All-Star Bowling Challenge Saturday at Incline Station

The 44th annual men’s All-Star Bowling Challenge between the top bowlers from Superior and Duluth is at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Incline Station in Duluth.

Superior won last year’s main event 3,269 to 3,162 at Village Lanes, leaving Duluth with a 24-19 overall lead in the all-time series.

Superior also won last year’s senior challenge 3,189-3,057 to take a 9-7 lead in the all-time series, and Duluth won the inaugural super senior event last year 2,270-2,113.

Kyle Kantola, who was Superior’s high bowler last year, returns as the team’s captain.

The only other returning bowler on the regular all-star team is Todd Sorenson, but they will be joined by a wealth of experience with Pat Erickson making his 22nd all-star appearance.

Rounding out the roster are John Wicklund and Mike Higgins (alternate), both bowling in their third events, and Erik Gulbrandson, a challenge rookie.

The captain of the Superior senior team is Lou DeGraef. His teammates are Rick Plasch Jr., Mike Gault, Tim Stroozas, Scott Priem and Roger Christianson (alternate). Gault and Christianson also bowled last year.

Bob Kolbe is the captain of Superior’s super senior team.

Jack Patnode is the lone returning Superior super senior and their teammates are Don Cain, who bowled in last year’s senior event, Virgil Nelson and Mike Field.

2018 Superior All-Stars

Kyle Kantola (captain)

Age: 26. … Making his fifth all-star appearance. … High average this season is a 215 in the Wednesday Night Commercial League at Village Lanes. … Also bowls in the Saturday Mixed Nuts League at Village Lanes  … Has rolled eight 300 games and has a high all-time series of 842. … Was the 2016 Superior City Tournament all-events scratch winner.

Erik Gulbrandson

Age: 28. … Making his all-star debut. … High average this season is a 225 in the Wednesday Night Commercial League at Village Lanes. … Has more than 20 300 games and a high series of 815. … Was a member of the 2010 Junior Team USA.

Todd Sorenson

Age: 39. … Bowling in his 14th event. … Has a high average of 230 in the Thursday Veterans League at Village Lanes. … Also bowls in the Bud Light Classic League at Village Lanes. … Has bowled 23 300 games and has a high series of 837. … Has been City Tournament champion in four team events, two double events, three single events and three all-events. … Was Superior Bowler of the Year in 2008. … Has two children, Dakota, 12, and Abby, 10.

Pat Erickson

Age: 50. … Making his 22nd all-star appearance. … Has a high average

of 229 this season in the Bud Light Classic League at Village Lanes. Also bowls in the Friday Nite Fun League at Landmark Lanes. … Has bowled 35 300 games and has a high average of 867. … Holds the singles/doubles Superior City Tournament series record and also a CBA Title in 1996. … Was inducted in the Superior Area Bowling Hall of Fame in 2010. … His girlfriend is Lezlee Nelson, who has bowled in 11 women’s all-star series.

John Wicklund

Age: 50. … Bowling in third all-star event. … Has a high average of

228 in the Village All Parish League. … He has three 300 games and a high series of 786.

Mike Higgins (Alternate)

Age: 27. … Third all-star appearance. … High average of 220 in the Friday Night Bud Light Classic League at Village Lanes. Also bowls in the All

Parish League at Village Lanes. … Has one 300 game and a high series of 825. … Has a 2014 Superior City Tournament win and was part of the 2007 State Junior Championship Team.

2018 Superior All-Stars

Lou DeGraef (captain)

Age: 57. … Second all-star appearance. … High average this season is a 220 in the Village Commercial League. … Has bowled four 300 games and has a high series of 795.

Rick Plasch Jr

Age: 63. …  Second all-star appearance. … High average this season is a 211 in the Village Mooses and Meeses League. Also bowls in the Village Commercial League and the Village Tuesday Seniors League. … Has bowled two 300 games and has a high series of 783.

Mike Gault

Age: 63. … Sixth all-star appearance. … High average this season is a 201 in the Village All Parish League. Also bowls in the Friday Night Classic

League at Landmark Lanes. …  Has three 300 games and a high

series of 767. … Is an United States Navy retired veteran of 20 years.

Tim Stroozas

Age: 62. … Fifth all-star appearance. … High average this season is 205 in the Village Tuesday Senior League. Also bowls in the Village All Parish League. … Has bowled two 300 games and his all-time high series is 783. … Was a 1984 Wisconsin team championship, Superior City Tournament champion in 1987, all-events actual champion 1993-2005, Super all-events champion 1998-2008 and Duluth City team champion 2005. … Also has a bronze medal from the 2002 nationals in Billings, Mont. … Also part of the team that holds the city tournament team game record on 1,274 actual. … An active Superior Area Bowling Association board member for 20 years, holding the office of president from 2013-14. Was also president of the SAMBA  in 1997-98 and was inducted into the Superior Area Hall of

Fame in 2006.

Scott Priem

Age: 57. … Second all-star appearance. … High average this season is 218 in the Thursday Veterans League. Also bowls in the Village Tuesday VFW League and Village Bud Light Classic League. … Has yet to achieve a 300 game and has a high series of 758. …  Was a City Tournament doubles champion in the 1980s.

Roger Christianson

(alternate)

Age: 67. … Making his 20th all-star appearance. … High average this season is a 210 in the Village Tuesday Senior League. Also bowls the Landmark Friday Classic League. … Has had 11 300 games and a high series of 811. … Received the bronze national championship medal in 2002. … Has served on the SABA board. … Was the 1981 Superior Bowler of the Year and was inducted into the Superior Area Bowling Hall of Fame in 2005.

Super Senior All-Stars

Bob Kolbe (Captain)

Age: 74. … Third all-star Appearance. … High average this season is 187 in the Village Wednesday Commercial League. … Also bowls in the Tuesday Seniors League. … Has one 300 game and a high series of

783.

Virgil Nelson

Age: 75. … First all-star appearance. … High average of 195 in the Village Seniors League. … He has a high game of 279.

Mike Field

Age: 70. … Third all-star appearance. … High average of 190 in the Village Seniors League. He also bowls in the Village All Parish League. … Has a high game of 299 and a high series of 750.

Don Cain

Age: 74. … Seventh all-star appearance. … High average is 191 in the Village Seniors League. Also bowls in the Mixed Nuts League. … Has a high game of 298 and a high series of 731.

Jack Patnode (Alternate)

Age: 77. … Third all-star appearance. … High average is 170 in the Village Seniors League. … Has a high game of 299 and a high series of 670.

Bowling for Duluth All-Stars are:

All-Stars -- Marty Jobin, Mike Bellefeuille, Mike Sorensen, Phil Haglund, Dana Casey and Tyler Curnow (alternate).

Senior All-Stars -- Chuck Bergquist, Steve Freeman, Randy Nelson, Rick Menz, Carl Hendrickson and Curt Matlock (alternate).

Super Seniors -- Bob McClarey, Al Carl, Ron Laliberte, Don DeMars and Charles Carpenter (alternate).

1/2: Members of the Superior Senior All-Star Team are, back row: Scott Priem, Tim Stroozas and Rick Plasch Jr. Front row: Lou DeGraef, Roger Christianson and Mike Gault. (Submitted Photo)

2/2: The Superior Super Senior All-Stars are, back row: Jack Patnode, Mike Fields and Don Cain, and front row: Bob Kolbe and Virgil Nelson. (Submitted Photo)