Press release/provided photos
MAY 10, 2026 — Ed Doody of Pavilion and Christopher George of Dansville expressed their appreciation of all those who supported them throughout their bowling careers — both stating that their love of the sport began at a very young age – as they were inducted into the Genesee Region USBC Hall of Fame on Saturday night at Batavia Downs Gaming.
Doody, a Batavia native, and George were enshrined into the Hall of Fame in the Outstanding Achievement category for their accomplishments on the lanes — with Doody competing primarily in the Batavia Bowling Association and George in the Perry Bowling Association prior to continuing to bowl in the merged Genesee Region USBC association.
About 80 people attended the GRUSBC’s annual banquet, which also saw the inaugural presentation of the Joe Mortellaro Memorial Award to Randy Hanks, proprietor of Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, and a special plaque presented to Mike Pettinella by the GRUSBC for his more than 50 years of service as a bowling columnist, bowling center manager, and New York State USBC and GRUSBC association manager and as an accomplished bowler.
Keynote speaker Josh Kierpiec, owner of Begin’rs to Pro’s pro shop in Rochester and standout tournament bowler, talked about his time as a member of the Rochester Institute Technology bowling team and provided an inside look into the technology behind today’s bowling balls.
Additionally, 2025-26 league season leaders and GRUSBC Association Tournament champions were recognized prior to the awarding of a total of $1,600 to seven lucky winners in the season-ending grand prize drawing. Big winners of $500 each were Shawn Yates, Albert Burch and Mike Gates. Winners of $25 each were Mark Mack, Jordan Gelser, Jeff Baes and Tyree Winkfield.
Several Genesee Region USBC officers and directors were reelected to three-year terms. They are Vice President Jerry Davis, Sergeant-at-Arms Gary Gilman and Directors Blake Leddick, Rebecca Carpenter and Matt Bourg. Currently, one director position is open on the board.
Ed Doody, left, receives his Genesee Region USBC Hall of Fame plaque from GRUSBC Hall of Famer Dave Montemarano Jr., who nominated Doody for the honor, at Saturday night’s association annual banquet at Batavia Downs Gaming.
DOODY: FAMILY, FRIENDS SHAPED HIS PATH
Stating that induction into the Hall of Fame “means more to me than I can put into words,” Doody, 54, thanked family and friends for supporting him over the years, singling out his presenter, Dave Montemarano Jr., for encouraging him to bowl in tournaments, and his parents and grandparents for introducing him to the sport at the age of 4. About a couple dozen family members — including his sisters, Lisa and Patty, and son, Christopher — were in attendance.
A multiple association tournament champion, holder of an 836 series and several other honor scores, Doody acknowledged his late grandparents, Ray and Jean Doody and Joe and Rose Caruso, and his father, Ed, and late mother, Linda, for “always being involved in everything I did as a child.”
He said it was “Papa Joe” who picked him up every Sunday morning where they would go to Mancuso Lanes and bowl on lanes 21-22 (now lanes 9-10). “I just want to give him all the credit for getting me into this when I was 4 years old,” he said.
Doody said he bowled in the junior leagues and, at the age of 15, joined his first adult league while working part time at Mancuso Lanes, where he was able to absorb much about the game from watching Classic League bowlers such as Frank Corradini, Tony Martino, Fred Gravanda, Dave Montemarano Sr., Nino Trinchera and Mike Pettinella.
He said he embraced tournament bowling, competing with Montemarano Jr. as well as some of the Buffalo area’s best bowlers. He also mentioned many of his teammates — Pete Gravante, Dave Barone, Jimmy Lambert, Rich Culver, Mark Brown, Bill Gaston, Brian Morey, Ricky Underhill and Jim Pursel.
Health struggles have kept him away from bowling in recent years, noting that “four surgeries over the last two years have kind of taken its toll on me.” He said he is considering a comeback, only offering that time will tell.
Christopher George, right, accepts his GRUSBC Hall of Fame plaque from GRUSBC Hall of Famer Kelly Rounsville, who presented him to the 80 people in attendance at Saturday night’s annual banquet.
GEORGE: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIPS
George’s road to the Hall of Fame is one of perseverance as he has undergone three open heart surgeries with the first at the age of 8. It was at that young age when he received a gold bowling ball from his mother as a going-home present.
“This is when I fell in love with the sport of bowling,” said George, who has numerous honor scores, two Perry Bowling Association doubles titles and several league team and individual crowns under his belt, mostly while competing at Brae-Burn Lanes in Dansville. For the past 20 years, he has bowled in leagues at Mount Morris Lanes.
He said that bowling, in his eyes, is more than a sport.
“To me, it’s been a family, a community and a place where I’ve built lifelong friendships. The camaraderie, competition and memories made along the way have shaped who I am,” he said.
He acknowledged, among others, his wife, Mary Lou, and children, Jenna and Brett, as well as his mother and father, brother and sister, presenter Kelly Rounsville, nominator Dave Keller and former Genesee Valley Women’s Bowling Association President Connie Walker, who lived close by and provided George’s “living room training program” in the form of plastic pins and plastic ball more than a half-century ago.
“I am incredible grateful for the opportunities, the memories and for every single person who has been part of this journey,” he said.
Mark McVay, left, nephew of the late Joe Mortellaro, congratulates Randy Hanks, proprietor of Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, upon Hanks’ selection as the first Joe Mortellaro Memorial Award recipient. The award, sponsored by the Mortellaro family and the GRUSBC, honors Joe, the longtime president of the Batavia Bowling Association, pro shop owner and outstanding bowler, who passed away in December 2024.
HANKS RECALLS KIND WORDS FROM JOE
In his acceptance speech, Hanks recalled meeting Joe Mortellaro for the first time during the New York State Open Championships at Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls in 2010.
“We all were getting ready to bowl the states and Joe was sitting down and he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I hear you’ve been doing a lot of good things at the (Oak Orchard Bowl) bowling center.’ And that just meant the world to me, especially from an outsider,” he said, “I heard it a lot from, obviously, our league bowlers, but it was just something amazing that Joe said that to me and I appreciated it very much.”
Hanks, who has built his league base from 100 to close to 400 over the 20 years that he has owned the 18-lane center, thanked the committee consisting of the Mortellaro family and the GRUSBC board for the award. He also thanked his wife, Renee, and grown children who work at the lanes. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here now,” he said.
A founding member of the Youth Bowlers Tour in the Rochester area, Hanks is a member of the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association and is a former delegate to the New York State USBC annual meeting. In 2014, he was named “Proprietor of the Year” by the NYS USBC. Oak Orchard Bowl conducts several charity tournaments, including for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion and the Scott Whittier Memorial Scholarships.
Mark McVay, Joe’s nephew, presented a plaque and $200 gift card to Hanks after sharing a heartfelt tribute to his “Uncle Joe,”
“To me, Uncle Joe was more than an accomplished bowler. He was my uncle, my neighbor and such an important part of my everyday life,” McVay said. “Having him so close meant more to me than I can express, especially after my dad (Fred) passed away. Uncle Joe filled the void at that time in my life when I needed that steady presence and guidance and support. He was my mentor and my favorite uncle.”
Joe Mortellaro, known as “Mr. Bowling” in the Genesee Region, was the longtime co-owner of Joe’s Pro Shop.
“Uncle Joe loved gathering with family and friends … he was warm, generous, approachable and loved by many,” McVay said. “I am grateful to the USBC committee for creating this award. It means so much to me that his impact upon the sport and this community will continue to be remembered for years to come.”
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD: Tom Fluker, left, GRUSBC association manager, presents plaque to Mike Pettinella, marking the lifelong Batavia resident’s 50-plus years of service to the bowling community. Pettinella, the emcee of Saturday night’s banquet, is stepping down from the GRUSBC board, where he previously served as association manager.
SEASON LEADERS: Guest speaker Josh Kierpiec of Rochester congratulates Sarah Cassidy of Albion, who bowled a 300 game in January — the first by a woman bowler at Oak Orchard Bowl — and Gianna LaPiana of Mount Morris, who had the high game (246) and series (628) in girls’ youth competition this season.
ASSOCIATION TOURNEY CHAMPIONS: Rachel Huntz, left, and her mom, Joann Van Duser, tied for first in Women’s Doubles, while Steve Krna placed first in Open Singles at this season’s Association Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.