BOWLING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA TO HONOR RYPCINSKI AND BERGLUND

ARLINGTON, Texas - Lydia Rypcinski of Chicago, Ill., has been selected as winner of the 2010 Bowling Writers Association of America Luby Hall of Fame Award in recognition of her career of distinguished contributions to bowling journalism.

BWAA also announced John Berglund of St. Martin, French West Indies, as their winner of the organization’s 2010 Alberta Crowe Meritorious Service Award, honoring his years of off-the-lanes dedication to the sport.

“We are extremely pleased to make this announcement,” said Jackie Wyckoff, president of the BWAA.  “Both Rypcinski and Berglund are well respected within and outside the bowling industry and both are truly deserving of this honor for their tireless dedication to elevating the sport of bowling internationally.”

Both award-winners will be recognized during the Columbia 300/BPAA/BWAA Awards Dinner at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nev., on Tuesday, June 29.

Rypcinski is a veteran communications specialist with a proven record of competence for more than 30 years in a variety of activities including news reporting, feature writing, media relations, photography, newsletter creation, media operations management and administrative and support operations.  

During her career Rypcinski has been the editor of the Illinois State BPA newsletter; sports information specialist for the Olympic News; freelance reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and Associated Press; sports reporter for the Asian Games News Service; media coordinator for AMF Bowling World Cup; media director for the Professional Women’s Bowling Association tour and has been international editor for Bowlers Journal International Magazine, and a contributing writer for International Bowling Industry Magazine.  Her work also appears in a number of trade and consumer publications within the bowling industry and she has been named Writer of the Year five times by the National  Women Bowling Writers Association.

Berglund, the former executive director of the BPAA, first worked with bowling proprietors in 1982 after assuming the executive director position of Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association.  In 1998, when the Minnesota Bowling Centers Association contracted with the beverage association, he became the executive director of both organizations.  Soon after Berglund took the helm at BPAA in 2002, he quickly established himself as a "mover and shaker" in the bowling industry and was instrumental in sealing the deal to bring the new International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas from a dream into reality and integrate BPAA, United States Bowling Congress, International Bowling Pro Shop Instructors Association, Bowling and Billiards Institute of America, Strike Ten Entertainment, The Bowling Foundation, International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Bowling Writers Association of America and the International Training and Research Center under one roof.  During his seven years at the helm of BPAA, Berglund also helped expand the association internationally with more than 3,300 member centers.

Mission of the Bowling Writers Association of America

To create a new and continuing generation of bowling journalists dedicated to disseminating bowling history, news, features and editorials; offer opportunities for achievement, recognition and growth; and provide programs honoring bowler performance, meritorious contributions and scholastic excellence.

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