "The guys inspired us this morning and we just built off what they set up for us. This is a really great feeling to have."
As an exclamation point, Milligan capped off the gold-medal performance with a 299 in the last game - leaving only the 10 pin on her final ball - and Asbaty closed with 257.
"Coach (Jeri Edwards) said before that game, 'Enjoy the moment,' and we did," said Milligan, who had 1,329 Tuesday and averaged 216.58 in doubles. "Shots came off my hand with no added pressure.
"Gold medals never get old. Dee bowled really well, and I hung around then came out at the end."
Puerto Rico's Michelle Ayala and Yoselin Leon took silver with 4,969. Brazil's Jacque Costa and Roseli Santos were awarded bronze after Mexico's Adriana Perez and Sandra Gongora were disqualified due to the use of an unregistered ball. Mexico has 24 hours to appeal the ruling.
Earlier Tuesday, lefthanders Page and Schaub distanced themselves from the field quickly as well - shooting 505 in the first game followed by 466 to increase their lead to an astounding 254 pins with four games remaining in the 12-game event.
"We came out the gates strong and had a good game plan," said Page, who shot 1,401 Tuesday (233.5 average) and opened with 259 and 269. "We had multiple looks - one with a urethane ball and one with a reactive ball. The urethane looked a little better to start; more controllable on the back end. We executed really well and our confidence was high."
Schaub, who is making his Team USA debut at the Pan American Games, shot 1,241 Tuesday (206.83 average) - highlighted by a 246 to open the day.
"It's an absolute great feeling," said Schaub, who uses a two-handed delivery. "Getting out to a great start was real important to us because it allowed us to try different things and get set up for tomorrow. Shooting 505 to start was incredible to jump out that far, that early."
Brazil's Rodrigo Hermes and Fabio Rezende took silver with 5,102, while the Dominican Republic's Victor Richards and Rolando Sebelen claimed bronze with 5,048 - one pin ahead of Puerto Rico's Frankie Colon and Luis Rodriguez.
The XV Pan American Games, which run July 13-29, are an Americas version of the Olympic Games which includes the Olympic Program sports and others that are not part of the Olympics. The bowling competition, consisting of singles and doubles events, runs through Thursday at Barra Bowling Center, a 20-lane facility located in the Barra Shopping Mall.
An estimated 5,500 athletes from 42 countries are competing in 28 sports at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Conducted every four years, the first Pan American Games were held in 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Visit the Team USA section of bowl.com for complete coverage of the Pan American Games, including stories, audio interviews, photos, player Web logs and results.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly three million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.
Bowl with US
2007 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
(at Barra Bowling Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Tuesday's Results
DOUBLES
(Final - 12 games)
x-disqualified due to the use of an unregistered ball
Men
1. United States, 5,260 (219.17 average)
(Cassidy Schaub, Polk, Ohio, 2,513; Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 2,747)
2. Brazil, 5,102
(Fabio Reznede, 2,551; Rodrigo Hermes, 2,551)
3. Dominican Republic, 5,048
(Victor Richards, 2,408; Rolando Sebelen, 2,640)
4. Puerto Rico, 5,047
(Frankie Colon, 2,521; Luis Rodriguez, 2,526)
5. Argentina, 4,976
(Lucas Legnani, 2,551; Ricardo Dalla Rosa, 2,425)
6. Mexico, 4,962
(Alejandro Cruz, 2,458; Daniel Falconi, 2,504)
7. Venezuela, 4,936
(Arturo Hernandez, 2,465; Raindey Chavez, 2,471)
8. Guatemala, 4,881
(Andres Herrera, 2,399; Jorge Valdes, 2,482)
9. Colombia, 4,854
(Jorge Otalora, 2,338; David Romero, 2,516)
10. Chile, 4,728
(Harold Galmez, 2,631; Adrian Reyes, 2,097)
11. Costa Rica, 4,721
(Alejandro Reyna, 2,569; Marvin Murillo, 2,152)
12. Canada, 4,689
(Darren Klassen, 2,261; Jason Kovack, 2,428)
13. Ecuador, 4,511
(Becquer Barriga, 2,214; Diogenes Saverio, 2,297)
14. El Salvador, 4,459
(Francisco Sanchez, 2,178; Juan Merlos, 2,281)
15. Bahamas, 4,449
(Clarence Wallace, 2,193; Lenford Powell, 2,256)
14. Bermuda, 4,434
(David Maycock, 2,283; Kevin Swan, 2,151)
Women
1. United States, 5,356 (223.17 average)
(Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 2,757; Tennelle Milligan, Costa Mesa, Calif., 2,599)
2. Puerto Rico, 4,969
(Michelle Ayala, 2,489; Yoselin Leon, 2,480)
3. Brazil, 4,874
(Jacque Costa, 2,477; Roseli Santos, 2,397)
4. Colombia, 4,838
(Paola Gomez, 2,400; Rocio Restrepo, 2,438)
5. Canada, 4,833
(Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, 2,363; Lynne Gauthier, 2,470)
6. Guatemala, 4,821
(Sofia Granda, 2,529; Ximena Soto, 2,292)
7. Venezuela, 4,750
(Alicia Marcano, 2,308; Karen Marcano, 2,442)
8. Panama, 4,700
(Tilcia De Lancini, 2,356; Yvette Chen, 2,344)
9. Dominican Republic, 4,547
(Aumi Guerra, 2,226; Paula Vilas, 2,321)
10. Honduras, 4,339
(Eloina Valle, 2,186; Maria Elena Breve, 2,153)
11. Bermuda, 4,307
(Bobbie Ingham, 2,197; Patrice Tucker, 2,110)
12. Costa Rica, 4,266
(Sylvia Villalobos, 2,073; Viviana Delgado, 2,193)
13. El Salvador, 4,222
(Aida Granillo, 2,144; Marta Cader, 2,078)
14. Chile, 4,215
(Andrea Rojas, 2,189; Rossana Chesta, 2,026)
15. Bahamas, 3,829
(Justina Sturrup, 1,830; Marie Sealy, 1,999)
x-Mexico, 4,935
(Adriana Perez, 2,395; Sandra Gongora, 2,540)
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