The Washington times., 1930-10-13


OF boiplerS OF foreign extraction
IN the District. Tomorrow, Mr..
Stmfs story wiH deal NTH the
JetDiSh bot0lerS of Washington
What about the foreign stu
alton" in local duckpin circles?
Washington's foreign elements
have taken to duckpins as duck
takes to soup.
The Greeks, one of the smallest
foreign groups in Washington, es-
timated at 5000, native and for
eign born, but making a big
splurge in commercial circles far
beyond their number, have an
exceptionally large representation
In the game.
They have taken to it with
such enthusiasm as a group that
they hold the top position in the
public interest among the foreign
inenaces to pins and pin-boys.
This being the case in our dis
sertations on the bowling activi-
ties of each race we give the
Sons Of Hellas the first call.
They have q snappy eight
team loop which raises quite
a row on the Coliseum alleys
on Monday nights, and 1t
includes from 50 to so bowlers
on its rosters. It Is only
four years old, but 1t has
doubled itself in that short
time.
II is known as the Ahepa Duck
pin League, and it is sponsored
hy the leading Greek-American
organization in the city, the
American Hellenic Educational
and Progressive Association, from
whose initials is formed its name.
Practically every Greek in the
city is in some way connected
with this powerful and beneficent
organization, fostering the golden
traditions of Greece alongside of
American ideals.
It's leaders realized Immediately
the inestimable benefit they would
receive from such a congenial
sport as duckpins and lost no
time in taking advantage of it.
Proof that they did not make a
mistake is the fact that, though
. they have eight teams already,
quite q number of bowlers above
the required quota have applied,
and it looks like two more teams
will have to be added next season.
In the meantime two all
Greek teams are rendering mighty
fine accounts of themselves against
formidable foes in two strong
leagues.
Nick ChacOnaS, the great
est Greek exponent of the
game in the city, and one of
the city's tOp-nOtch maple
spillers, has a team in the
Columbia Heights League
which Is setting q hot pace.
To date, while they repose in
third place, they hold all the
league team records, and Louis
Pantos, their ace, is the man with
the highest game, set and aver
age.
The other team is George Ora
copolous' Olympians, in the King
Pin No. 2 League. Georges boys
have the profound respect of
the other members of the league.
Last year they emerged with the
championship and George has his
plans set for another title.
Pete MetrakoS, who startled his
fellow countrymen, when he came
through to capture their first
annual sweepstakes last April is
q member Of the Chaconas team,
which replaced Pete's own Bern
ard Cafe Of last year.
Nick Chaconas and Louis Pan.
tos are co-holders of the National
Duckpin Bowling Congress doubles
game record 307.
Nick and Louis made the
mark rolling against Ollie
Pacini and Tony Santini,
Italian pin wizards in a bril-
liant international match
- last May Of which the writer
was the inStigatOr.
The writer was also responsible
for a poll among the leading
Greeks regarding the ten rank
ing bowlerS among them. The
votes resulted as follows:l, Lefty
Poulos; 2. Nick ChaconaS: 3, Gus
Tompros; 4, Louis Chipouras: S;
Louis PantoS: s. George Ment-
zouris; 7. iuS Places: 8, Johnny
Pappas; 9, George Dracopolous;
10, Pete Metrakos.
: This voting was based on the
bowling done two years ago. Rad
tcal changes would be made in
o new polling, and possibly new
names 1ould be found among the
first 10, such as Gus Places and
Andrew Panos, who hit a fast
pace last year.
Several youngsters are chal-
lenging attention, the most prom
1sing being Gus ChaconaS and
Pete Ginaris.
SOUTHPAW CHAMP