From The President:

As many of you know, during the past year Andy Zilis has had some serious health struggles.  Last week things took bad turn for him, and he wasn’t able to publish last week’s newsletter.  Now unfortunately it is with great sorrow and sadness that I must inform all of you that our beloved friend and long-time BTC member Andrew Zilis passed away on Thursday January 8.  Please keep the entire Zilis family in your thoughts and prayers.  His visitation & chapel  service will be on Tuesday 1/13/26, 4-8 PM with the service from 7-8 PM, at Brady-Hill Funeral Home, 16600 Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park, IL  60477. Please say a prayer for him. (Click for full obituary). 

This past summer our BTC Historian Bob Vizdal interviewed Andy and published a great article about him.  Click HERE for that article.  Take a few minutes to read it and find out some interesting facts about our dear friend.

With this being the first newsletter of 2026, I would like welcome Tom Magee as our newest BTC officer and 2026 club secretary.  Dave Jenner has moved up to Treasurer, Lee Kaz is now the Vice President and despite all of Ron Miller’s attempts to impeach me over the last three years, I (Anthony Serritella) have survived his attacks and will be the 2026 President.  If you are not comfortable with calling me “Mr. President”, you could just call me sir or sire.

The following text will include Tim’s first newsletter that he submitted last week as well as his entry for this week.  Also, the tennis chairman Al Baldermann sent me his entry for this week and the bowling chairman Keith Tadevich did the same.

Anthony Serritella – BTC President

Gentlemen of the BTC

From Jan 1, 2026                                                                      

My 1st newsletter comes with great sadness, long time member Gary Bybee passed suddenly down in Florida. He will be missed by many.

Also, long-time member Dan Robert's wife passed away.  Dan is famous for holding the all-time score of better than 1500 scratch in the Brocious doubles.

In bowling this week Tri star took it on the chin at the hands of Smoky's Bandits decreasing their lead to one.  You might say they stole the show.

This week in 1980 Warren Nelson captured his 2nd title on the PBA tour during the same event that Mark Roth converted the 7-10 split being a first one ever televised.

Tim Magee – BTC Secretary

From Jan 8, 2026 

I ran into Jack Pirisi at Stony Point GC, he told me he wouldn't vote for me, ha-ha I told him I ran uncontested.

Enough of that. Tri star won 7 points to hold a 4-point lead. Good thing we didn't have to face those Bandits again.

Thinking back, I once took a 5 min walk to the tavern. It took me 45 minutes to walk home; the difference was staggering.

It’s that time of year again.  The annual members dues are due.  Please make Jenner’s life a little easier and pay your dues early.  The regular dues are $200.  Senior dues are $120.  To qualify for senior dues, you must meet both of the following criteria.  You must be 65+ yrs old and you must also be a 25+ year BTC member.  Out of state 10+ months dues are $100.  Click Here for a copy of the dues form.

Tim Magee – BTC Secretary

January Birthdays:

Bob Welsch (6), Jim McDermott (8), Bob Conners (9), Ron Kogut (12),  Nelson Radcliffe (14), Mike Tomkins (14), Ron Miller (15), Andy Zilis (18),                     Rick Carioti (25), Dick Kamin (25), Dennis Samoska Jr. (30), Dan Woodward Jr. (30)

Tennis Report – Al Baldermann

16 players. Very even matches.

After tennis, 8 of us went to the Train Station for dinner.

Results:

Bewley             15/28

Kahlhammer    15/28

Abramowicz    13/28

Reschke           13/28

Baldermann     13/23

Schroeder        12/23

Butter               11/23

Kees                10/23

Cleary              18/27

Rollins              13/27

Darabaris         12/27

Heraty              11/27

Clark                14/25

Johnson           14/25

Lillwitz              13/25

Vizdal                9/25

Year-to-date standings:

Bowling:

Gentlemen-

We are almost at our halfway point in the bowling season, as there is only 1 regular week of bowling left before our end of the half position round week on January 20^th. Things are still pretty close in the standings Tri-Star has a 4-point lead over second place Arena Lanes, Beggar’s Pizza, Bright Metals, and Smokey’s Bandits are all within 4 points of second place. Please remember since all teams are now in only one division, the top 2 placed teams at the end of our first half will qualify for the end of season Championship Roll-off!

On the lanes this past Tuesday Beggar’s Pizza bowled the BYE Team and took all 7 points on lanes 1 & 2. Tri-Star swept all 7 points away from Oak Forest Bowl on lanes 3 & 4 allowing them to remain in first place. Lanes 5 & 6 saw the Traitors defeat Burr Oak Bowl and winning all 7 points in their match. Ascend Wealth Planning lost all 7 points to Smokey’s Bandits, who have been surging up the standings in recent weeks. Our final match on lanes 9 & 10 saw second place Arena Lanes take all 7 points from Bright Metals who fell from second to fourth in the standings as a result of this match. This was the first week I can remember where all matches were 7-point sweeps by the winning teams. (See the full standings in newsletter)

Some of our top Individual handicap series this week were:  Keith Tadevich 767, Tom Ollenberger 739, Dave Jenner 723, Jay Skierkiewicz 716, Dwight Hammond 715, Matt Janda 711, John Roberts 709, Hal Eberling 704, Randy Samoska 697, John Delano 696, Mike Christophersen 696, Mike Seebock 695, Dan Raymond 694, Adam Valentinas 687, Bill Slusarczyk 681, Terry Conway 674, Derrick Bay 671, and Dennis Samoska Jr. 670. Our top scratch performers this week were:  Keith Tadevich 288, 238, and a 725 series, Tom Ollenberger 269, 244, and a 703 series, Dave Jenner 237, 267, and a 675 series, Dennis Samosk Jr. 236, 223, and a 664 series, John Roberts 225, and a 655 series, Matt Janda 242, and a 639 series, Tony Alexander 237, and a 639 series, John Paliga 247 and 220 games, Greg Lewis 248 game, Randy Samoska 240 game, Jeff Dinga 235 game, Derrick Bay 226 game, Dwight Hammond 224 game, and Mike Seebock 224 game.          

I handed out the 3 revised Prize List options to you this week. I would like to have a quick discussion and vote this week 10 minutes before bowling, on which prize list you think is best for our league this season. 

Please don’t forget you can pay your Sponsors Fees, the cost is $125 per Team and I can provide you with an Invoice if you or your sponsor would like one, please just ask.

Our Annual Brosius Doubles Tournament will be held on Tuesday February 17^th and 24^th. This is a great 2 Week Handicapped Doubles Tournament, where both bowlers count all 6 games, they bowl over those 2 weeks, during the regular league bowling. You can enter with as many different partners as you want, if you have any questions, please see me at bowling this week. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Builders Tee Club Bowling League, please call or text me at 708-912-8831.         

After bowling we had some complementary Pizzas and Mostaccioli. The drinks and stories were flowing, I hope a good time was had by all!

Keith Tadevich – Bowling Secretary

 

				Lane Assignemnts
Date	1-2	3-4	5-6		7-8	9-10
1/13/2026	4 vs. 3	10 vs. 9	2 vs. 1		6 vs. 5	8 vs. 7
1/20/2026	TBD - POSITION ROUND - END OF THE FIRST HALF
	Standings
#	Builders Tee Club	W	L
5	Tri-Star	48	22
6	Arena Lanes	44	26
8	Beggar's Pizza	42	28
3	Bright Metals	40	30
7	Smokey's Bandits	40	30
9	Traitors	36	34
4	Burr Oak Bowl	33	37
2	Oak Forest Bowl	33	37
1	Ascend Wealth	30	40
	Handicap					Doubles
Game 1	Keith Tadevich	302				Game 1
	Derrick Bay	365			1st Place	Bill Slusarczyk &	541
						Keith Tadevich
Game 2	Matt Janda	266			2nd Place	Hal Eberling &	530
	Jhn Delano	260				Keith Tadevich
Game 3	Dave Jenner	283				Game 2
	Greg Lewis	272			1st Place	Tony Alexander &	520
						Tom Ollenberger
	Mystery Pot				2nd Place	John Paliga &	488
1st Game	No Winner					Hal Eberling
2nd Game	Rob Conners	128
						Game 3
	Clean Frames				1st Place	Keith Tadevich &	535
Forward	Bill Slusarczyk	29				Dave Jenner
Reverse	Keith Tadevich	9			2nd Place	Randy Samoska &	525
30	No Winner					Jeff Dinga
	Last Game Handicap					Blind Doubles
1st Place	Dave Jenner	283			1st Place	John Delano &	517
2nd Place	Jeff Dinga	257				John Paliga
	Handicap Survivor				2nd Place	Dwight Hammond &	488
1st Place	Tom Ollenberger	256				Chuck Cahill
2nd Place	Hal Eberling	245
3rd Place	John Robers	243			3rd Place(tie)	Mike Breier &	485
						Tom Ollenberger
	Corner Pin				3rd Place(tie)	John Delano &	485
Bill Slusarczyk		WON				Roger Stewart