After 36 weeks of trying to knock each other's block off, bowlingwise, the Floral Park Knights of Columbus keglers got together on Friday evening, June 19, at the New Hyde Park Inn and, in true brotherly fashion, had a "large evening" recounting all the great happenings of the past season, the most explosive and pro-productive ever recorded in the over-a-half-century-old league!

Chet Strzepek who year after year does a bang-up job as league secretary seems, also year after year, to outdo himself as Master of Ceremonies. His stand-up, ad-lib routine had the Casey keglers roaring their approval and even those unfortunate creatures who were the foils of his caustic humor, laughed heartily and applauded his big league performance. The room was charged with the electricity of friendship, conviviality and good-natured needling as the events of the past season were gone over¬many times with endings different from what "really" happened. However, on a night such as this, who would be fool enough to question the teller's version?

First-Place trophies went to the Whacos, captained by Ted Nowacki and manned by Frank Dehler, Herman Determann and John Bartow. The Second-Place dust collectors were won by Team MOSS, quarterbacked by Paul Simonetti, with Joe Corigliano, Mark Mazzo and Chet Strzepek rounding out the roster. Pat Sweeney's Mailmen took "show" in the trophy race, as Pat was backed up by Mike Derby, Rich Lahey and Bob Mashburn.

The High Average race, especially in the final weeks, was a bowling fan's delight. Chet Strzepek led throughout the entire season, but Tom Moore, with some booming late-season scores, was able to nip Chet at the wire, outdistancing him by the ultra-slim margin of less than a fifth of a point¬18 to be exact¬187.96 to 187.87. This race was the show stopper of a season that was full of show-stopping heroics¬the frosting on the cake¬and it is just too bad that there had to be a first and a second. Paul Simonetti, at 182, grabbed the Third High Average bauble, but he garnered High Series Honors with a fine 693 set¬a whisker from nesting on that lofty 700 perch, lost by one errant gutter ball¬a gutter ball which was the topic of most of Chet Strzpek's caustic remarks throughout the entire evening. It would be difficult to find two men so far apart in attitude¬Chet with his "Shoot From the Hip" style of expression and Paul with his gentlemanly demeanor, but two men who admire each other and find great enjoyment in each other's company¬Columbianism in its finest form. Tom Moore's 680 nailed down the Second High Series and a fine 657 three-gamer by "Knobby" Gregory saw him take home the Third High Series prize.

The High Game Trophy rests atop the piano in Chet Strzepek's living room, the result of a fine 269 single effort but, again, just nosing out runner-up Bob Sheehan by a mere three pins. At every turn the evidence of tenacity fairly leaps at the reader as the scores give life to the struggle that went on for 36 weeks, just to take home that wonderful trophy. Did I say "just?" In this year's 36 weeks there never was a "just." A great effort by Jim Keanrey¬a 257 loner-won him the Third-Place Trophy, an eyelash from the top.

The Joe Gibbons Award, an award to honor the memory of one of the finest men one would ever hope to meet, was won by Lenny Carberry. This trophy goes to the most improved bowler and Lenny, with a plus 10.8 jump over last year, nosed out Paul Simonetti's 9.16 improvement.