Dick Ciprich

Colorful Bowling Champion

A three-sport star at Watkins Glen High School, Ciprich earned ten letters playing basketball, football and baseball. While baseball was his love – he would later pitch semi-pro ball and tryout with Cincinnati and the Washington Senators – he eventually took up the favorite sport of his parents, bowling, and became a natural on the lanes.

In 1961, Ciprich was the Watkins Glen singles champion, doubles champion, and all events champion, and was the New York State Elks singles champion. In his early 20’s he moved to Western New York and won the Rochester All-Star championship in 1962 and started competing in bowling tournaments regularly in the Buffalo area.

From 1962 through 1976, Ciprich won at least one tournament or placed in the top 10. From 1966 through 1997 – a span of 31 years – Ciprich was dominant in local, state and national bowling – in both individual and team events. He bowled with the Buffalo All Stars, one of the most powerful teams in the country, ranked as one of the top five in the nation in the late 1960’s, winning 15 championships throughout the US in 1965. Ciprich placed fourth in the US Open in 1970, was the BPAA All Star Champion the same year, All Star Doubles Champion with Tom Baker in 1971, and was a member of the ABC Tournament 10-year average list. During his career, he had 29 three hundred games.