​​It’s hard to imagine a night that’s both sweet and bittersweet than the one ahead for Dawn Guerrero.

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When she walks into the Peoria River City USBC Association Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday night, she’ll be doing so alongside her son, Don Sweet, as both are inducted together — a dream that was years in the making.

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The announcement that both of them were among this year’s honorees was posted in time for Pam Haungs, Guerrero’s mother and Sweet’s grandmother, to celebrate their achievement.

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However, the actual induction ceremony will take place about a year too late.

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The announcement for this year’s Hall of Fame class was posted on June 25, a few weeks before Haungs passed away at the age of 85.

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“The painful part about all of this is that I wish my mom was here,” Guerrero said. “This is such an incredible honor — one that I'm very proud of and honored to accept. I just wish she was here to celebrate with us. To see her daughter and her grandson going to the Hall of Fame at the same time is very rare. She was so proud and excited for the banquet.

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“I know she'll be there, smiling like crazy, and she'll have the best seat in the house. It's going to be a great evening, but with a lot of tears at the same time.” 

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Guerrero also will be taking home her sixth consecutive Senior Women’s Bowler of the Year award during a ceremony that will have a full agenda.

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Shirley Barnwell will be honored posthumously in the Hall of Fame’s Meritorious Service category, joined by Vince McCane and Terry Markley.

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The association also will be recognizing this year’s top bowlers — Pro Shop Tony Schnack as Men’s Bowler of the Year, Kathleen Hermacinski as Women’s Bowler of the Year, and Chad Barnes as Senior Men’s Bowler of the Year.

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The top junior bowlers, all-star teams in six divisions, and other major award winners also will be honored.

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Rounding out the program will be the Eagle trophy presentation to the Phat Kidz Crew — Steve Taylor, Tommy Barnwell, Andy Stone, Tony Recsnik, and Travis Anderson — who brought home the team title at this year’s USBC Open Championships.

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For Guerrero, the recognition comes at the end of a year that’s tested her both on and off the lanes.

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After losing her mother, she admits it’s been difficult to find the motivation to bowl, often reminding herself to take “baby steps” as she works her way back.

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Still, surrounded by supportive teammates and lifelong bowling friends, she’s slowly rediscovered her rhythm — proof that the sport continues to be both her outlet and her source of strength.

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For Don Sweet, the honor carries just as much emotion — and just as much meaning.

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“I personally was not planning on submitting my name for the Hall of Fame this year, but my grandma kept begging me to do it,” he said. “When I told her I was doing it this year, she was so excited. She was the first person I called when it happened. Now it’s a bittersweet thing. She wanted us to do it last year and said if I had not done it this year, she was going to do it.

 

"But I know she'll be there with us. There’s no doubt about that. I know she’s proud — and that makes it even more special.”

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Sweet added that he never expected to be inducted on his first try — let alone on the same night as his mom. That is a rarity in any bowling hall of fame.

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“Getting in on the same night with my mom, it’s going to be special,” he said. “I kept trying to think about it — I couldn’t even think of anyone around here that has ever done that.”

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Ironically, Guerrero said the idea for the two of them to get inducted on the same night came from outside the family.

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“Terry Rudd many years ago was the first person to suggest that Don and I go in together,” she recalled. “But I didn't have enough years in Peoria at that time. It's something that I've dreamed about for a long time, getting my years in and hoping that he had the credentials to go in as well.”

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 Their credentials were never a problem. Sweet has won a couple of state titles, city titles, and a variety of other achievements on the lanes, including multiple honor scores.

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Guerrero swept last season’s inaugural awards, honoring high averages and high series. She led the senior women in the association with a 196 average and a 718 high series.

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She won Senior Women’s Bowler of the Year by 20 points over Jennifer Bertschi. Other members of the Senior Women’s All-Star team were Wendy Haste, Lisa Feger, and Val Haynes.

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Other honorees

 

​Markley is a long-time member of the Peoria association, and a current member of its Board of Directors.

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He has bowled for 45 years and a board member for 10. He has a high game of 299, a high series of 735 and a high average of 212.

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But he is being recognized mostly for his work off the lanes.

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“I have been on the youth committee, have done in-school lanes and lane inspections, and have helped working at tournaments,” he said. “I also bowl in tournament and have bowled in the USBC Open 12 times.

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“I was really surprised and honored when I found out I had been elected into the Hall of Fame.”

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McCane was a little more accomplished on the lanes, with eight 300s, an 813 series, and a high average of 233.

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He has won three team titles in the City Tournament, including one year when his team set the team scratch record with 3,501.

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But he, too, is being recognized for meritorious service.

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McCane was on the local association’s Board of Directors for 10 years, running various tournaments, helping with lane inspections, and serving on various committees. He also is a former winner of Director of the Year honors.

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He was a squad organizer for 15 years, taking 20 teams to both sites of the state tournament, eight teams to the Hoinke Tournament in Cincinnati, and two teams to the American Bowling Congress (now USBC) Open Championships. McCane also organized and ran the Central Illinois Classic tournaments for five years.

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It will be the second straight year that Shirley Barnwell will be honored since her death in 2016. Last year, she was inducted into the Illinois State USBC Association’s Hall of Fame in the In Memoriam division for her contributions to Illinois State Youth bowlers.

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“At the local level, it had a lot to do with coaching the kids and organizing teams for ladies,” said Tommy Barnwell, her grandson. “At the state level, it was about helping with fundraising and working with the youth leaders.”

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She will now be a member of two Halls of Fame, along with her husband Roy.

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Bowler of the Year

 

​​For the second time in three years, Pro Shop Tony Schnack was honored as Men’s Bowler of the Year.

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He posted some big numbers all over the area and also will be honored as the bowler with high average in the association last season at 239.

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Schnack rolled back-to-back 300 games twice last season – in two different houses! He did it during the PRCA’s city tournament at Potter’s Alley in Morton, and then again during the association’s Mixed Couples tournament at Plaza Lanes in Washington.

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He edged out Irvin Johnson by 10 points for the honor. The other members of the Men’s All-Star Team were Travis Anderson, Tony DeVita and Don Sweet.

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 “I knew it was going to be close after Irvin had shot his big series,” said Schnack, referring to an 858 that Johnson shot at Potter’s with games of 279, 279 and 300. “He had a decent average, and then Donnie and Travis were right there for high average.”

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Andy Stone had the high series in the association last season with an 868.

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Schnack also might have had a hand in determining the Women’s Bowler of the Year. Hermacinski said he has been helping her with her game.

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“I’ve been working with Tony, and we did a lot of changes to my game,” she said. “And the Sublime Focus ball has been a game-changer for me. I was really consistent with it in women’s city and other events. I shot 700 in every house last season with that ball.”

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Hermacinski also earned the association’s inaugural high-series award for women with an 802 (her first) at Potter’s Alley. She had games of 254, 279 and 269.

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She finished just 15 points ahead of Jennifer Mauerman for the honor.

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“I think having the only 800 series actually tipped me over Jenn just a little bit,” Hermacinski said. “My 290 game and the 802 gave me like the max points, so that kind of helped me out.”

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The other members of the Women’s All-Star team were Bobbie Sweet, Brandi Johnson, Jennifer Longmeyer, and Lauren Sellers. Sweet also earned high-average honors with a 214.

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For Chad Barnes, it was his first Senior Men’s Bowler of the Year honor.

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“I had some 300s and some 800 series,” he said. “And those came like in the last two months of the season.

Barnes also had high senior men’s average with a 228 last season, while Mike Boogren, last year’s Senior Men’s Bowler of the Year, had high series with 847.

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“It felt pretty good finally getting Senior Men’s Bowler of the Year,” said Barnes, 53. “Finally, after three years in (as a senior). I think last year I got third. So, it’s been nice.

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“And I think it will be me and Boogren for a while, but don’t count Sammy Taylor out. We’re probably going to be competing for it for a little bit.”

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Barnes finished 45 points ahead of Boogren for the honor. Other members of the Senior Men’s All-Star team were Eric Zueck, Rob Johnson and Pete Burdette.

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Youth honorees

 

Wes Peterson swept the awards for Youth Boys. He had high average (217), high series (824) and beat out Will Hudson for Youth Boy's Bowler of the Year by 20 points.

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Other members of the Youth Boy's All-Star team were Owen Taylor, Rylan Gray and Henry Jones.

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Morgan Robinson also swept the Youth Girl's honors, with high average (187), high series (690) and Youth Girl's Bowler of the Year.

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She finished 55 points ahead of Lillianna Middleton to earn the award. Other members of the Youth Girl's All-Star team were Olivia Soens, Marie Theobald and Brittney Willis.