HEIDI WOODS AND BENNIE GEMELLO INDUCTED INTO TUCSON METRO USBC HALL OF FAME
The Tucson Metro USBC proudly welcomed two outstanding bowlers into its Hall of Fame on March 1, 2025. Heidi Woods and Bennie Gemello were honored for their Superior Performance during a ceremony held after the final team squad of the 81st Annual Tucson Metro USBC City Open Championships and 75th Annual Women’s Championships at Lucky Strike Bowl.
Bennie Gemello’s bowling journey began at age 11, inspired by her father, Benedicto, and mother, Virginia. Her competitive drive sparked when her brother brought home a bowling trophy, motivating her to pursue league bowling with her parents, where her skills quickly developed.
She went on to compete in City tournaments, California State events, and the Women’s International Bowling Congress Tournament alongside her mom. Bennie also participated in multiple California State Queens tournaments, with one highlight being a runner-up finish to Hall of Famer Tish Johnson.
Her career reached new heights on the Western Women’s Professional Tour (WWPT), where she bowled alongside greats like Donna “Mighty Mite” Adamek, Tish Johnson, and Mary Ann Dugan. Bennie’s top game on the WWPT was a 290.
After moving to Tucson in 1993, Hall of Famer Linda Wallace introduced Bennie to the Old Pueblo’s bowling scene. She joined Wallace’s team with Eric Hew and Carol Waterick, recording a Tucson league-high score of 299. Over the years, Bennie has captured 10 Tucson City titles, including:
Bennie also competed in the Golden Ladies Classic and bowled in 24 USBC Nationals. Her contributions extend beyond competition, as she has coached youth bowlers at Tucson Bowl — an experience she calls one of her most rewarding.
Known as Tucson’s own “Mighty Mite of the Lanes,” Bennie Gemello’s dedication, skill, and love for the game have left an enduring mark.
Heidi Woods began bowling at age 6, promising herself she’d earn her first pair of bowling shoes after rolling a 200 game — which she accomplished by age 8.
Her early career highlights include winning the 1994 Washington State Queens Tournament and a Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour (LPBT) Regional in Everett, Washington. Wanting to balance education with competition, Heidi contacted Wichita State University’s bowling program and joined the prestigious Shockers from 1995 to 1999.
At Wichita State, Heidi earned:
After college, Heidi moved to Tucson, where she became a dominant force in local competition, earning 26 Tucson City titles, including:
Heidi has rolled seven 300 games and one 800 series. In 2008, she earned the AMAFAC High Average Merit Award for the highest average among adult women (227).
She credits her success to the unwavering support of her parents and values the friendships she has built on the lanes, calling them “the greatest thing bowling has given me.”
This years Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame Inductees were: Patricia Ray for Meritorious Service; Bryanna Cote, Josh Moret, Dave Hyatt and Kevin Smania for Superior Performance.
Tucson Metro USBC congratulates the Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Tucson Metro USBC wants to thank the past Hall of Fame Inductees who attended, as well as the friends and family of this year's inductees and bowlers. Thank you to Candy Prokosch, Shannon Moret and Fiesta Lanes for hosting the event and the Doubles and Singles competition for the City Open Championships. Tucson Metro USBC would also like to thank Don Jones and Sahuaro Trophy for their work on the awards and continued partnership with Tucson Metro USBC.
Tucson Metro USBC Class of 2024 Hall of Fame - Meritorious Service
Pat Ray’s start in bowling began when she helped her parents with the bowling leagues they were officers in, learning the bowling paperwork, including record sheets, score books and standing sheets, which had to be completed and filled out each week, as well as the annual Men’s and Women’s open tournaments in the Morenci area.
Pat’s first job in bowling was at Morenci Lanes in 1973, working in the snack bar area. Morenci was a tight knit community. The Manager of Morenci Lanes was one of Pat’s teachers in high school and bowled with her father in the Morenci Men’s League.
She met Steve Ray and they were married on June 7, 1974, by the Morenci Lanes front desk clerk who was also a minister. Steve enlisted in the Air Force and he and Pat also started a family.
Pat, Steve and their kids moved to Tucson, home of Davis Monthan Air Force Base and Pat resumed her bowling career, in leagues at then known as Santa Cruz Lanes (now known as Cactus Bowl). Pat and Steve joined several leagues at Santa Cruz, got her kids involved with youth bowling.
The then Manager, Mike Kaufman, hired Pat as a league coordinator, going lane to lane to encourage bowlers to join open spots on the leagues offered. Within a few weeks, Pat was hired to work as the Program Director.
For the last 38 years, Pat has helped our bowling family as the Coordinator at Lucky Strike Bowl, overseeing the various leagues offered, including local awards - averaging 2,000 a year, creating teams and encouraging new bowlers to take part in leagues, including the Vegas Leagues. Pat goes up to Las Vegas for the Annual Tournament held over Memorial Day weekend to help coordinate the event.
Lucky Strike Bowl has won Best Bowling Alley in reader contests in both the Tucson Weekly and Arizona Daily Star, something Pat has helped to contribute to Lucky Strike’s success through her efforts.
Pat Ray has served on the Board of the Tucson Women’s Bowling Association, as well as a member of the local 500 Club, serving also as Historian.
During her time in bowling, Pat’s high game was a 256 and 626. She took part in four ABC National Tournaments, as well as Arizona State and Tucson City Tournaments, winning the Class “C” Scratch and Handicap, with her team “Sugar and Spice,” in 1990. One of Pat’s highlights was bowling in the Tucson Open Pro-Am with PBA Hall of Famer, Mike Aulby.
One of Pat’s pleasures is seeing her extended family and friends at Lucky Strike in their leagues, as well as helping efforts for our veterans. Pat alone raised $2800 in the Tucson Metro USBC Bowling for Veteran’s Link In League tournament held last year, with 381 entries from league bowlers and donations.
Pat Ray has done a lot for bowling for our community.
Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Superior Performance
Bryanna Cote has an unwavering commitment to the sport. She has been bowling in Tucson since she was very young. She became a force during juniors which has continued into her college, adult, and professional bowling life. She is a superstar and represented Team USA for eight years and junior Team USA for two years.
Bryanna has won numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals. She has five PWBA titles including the 2023 U.S Open. She was the first NCAA bowler, from Central Missouri, to be named NTCA player of the year for four years in a row. She was the PWBA player of the year in 2021.
She supports and promotes local and state tournaments. Bryanna is an ambassador for bowling and has put Tucson on the National stage. She has several city titles and many other local tournament titles.
Bryanna Cote has bowled many 300’s and 800’s including a then Tucson record 879. Last year she averaged 229.
Bryanna started bowling at the age of 7. Her Grandfather, Ray Munguia, got her into bowling and was the one who initially taught Bryanna how to bowl.
Her grandparents and parents would bowl league on Tuesday nights and Bryanna would use that time to go practice. Bryanna began bowling youth city/state tournaments and JBT’s until she went to college at Central Missouri University. She continues to bowl anything and everything to this day, working on her game.
Bryanna’s Grandfather is her biggest inspiration behind bowling. If he had it his way, he'd never miss a shot from day one. He dreamed of also being a professional and she thinks him seeing me able to live out her dreams also allowed him to live out his in a way. Since his passing, bowling has become the driving force of keeping him with her at all times. Bryanna said, “I know whether I win or lose, he'd be proud.”
Bryanna Cote’s Titles, Awards and Achievements
PWBA Major Titles (1)
2023 - U.S. Women's Open; Gates, N.Y.
PWBA Standard Titles (4)
2022 - PWBA BVL Classic, Rockville Centre, N.Y.
2022 - PWBA Dallas Classic, Dallas
2021 - PWBA ITRC Classic, Arlington, Texas
2016 - PWBA Lexington Open, Lexington, Ky.
PWBA Honors
2021 PWBA Player of the Year
Other Accomplishments/Awards/Notes
2019 PBA South Point Member/Non-Member Doubles champion (with Bryan Van Sickle)
2018 GoBowling.com 10K Challenge Champion
Runner-up as top seed at 2018 USBC Queens
Inducted into Central Missouri’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015
Tied then-record for highest series by a woman in 2014 with an 879 series
2013-2014 USBC Sport Bowling Female National High Average Award winner (215 average)
2009-2010 USBC National Female High Series Award winner (861 series)
First bowler in NCAA history (any division) to be named NTCA Player of the Year four consecutive seasons (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 at Central Missouri)
2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 NTCA first-team All-American (Central Missouri)
2005 NTCA Rookie of the Year (Central Missouri)
National Team Accolades (United States)
Years on Team USA (9): 2011, 2015-2017, 2020-2024
Years on Junior Team USA (2): 2006-2007
One gold medal (singles) at 2022 IBF World Cup
One gold medal (team) at 2022 PANAM Bowling Women's Championships
One gold medal (doubles) and two bronze medals (singles, all-events) at 2022 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions
Two gold medals (trios, team) and one bronze medal (all-events) at 2021 PANAM Bowling Elite Championships
One silver medal (team) and two bronze medals (singles, trios) at 2016 PABCON Women's Championships
Three gold medals (singles, doubles, all-events) and two silver medals (team, national all-events) at 2007 Tournament of the Americas
One gold medal (doubles) and one bronze medal (team) at 2006 American Zone Youth Championships
Three gold medals (doubles, team, team all-events), one silver medal (all-events) and two bronze medals (singles, doubles) at 2006 Tournament of the Americas
Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame Class of 2024 - Superior Performance
Josh Moret first started bowling at age 11 at Tucson Bowl. His mom told Josh he was swimming too much and needed to find something inside to do that was inexpensive.
Josh’s Grandfather was a league officer there and had a VIP card that he would use to go practice.
When Josh practiced, bowlers were starting to take interest in him and started to talk to his mom. Bowlers included Paul Colwell and Chuck Molno. Chuck let him work in the Pro Shop at the age of 12. Josh would spend every day during the Summer or when school was out, from open to close shadowing Chuck. This was just the beginning of his bowling career and where he gained a ton of knowledge.
Josh shot his first 300 game at Tucson Bowl, while practicing with Ron Schloss and Bill Berryman. As a youth bowler, Josh Moret achieved City High Average, winning youth Singles, Doubles and Team Titles. Josh took 7th place in the National Youth Tournament in Las Vegas and was the Desert Open Champion three years in a row.
What keeps Josh bowling today are personal goals that have not been achieved yet and the close group of friends he bowls with. For more than 25 years, Josh has had a 200+ book average.
Josh Moret has an amazing list of stats and achievements as an adult, which include:
Thirty-three certified 300 games, 12 certified 800 series, Arizona State Doubles title (2012) with Paul Colwell, two Arizona State Team Titles (2001, 2017), Arizona State Scratch All Events (2007), Tucson City Team Title (2007), an Arizona Classic Bowling Association Title and Complete Bowling Events Title and more than 40 Singles Scratch Local Tournament Titles, including: Challenge, King of the Hill, Sweepers and others.
Josh traveled and bowled on the PBA Tour for two years and was in the top 10 in PBA Regionals in multiple tournaments.
In 2021, Josh was part of Tucson bowling history, setting a four person team record, with the score of 1101, bowled at Tucson Bowl in the Brunswick Hot League. Josh bowled 278 with JJ Holman (276), Shawn Whitelaw (300), and Matt Berube (247).
Josh gives back to his bowling family, serving as a League President for several leagues.
One of Josh’s most unique efforts was his creation of the Senior/Non-Senior Sweeper Event to help build entries for the Senior Masters. This event was a success, which Josh let Tucson Metro USBC take over and has used the format for the Masters/Queens and Senior Masters event.
Josh Moret is one of those bowlers that you can count on coming to your tournaments and encouraging bowlers to take part.
Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame Class of 2024 - Superior Performance
Dave Started bowling in Junior leagues around 7 years old. He moved from the West coast to the Midwest when he was 14. Bowling stopped until age 18 when he got a job in a bowling alley and joined a men's league. His wife Suzi and he moved to Tucson in August of 1986 and they joined a couple of mixed leagues, but it was not until the PBA Tour came to visit Golden Pin Lanes that he committed his interest to a passion.
Dave had always been a big fan of Earl Anthony and had a dream of joining the PBA. So after that tournament, Dave decided that he was going to get his PBA card and in 2002 qualified to do so. With kids and mortgage payments, traveling to tournaments was difficult at best, as many of our past Hall of Fame inductees found out as well. Dave Hyatt has managed to cash three times (two times as a regular and one time as a senior). No trophies or bragging rights, but a check is a check. Nationals this year 2024 will also be 20 years of bowling the Open. Dave has cashed in more than half of those tournaments, averaging close to 200.
Some highlights other than his many (8) 300’s and (4) 800’s are specifically an 805 series in the doubles competition in the Arizona State Tournament held at Golden Pin Lanes on June 4th, 2005. He was also part of a team that took the Class A Team All Events in the 62nd Annual City Tournament - 2006. In the Tucson Metro Senior Open Championships Event Dave was “All Events Champion – Scratch” in 2017.
Bowling in leagues and tournaments has allowed Dave to make some great friends and acquaintances. He looks forward to seeing his friends each week. Dave has been a League President and officer for many leagues, most recently the Park Avenue Jewelers/Miller Lite League that bowls Wednesday’s at Fiesta Lane. It’s tricky to bowl with one individual as a teammate and then against them in a different league but for Dave He always wants them to do well either way, but just a little bit better when they’re bowling with instead of against. Both of his children, Derrick and Courtney have participated in juniors and Derrick now subs on his team when asked and available.
Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame - Class of 2024 Superior Performance
Kevin Smania didn’t start his bowling career until after high school. In high school, Kevin was a star athlete playing basketball.
When he was young, Kevin bowled a few times. His first league was at Davis Monthan Lanes, where his parents bowled in 1987. Kevin bowled his first 300 game and 800 series in that league that year.
Kevin’s first 300 was significant, when his father bowled his first 300 game, 28 days later in the same league and was featured in a story in a national bowling magazine. An article in the following issue, said a Father and Son did it on the same day, Dick Weber and Pete Weber. If you have to get beat by someone, why not then.
Kevin joined the PBA tour in the 90’s and competed in 40 events, making the top 24 several times.
Coming back home to Tucson to bowl is always where he loved and did some of his best bowling.
Kevin won a Tucson Bowling Association Doubles Title in 1992, Team Titles in 2002 and 2011. He set the City of Tucson high average of 234 in the 2007/2008 season. Kevin has won five Arizona Classic Bowling Association Singles Titles, two Amateur Bowling Tour Titles. He has 44 sanctioned 300 games and 21, 800 series in his career.
Kevin also has a very unique accomplishment, a Andy Varipapa 900 series. Kevin bowled a 300 game in his last game in league at Lucky Strike Lanes and then two days later, bowled a 300, for his first two games at Fiesta Lanes, for which he was subbing for Tucson bowling Hall of Famer, Kary Harris.
Kevin Smania is a humble and gracious person that exemplifies good sportsmanship in the sport of bowling. He is an accomplished bowler and has good blood lines, his parents and sister are accomplished bowlers. Bowling has given him so much more, Kevin can thank bowling for his two children, as he met their mom at the bowling lanes.
During the 79th Annual Tucson Metro USBC Open Championships, held at Lucky Strike Bowl, Tucson Metro USBC announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Steve Harris for Meritorious Service, Steven Hiscox for Superior Performance and Mike Tountas for Superior Performance.
Gloria Kaylor Harris, Belinda Hiscox, and Tucson Metro USBC Charter Hall of Famer Pete
Tountas were part of the presentations.
Tucson Metro USBC thanks them and congratulates the Class of 2023.
Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame - Meritorious Service
Steve has been bowling since he was twelve years old. Steve has bowled at the junior, collegiate and adult level. In juniors he was an ambassador for the Cambrian Bowl Junior program and represented them at many junior events. At the University of California, Berkeley, Steve was the co-captain of the men’s team and coached the 1976 NCAA championship team. Harris started, recruited and coached the University of California, Berkeley women’s bowling team. As an adult bowler, Steve Harris has been secretary to many different leagues including the Tucson Citizen Classic league. Steve Harris has written bowling articles for the Tucson Citizen newspaper promoting bowling, including the Citizen Classic League. He represented Arizona at the Team USA in 1989.
He has worked with the Tucson Junior bowling representatives. He has worked with the Bowling Centers managers. He has represented Tucson Metro at the National and State conventions. He has been the Tucson Metro association manager since 2016.
He has worked hard helping all bowlers so they can enjoy the game he loves.
2023 Tucson Metro Hall of Fame Induction - Superior Performance
Steve Hiscox started bowling in 1964 as a 4th grader. His dad, Bud, was the Junior coach and Steve averaged 139 his first year. As an adult he won the ABC Tucson City Tournament twice, in 1975 and 1978. Between the years 1979 and 1999, he consistently averaged 220 or higher, and a composite average for the last 20 years of 210.
In 1977, bowling as a student for the U of A, Steve won an entry and all expense paid trip to ACUI National Tournament, coming in 2nd. Steve’s first professional tournament, winning a spot as an amateur, to bowl in the PBA Tucson Open at Golden Pin Lanes. Cashing in his first PBA tourney. In 1980 he joined the PBA and headed out on the tour making the television finals in Delphi, Maryland. Steve Hiscox was a Citizen Classic All Star and MVP and in 1984, his Citizen Classic team ended that season with the four-man high series in the nation, along with teammates, John Cook, Al Davis and Lloyd Lee.
He’s a five-time scratch doubles; Tucson Metro USBC Open Champion and 3-time team scratch champion. Steve has bowled 8-300’s, over 200-700’s and 2-800’s, most of them bowled prior to 2000. In spite of all these accomplishments, Steve feels his greatest claim to fame was a 299 at Keglers during the Citizen Classic League.
2023 Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame Inductee - Superior Performance
This inductee grew up in a bowling family, a self-described bowling rat, and ran a pro shop. He is also the one of the tallest inductees in the Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame, Mike Tountas. Mike has bowled as a junior, winning countless honors, and in adult leagues since the 1985-86 season and has racked up impressive numbers. Mike Tountas has bowled more than 50, 300 games; more than 30, 800 series; more than 200, 700 series alone and has a composite average of more than 220. Mike is part of a bowling family. One of his greatest achievements, he said, was bowling with his dad, bowling hall of famer Pete Tountas in the 1988 USBC Nationals and finishing 9th in the Doubles Event.
In 1992, as a guest, Mike bowled in the PBA Tucson Open, held at Golden Pin Lanes, and he finished 7th, missing the show by just 54 pins. This effort and result spurred Mike to join the PBA. In his first PBA tournament as a professional, Mike did something that his father Pete Tountas and Pete Weber did in their first game as a professional, bowled a 300 game. Mike Tountas is a five-time Tucson Metro USBC Open Championship, also winning the Senior Masters and Scratch Singles Titles in the past two years as well.
Mike was also honored as the ACBA Bowler of the Year.
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