Staff
Long-time local bowler Rick Stamarski is now a Lifetime Member of the Sunset Country 5-Pin Bowling Association.
He was presented with the prestigious award Sunday evening during the closing banquet for the 2017 Aggregate tournament, which Fort Frances hosted this year.
Stamarski was recognized for four-and-a-half decades of dedication to the sport of bowling as a competitor, coach, official, and volunteer.
Over the years, he has represented Sunset Country at various competitions countless times, including just last year in the High-Lo Doubles tournament at the P.O.A. provincial championships held in Dryden.
But it’s in the coaching ranks that Stamarski may be best known–a role he tirelessly fulfilled at both the Open and P.O.A. provincial tournaments, culminating with leading the Sunset Country men’s team to the silver medal at the 2015 Open in Sudbury.
He’s also coached at the YBC level and was a fixture on Saturday mornings at Plaza Lanes for years along with his late wife, Carolyn–even after his own sons graduated from the program.
As well, he’s been involved with Masters bowling since its inception in 1989.
Stamarski also has served in various capacities on the Fort Frances Bowling Club executive and on numerous tournament committees.
Even when he didn’t qualify for a provincial championship as a player or coach, he often volunteered to drive others to them in places like Sudbury, North Bay, and Timmins–a testament to how much he loved taking in the competition and the atmosphere.
He’s even volunteered to drive senior ladies’ bowlers to provincial events across Northern Ontario.
To add to his impressive résumé, Stamarski has served as an official in various capacities and levels over the years.
As an indication of the respect he’s garnered right across Northern Ontario, he was asked to be a judge of play at last year’s Open provincial championships in Timmins–and had a alley-side seat to watch Dan Taylor of Thunder Bay roll a perfect game during the singles’ stepladder.
Stamarski also had a knack for developing lane draws for both Sunset Country and Northern Ontario–which still are used to this day.
The Fort Frances Bowling Club nominated Stamarski for the Lifetime Membership Award at the fall zone meeting held in Dryden back in September.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Rick since I first started bowling in Fort Frances back in 1988,” said club president Mike Behan.
“We have bowled together at several tournaments like the aggregate, as well as at various zone qualifiers over the years.
“Rick also has been my coach on teams that have competed at both the P.O.A. and Open championships, including that memorable silver medal two years ago,” Behan added.
“We, as a club, just thought it was high time for Rick to receive the recognition he’s earned for his years of dedication to the sport of bowling.”
Behan was proud to note Stamarski’s nomination passed unanimously at September’s meeting.
“It’s just a testament to the respect he has garnered throughout Sunset Country and, indeed, clear across Northern Ontario,” he remarked.
Behan admitted the toughest part was keeping all this secret for the past six-and-a-half months, especially in this day and age of social media.
He also had to make sure Stamarski was available to take part in the aggregate tournament when the award would be presented–without letting the cat out of the bag.
“We wanted it to be a surprise, of course, especially since it coincided with Fort Frances hosting the aggregate tournament this year,” he noted.
“I remember coming back from the zone meeting and the first thing I did was say, ‘Hey, Rick, Fort Frances really needs you to compete with us at aggregate in April. So make sure you don’t plan any spring trips this year.’
“Fortunately, he listened to me,” Behan laughed.
