Dynamic Duo, Rogers and Chiappi, Double Team the Divide Win

STATEN ISLAND, NY

The day of the Knock ‘Em Back masters, saw generally cold and wintery conditions as the league gathered at Rab’s for the last event of the year. While generally a slightly lighter event in attendance, due to its proximity to the holidays (as in bowling’s high holiday - Jesus Quintana’s birthday), 34 bowlers braved the winter weather to make it out for the first team event of the season, the annual Great Divide.

Nobody fucks with the Jesus 

While the event is known for it’s ability to shake up the league’s usual cliques, this year’s teams brought some familiar faces together to compete. Kris Mork and Geoff Celis, both MBA League Champions of the past were paired, leading some to believe that they’ve slowly been working their way to the middle of the pack just to unite for this event. Maggi Petersen and Hillary Scott were joined by the fates to represent their real life social gal group, the Hens. And Great Divide 2024 champs, Tony Chiappi and Ryan Petersen were paired again to relive the glory days of yesteryear, when Petersen had to urgently leave mid-event, which allowed Chiappi to take it over the finish line and secure the win.  

Ryan Petersen pictured with his trophy, after the Great Divide 2024

With team events, attendance is more important than ever and some no call no shows lead to some creative workarounds. With Daren Bastedo and Angela Mulvaney urgently called away on other business, absentee scores were applied for their partners Jess Kuhl and Sean Kuhl, respectively. While Bastedo’s absentee score of 130 worked to Jess’s advantage, Mulvaney’s 83 meant Sean’s work was cut out for him in this event and ultimately opened up the winners circle to other contenders. Mulvaney could not be reached to confirm whether she had been paid to no show, by either league officials or Jess Kuhl to reduce bowling themed clutter from taking over their dining room. 

As game one kicked off, there were some early contenders to watch. Billy Hammill with a 159,  Darla Piergiovanni with a 158, Keri Sheheen with a 156 and Joe Piergiovanni, Geoff Celis and Maggi Petersen all bowling competitive 150s. But no one could compete with Kevin Rogers game one score of 236, resulting from 8 strikes (including a turkey and a hambone) for an incredible start with his partner, Erin Chiappi, throwing a respectable 132.

And Kevin wasn’t the only one throwing turkeys. Pins seemed to be crashing everywhere, and while some triple strikes were just old hat league pros showing off (like playoff frequent flyer Paul Drozek in game two), there were several more additions to the coveted Turkey Club! Geoff Celis and Billy Hammill in game one and rookie Chris Taillie created an exciting start to game two with his first ever hambone. 

Artwork for Hambone Zone pins, coming soon

While game two, had some brief excitement with Tom Ryan bowling a 211 (aided by yet another turkey), his game one score of 111 had already done major damage to his day that even his partner Christine Beaton couldn’t cure with her 143 and 138. Ryan was comforted that in the great Turkey Club pin giveaway of 2025, he received one as a replacement for a previously earned, and lost, pin.

Reunited, at last

In the end, with a 154 and 136 in game two, Kevin Rogers and Erin Chiappi secured the win with a game day average of 164.5. 

As with every year, the League is not responsible for any injury incurred by these trophies. 

Other notables for the evening include:

Dan Fran returned to the lanes to show off the new addition to the Fran-Janicki household! 

“Let me see that moose knuckle” - Dave Derwin

Carl Gallagher, after a brief hiatus from winning Gutter Trash trophies, reclaimed his rightful place with 6 gutters, taking home the coveted copper trash can. 

“There’s no more loser trophies?” Ryan Petersen could be heard lamenting nearby, “Why did I even stick around this time?”

Satisfied league member

Event Scores:

Event Winners: K. Rogers (195) and E. Chiappi (134)

Gutter Trash Award Winner: C. Gallagher (6)

Highest Total Strikes: K. Rogers (10)

Highest Total Spares: H. Schnell, M. Gaul (9)

Highest Total Gutters: C. Gallagher (6)

Highest Score: K. Rogers (236)

Lowest Score: C. Gallagher (90)