New Ulm bowling to induct five into Hall of Fame

NEW ULM -- Five bowlers with a combined 225 years of experience in the game will be inducted into the New Ulm Bowling Association Hall of Fame on Saturday at the New Ulm Country Club.

The 2003 inductees for the Women's Bowling Association are Angie Schiltz for Superior Performance, Diane Sandmann (in Memoriam) for Meritorious Service and Lucille Mack for Meritorious Service.

The Men's Bowling Association is bestowing this year's Hall of Fame honor to Ken (Babe) Paa and Vernon (Ader) Wieland.

Mack has been an active participant for more than 40 years. Throughout her career she's scored a high game of 245, high series of 545, and has averaged above 156 during most of those years.

She is still active in the Friday morning Prime Timers League, where she has been awarded for high game and series champion on various occasions. She works together with her husband Vern in handling the arrangements for the yearly Senior tournaments. In addition to fining and scheduling the bowlers, they are instrumental in making sure the bowlers have transportation to and from the tournaments.

Sandmann was an officer of the New Ulm Women's Bowling Association for more than a decade. During that time, she served numerous terms as Vice President.

Along with her VP duties, Sandmann was responsible for tallying the scores and submitted the names for "Bowler of the Week" as seen in the New Ulm Journal and heard on KNUJ radio.

She also led the fund raising efforts to benefit the junior bowlers, high school scholarship fund, Minnesota Veterans, and Bowl for the Cure for breast cancer. In 1999, she was awarded the Joel and Rheeta Albrecht Enthusiasm Award. She bowled in New Ulm for more than 35 years.

Schiltz started bowling in 1955. She has rolled a high game of 256, high series of 640, and a high average of 182. She has earned various WIBC awards, including one triplicate, one all-spare game, and several 600 series.

She has bowled in 13 National Tournaments and several city and state tournaments. She earned the title City Champion for Scratch All Events in 1971. In 1972 she was the City Doubles champion.

She also served on both the Gibbon and New Ulm Board of Directors. She's held terms as President, Vice President and Director.

Paa has been an active bowler in New Ulm for more than 40 years. He continues to bowl in two leagues each week. During his career he has rolled a high game of 290 and a high series of 714, along with a high average of 196.

Paa has been a past officer of the New Ulm Men's Bowling Association and league captain. On numerous occasions he has served on the City Bowling tournament committee as well as having been a participant in many local and statewide tournaments. He also participated in the ABC National Tournament in Reno, Nevada.

Wieland has been bowling for more than 56 years and is still active. During his career, he rolled a high game of 279. His high series is 669. He has a season high average of 193. On November 7, 1963, he bowled 11 strikes in a row. Wieland has been active in six leagues over the years. He regularly participates in many tournaments, including the city and state Men's Tournaments.

Tickets for this Hall of Fame banquet can be purchased at Concordia Lanes or by calling 507-359-1830 to make a reservation.