Every team has now bowled every other team, and it took every one of those 9 weeks of sessions for one of the teams that everyone thought should have been in first place to finally get there, albeit as part of a tie (just like they last time they were in this position in week 1). It should also be noted that the team that got there this week is not the so-called defending champions.

Before anyone gets too giddy, the change in team leaders is not cause for celebration, because as a whole we stunk last night. Score-wise, the league combined rolled lower scores than 82% of our 545 recorded sessions to-date. Last night was also the second time this season that only two 200+ games were rolled, something that prior to this season had not happened since April 12, 2011.

But there were some shining stars last night. One bowler set a new personal best series. JoAnne Gordon landed this week's high game for the women with a 169, and women's high series was bagged by Monica Hufford with a 472. As for the men, Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (215) and series (552). Read on for all the rest of the details!

First up, on lanes 3 & 4: Half of Gucci Lane spent some quality time with 3/4 of Red Strikes Matter. After a first game that was settled entirely by which team sucked less, Conrad Bonney with his below-average 402 series let Gucci in splitting the series with Red Strikes. Sean Miller with his 473 series reigned supreme within Red Strikes as they matched their opponent in wins. Gucci Lane remains in 7th place, while Red Strikes sinks 1 spot to 2nd.

On lanes 5 & 6: We Don't Give a Split wrapped things up unusually quickly with Teeby Dee. Headlined by #1 Power-Ranked Dennis Laube and his above-average 523 series, We Don't Gibe a Split split the series with TBD. Luke Melton with his better-than-normal 440 series called the shots for TBD as they matched their opponent in wins. We Don't Give a Split remains in 4th place, while TBD remains in 9th.

On lanes 7 & 8: We find a pairing of virtually equal strengths, as Open Frames R Us shared a lane malfunctions and a box of laxatives with the fully-loaded Bowl Movements. Highlighting the skills of Monica Hufford with her 472 series, Open Frames collected 3 wins against BMs. In the midst of this, Conor Clarke with his 441 series impacted the Bowl Movements despite his team logging only a single win. Open Frames R Us remains in 6th place, while the BMs remain in the bottom.

JoAnne Gordon displays the coveted 'I Beat Barber' trophy she earned this week.

On lanes 9 & 10: In a matchup that could almost be considered unfair, the bad guys of still-not-in-first-or-second Serious Bowlers hoped for a complete slaughter of the meek and helpless Bowling For Beers. Serious Bowlers who took things especially seriously included Aaron Barber with his below-average 538 series, along with a major contribution by #1 Head-to-Head and Most Valuable Bowler Jonathan Vigliaturo. However, JoAnne Gordon wasn't going to accept an outright defeat so outbowled Aaron Barber in game 2 to lead her team to a single victory. It should be noticed that total series here was determined by only a 2-pin margin. Serious Bowlers remains perpetually in 3rd place, while Beers remain in 8th.

Finally, down on lanes 11 & 12: BDE came out of the gate kicking 8 Balls in the crotch, racking an astonishing game 1 victory that left the Balls doubled over in agony. Unfortunately for BDE, despite Jeremy Cline with his above-average 542 series, this would be their only win. As for the opposition, Matthew Taylor with his 552 series massaged the Balls back to health as his team took the match with 3 wins. BDE remains in 5th place, while 8-Balls finally move 1 spot to 1st.

The only two bowlers to who were cool enough to get admitted to The 200 Club this week include: Aaron Barber (208) and Matthew Taylor (215)

A new personal best series was rolled tonight by JoAnne Gordon (429, previous best 426).

In this week's Tournament of Champions brackets: Matthew Taylor staked a claim for the Iron Throne in Division 1, while Phil Schroeder won Division 2. Nobody claimed victory in Division 3 (though Jeremy Varnell came closest), and Chuck Kissee trounced Division 4. And, finally, nobody claimed victory in the Interdivisional bracket (though Jeremy Varnell (Division ) came closest). In terms of overall points: Nick Kinney dominates Division 1; Phil Schroeder reigns over Division 2; Neil Hufford governs Division 3; and Chuck Kissee tops Division 4.

NEXT WEEK IS THE POSITION ROUND, so everyone will roll against the team next to them in rank order. This of course means that Serious Bowlers will not be rolling in the first matchup. No new subs may be used next week, and post-bowling is discouraged.

NEXT WEEK:

• First, on lanes 3&4, 1st-place 8 Balls will test their mettle against 2nd-place Red Strikes Matter (hcp 72). 8-Balls are expected to maintain their current strength as they sweep the series; while Red Strikes are forecast to drop their average a bit while they endure a rough night.
• Moving to lanes 5&6, 3rd-place Serious Bowlers will chuck some balls with 4th-place We Don't Give a Split (hcp 54). Serious Bs might roll a little low and lose the series but avoid getting swept; while Split Not Given ought to hold steady as they enjoy their victories.
• Then, over on lanes 7&8, 5th-place BDE will socialize with 6th-place Open Frames R Us (hcp 39). BDE will likely maintain their current strength as they and split the series with Open Frames; while Open Frames will probably hold steady as they keep the series tied.
• Next up, on lanes 9&10, 7th-place Gucci Lane will compete against 8th-place Bowling For Beers (hcp 36). Gucci might roll a little low, yet still manage to win the series; while Beers ought to hold steady as they avoid getting swept.
• Finally, on lanes 11&12, 9th-place Teeby Dee will face 10th-place Bowl Movements (hcp 39). TBD is predicted to maintain their current strength as they and split the series with BMs; while BMs are anticipated to hold steady as they keep the series tied.

^*(Remember, the predicted results above are based on mathematical extrapolations and can be changed by all sorts of factors. If you don't like how your team's results are predicted, you and your teammates have the power to prove the math wrong!)

THIS WEEK'S MVB Jonathan Vigliaturo Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Dennis Laube Runner Up: Chuck Kissee	#1 H2H BOWLER Jonathan Vigliaturo Runner Up: Jeremy Cline
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "When he dies, they are going to press his ashes into a plate and put it on the wall. It will be the only gray plate in the place." Dennis Walling, about Pat Hamell and his frequent visits to Flying Saucer.