Right Approach Bowlers Pro Shop founded 1980 by Mary & Mark Mohacsi: Meet_Mary_Mohacsi

Mary Mohacsi achieved success in amateur competition on the Local, State, National and International Levels. In 1984 Mrs. Mohacsi was named the United States of America's Olympic Committee's Bowling Athlete of the Year.

In recognition of her achievements, she was invited to the Oval Office of the White House to meet then United States President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush. So on October 2, 1984, Mary was with a group of seven other Bowling Dignitaries that were received in the Oval Office of the White House by the President and Vice-President of the United States of America. While she was there, she presented President Reagan with a Gold Angle, designed by American Machine & Foundry (AMF). Vice-President Bush received a Blue Angle Bowling Ball.

Hall of Fame Pictures Provided by Kerry Kirsch, Sr. Thanks Kerry!

Mary has had to curtail her activities dramatically of late due to an undiagnosed condition. She has been ill since April of 2006. The symptoms are known, but the cause of these symptoms is not. Please keep this humble lady in your prayers.

Thank you.

Installed with Mary into the Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1994 were Gladys Banker, Paula Carter, Robbie Rickard and Mildred Spitalnick.

1994 WIBC Hall of Fame inductees. Top row, left to right: Gladys M. Banker, Meritorious Service; Paula Carter, Superior Performance; and Mary Mohacsi, Superior Performance. Bottom row, left to right: Robbie Rickard, Superior Performance; and Mildred Spitalnick, Meritorious Service.

For more information on these fine ladies, please click on this link...

http://www.wibchistoryhub.com/display.asp?ID=4060709022003311505740424

A graduate of Detroit's own Wayne State University with a teaching Certificate, she taught Physical Education for the School Districts of Detroit and Clarenceville until 1977. Initially, Mary taught at Cody High School in Detroit. She left Cody in order to raise a family. While en-absentia from teaching, she married a Ford Motor Car Company Engineer by the name of Theodore and had three children. Once her children's lives got off on the right foot, she applied to Clarenceville School District and was accepted as a Physical Education Teacher. Soon thereafter, she was the Edgewood Elementary School's Boys Basketball Coach. Mary also refereed many games in an unbiased capacity. As further testament to her athletic prowess, she ran the Presidential Physical Fitness

Award Program for the School.

In addition to these responsibilities, she was tapped by The Detroit Times, ~soon to become the ~ and The Detroit News

to do coaching at local clinics for aspiring bowlers. The clinics were free for bowlers, and all each bowler had to do was pay the hosting Bowling Center for the linage. All of the selected instructors were remunerated by the newspaper publications. These instructional clinics were held in the month of August-just before the start of the fall bowling season. These clinics were well publicized in the newspapers during the sixties and seventies in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Financial issues with the newspapers caused these programs to be terminated.

After over 15 years of teaching elementary, junior high, and high school school students, it was Mary's second calling to open her first Pro Shop. This she did 35 miles from her home with fellow International Hall of Famer, Cora Fiebig.

From Left to Right: Cora Fiebig and Dorothy Rowe. Pictured above are Cora Fiebig and Dorothy Rowe. Both were intstalled into the WIBC Hall of Fame in 2004. Cora and Mary partnered together in 1977 to create a uniquely woman's bowling pro shop. Pioneer Pro Shop. Located in Utica, Michigan in Pioneer Lanes. For more information about Cora and Dorothy please click on this link... http://www.wibchistoryhub.com/display.asp?ID=1667806172003311062443193

Three years later, Mary had an oppurtunity to purchase a Pro Shop right around the block from her family home. She did so. With her son, Mark. Thus The Right Approach - Bowlers Pro Shop was born.

Having a teaching background, Mary firmly believed in researching Pro Shop Operations in order to be the best at what you do. Mary and Mark (attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn during this new pro shop opening) bought any and every book written on Pro Shop Operations available at the time. These titles, among others, included Balance and Fitting and Drilling a Bowling Ball by Bill Taylor and The Profitable Pro Shop by Larry Lichstein and the Schumacher brothers. Because of the thorough research done by Mary and Mark so long ago, it has been said (by two bowling ball manufacturers, no less) that the standards of her stores are too high. Nothing is too good for Mary and Mark's developing bowlers.

Being a Four-Time Hall of Famer, her accomplishments are numerous. She has been featured in The Detroit Times, The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, The Observer and Eccentric Newspapers, The Modern Bowler, Bowlers Digest, The Lansing State Journal, Bowlers Journal, The Women Bowler, Bowling, and even SKY - the Delta Airlines Inflight Magazine!!

Mary's accomplishments include being named to the Bowlers Journal All-American Amateur Team in 1984 and 1985. (As captain in 1984.) In that same year, she was named Female Athlete of the Year for the Sport of Bowling by the United States Olympic Commitee.

Hall of Fame Inductions include -

1978 - Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame
1982 - Michigan Womens Bowling Hall of Fame
1984 - Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame
1994 - Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame.

Over the course of the years, Mary has earned several nicknames. The first of these was "Joe." This nickname was given to Mary by her father. Another nickname Mary received was "Mrs. Mo." This nick was given to Mary by her students in Elementary School because some of them could not pronounce her last name. At some point in time she picked up the nick "Queen Mary" as testament to her being Queen of Women Bowlers for the Detroit Women's Bowling Association a record ten times. Her nickname in International Bowling Circles became "Mary the Rock" because she was so solid at the line and for the consistancy of her performances.

Her accomplishments are numerous, and here are presented her most astounding feats.....

High Game - 300(5) - Her most recent 300 game was bowled on the last squad of the 2004 Women's State Tournament at age 71. This particular event is a record for the third oldest woman to have rolled a perfect 300 game.

Other high games include - 299(2), 290(3), 289(2), 288(2), 280(2), 279(35), 278(5), and 277(1).

High Series - 773

At one point, Mary held a record for having four series of 700 or better in a row in a twelve game qualifying event for a tournament. She eventually won this tournament and was given a Bowling Pin Lamp as a special award.

Mary and her son, Mark, were also listed in the record books for the most 300 games rolled by a mother/son combination.

LOCAL FEATS

Detroit Womens Bowling Association City Titles

YEAR EVENT POSITION AVERAGE

1964 Team First

1965 Doubles First

1969 Doubles First

1970 Team First

1970 All-Events First

1971 Singles First 220

1971 All-Events First 203

1973 Team Event First

1980 All-Events First 207

1981 Doubles First

1986 Team Event First

1992 Team Event First

Detroit 600 Club

YEAR EVENT POSITION

1964 Singles First

1969 Singles First

1974 Singles First

Queen of the Detroit Womens Bowling Association - Top Average in the City

SEASON AVERAGES

1963-64 190, 188, 187

1964-65 187, 192, 191

1973-74 192, 191, 185

1976-77 195, 193

1977-78 200, 194, 187

1981-82 198, 198, 194

1982-83 200, 200, 203, 199

1984-85 208, 197, 194

1985-86 209, 199, 197,

1986-87 209, 190, 188

"Queen's Court"

1983-84 208, 197, 194

1988-89 205, 204, 197

Member of the Detroit Women's Bowling Association All-City Team -1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Captain), 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983(Captain), 1984, 1985(Captain), 1986(Captain), 1987(Captain), 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001

In 1999, Mary was the sole receipient of the Judge John D. Watts Award. This award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the Sport of Bowling.

In 2002, Mary was awarded the Thomas W. McKay Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made major contributions to the advancement of bowling and the bowling industry during their lifetime.

In 2003, Mary was named the Detroit Women's Bowling Association "Woman of the Year."

In the winter of 2000, Mary was contacted by the Michigan Women's Bowling Association to help them develop a new tournament. The name of this tournament was to be the Michigan Women's Senior Queens Tournament. On her own time, Mary evolved a system for the Michigan Senior Queen's Tournament that she felt would be fair for everyone. Mary worked hard to see that the rules and requirements for this tournament were to be unambiguous. Soon, the vision of the MWBA in the form of a Senior Queens Tournament came to fruition. Mary was proud of her work and so were the Directors of the MWBA.

It was shortly after the announcement of this Special Senior Tournament that Mary was determined to do her best to come out on top of the field of this event. She sought out, once again, the help of her most dedicated coach, her son Mark. As they worked through her game they both saw the need for outside advice. It was her son who suggested a phone consult with Fred Borden, USBC Coaching Founder. As Fred was unavailable, they relied on Jeri Edwards, Fred's "Right Hand Man." [Jeri Edwards is one of the best, if not the best, female coach on the planet.] Through a phone consult with Mark, [a phone consult!!] Jeri assisted in fine tuning Mary's game.

Shortly thereafter, the Senior Queens Tournament was held. With Jeri's suggestions, and her son Mark's assistance in implementing these suggestions during practise sessions, Mary was on top of her game. It is not publicized nor well known in the bowling world, but not only did Mary help develop this tournament, but was its inaugural winner. Mary Mohacsi. At Age 69. A True Senior Queens Champion - 2001. http://www.gdba.com/Oakland%20Press/November%2016,%202001.htm

Michigan Women's Bowling

Association State Titles

YEAR EVENT POSITION AVG

1964 Team First

1966 Singles First

1966 All-Events First

1967 Team First

1974 Team (Actual) First

1974 Team (Hdcp) First

1975 Doubles First

1977 All-Events First 207

1980 All-Events First 198

1981 All-Events First 210

1982 Team First

2001 Michigan Senior Queens Champion

In the spring of 2004, Mary was contacted by the Michigan Women's Bowling Association and asked if she would approve of having the 2005 Michigan Women's State Tournament dedicated to her. Her reply... "I would be honored!"

So in the 2004 Michigan Women's State Bowling Tournament, at Knottke's Bowl in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was her legacy to respond to this request by rolling a perfect 300 game on the last sqaud in the last game of the Doubles Event! All 60 lanes stopped bowling and were quiet as she rolled that final strike! The whole bowling center erupted into applause when all ten pins were thrown into the pit by her 14 pound Freak. When asked about the game, her reply was that she had rolled several perfect games, but this game had every ball perfectly in the pocket, and she had no doubt that this was the most perfect, perfect game she had ever bowled. At age 71.

The following year, she had the admiration of many women bowlers as she rolled the first ball in the Michigan Women's Bowling Association Tournament held in Lansing, Michigan. As the tournament was dedicated to her, so she rolled that very first ball.

2005 Michigan Women's Bowling Association 78th Annual Championship Tournament Honoree - link: http://www.webbowler.com/mi_women_2005.htm

Other State Titles

1981 Rau 24 Game Marathon - First - 204

1982 Rau 24 Game Marathon - First - 198

1983 Rau 24 Game Marathon - First - 201

1989 Team USA Qualifier ------ First - 219

Michigan Senior Olympics

65-69 Year Old Age Bracket

2000 Doubles - 1st - 960

2000 Mixed Doubles - 1st - 1203

Monthly Regional Tournament Titles

YEAR EVENT POSITION

1978 Mid-City Singles Open First

1982 Mid-City Singles Open First

1984 Mid Western Womens Open First(2)

1985 Women's All-Star Assn First

1985 Mid Western Womens Open First

1986 Mid Western Womens Open First

1987 Mid Western Womens Open First

1988 Mid Western Womens Open First

1988 Michigan Ladies Tournament

Association First

National Titles

YEAR EVENT POSITION

1972 700 Club Champion

1986 Hoinke Classic Team(Actual) 1st

1986 Hoinke Classic Team(Hdcp) 1st

1993 Golden Girls Singles Champion

2001 Golden Girls Super Senior Champion

1993 WIBC Doubles Runner-up

2002 Golden Girls Super Senior Runner-up

1973 United States Team Trials Third

1981 United States Team Trials Fifth

1983 United States Team Trials Fourth

International Honors

YEAR EVENT POSITION

1974 FIQ Zone - 5 Person Team Event Gold

1974 FIQ Zone - All-Events Silver

1974 FIQ Zone - Doubles Bronze

1974 FIQ Zone - 4 Person Team Event Bronze

1981 FIQ Zone - Singles Gold

1981 FIQ Zone - Team Event Gold

1983 FIQ Worlds - Team Event Bronze

1984 World Games - All-Events 5th Place

1984 International Amateur Bowling

Championships - Champion Gold Medal

1985 Worlds Masters Games - Singles Gold Medal

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