70% + GAMES
Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton and Howard Schmid, Merrillville — 74.50% August 3
Cappy Gagnon, South Bend and Ginny Stipp, South Bend — 69.91% August 7
Howard Schmid, Merrillville and Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton — 70.54% August 14
John and Tricia Killeen, Mishawaka — 74.31% August 27
John Hoffbeck, Tipton and Don Fields, Kokomo (NLM game)— 76.06% September 1
RISING IN THE RANKINGS
Junior Masters: Dennis Clements, Mishawaka; Nancy Love, Fort Wayne; Kathleen Steininger, Fort Wayne; Richard Willson, South Bend; Mary Wisniewski, South Bend; Judy Henn, Marion
Club Masters: Ivye Ewing, South Bend; Charlotte Abernethy, Griffith; Mary Ann Filipiak, Michigan City; Gloria Kopf, Bristol; Lyla Lockhart, Notre Dame; Judy Selund, Ogden Dunes
Sectional Masters: Jill Mroczkiewicz, New Carlisle; Norm Muller, Granger; Anna Urick, Hammond; Norman Filipiak, Michigan City; Carol Kutak, Schererville
Regional Masters: Tim Carl, Elkhart; Patrick Oetting, Fort Wayne
NABC Master: Edmond Douville, Hobart
Life Master: Keith Meyer, Long Beach
Bronze Life Masters: Daniel Clark, South Bend; Grant Van Horne, Auburn
Gold Life Master: Sara Marcus, Granger
GOLD LIFE MASTER
Paul Knepper started playing bridge in 1969 and plunged right into duplicate. His favorite partner currently is his wife, Lee. His all-time favorite partner was Chucky Voirol. He also enjoyed playing with Adair Cummins. (Chucky and Adair are both deceased, but both are remembered.) His favorite part of the game is defense.
One of his memorable times was at a Grand National Team game where his team was playing the Kokomo team. It was the team to beat. On the very first board one of the Kokomo players psyched; they couldn't handle it and were down 17 IMPs. They fought their way back but lost the match by 1 IMP.
Paul’s other interests include golf, shuffleboard, fishing and teaching bridge. He is currently maintaining the shuffle board court at the Fort Wayne Community Center and teaching bridge there. He has 14 beginning senior students. He is having a ball and they keep coming back.
Paul and Lee are in Fort Wayne for about half the year and Florida the rest of the year. They play in the Sun City Bridge Club and various games at Bradenton, FL. Paul is a great bridge partner. He is always kind to his partner and he enjoys himself. He usually has a twinkle in his eye and a little grin.
Barbara Walczak of Munster has joined the ranks of Silver Life Master, having earned 1000 masterpoints. She began playing duplicate bridge in 2003 and is a mainstay of the game. She publishes a weekly club newsletter, is a reporter for the District 8 Advocate and the Midwest Monitor, sends reports to the Gary Post-Tribune on a weekly basis and to the Hammond Times on a monthly basis, teaches EasyBridge classes, directs games occasionally, oversees a weekly novice game, plans parties, and spreads the word of bridge to anyone who will listen. Barbara enjoys the pleasurable sociability, the demanding intellectuality, and the fascinating unknowns of the game.
Mary Schumm writes —”In addition to being one of the most talented and
ethical bridge players I have ever encountered, Barbara devotes much time and
energy nurturing and introducing new players to the game with unmatched patience
and expertise. All who know her hold her in high regard and recognize her tact
From Trudi McKamey — “Barbara, you are a Silver Life Master — the sum of games well played! You have also nurtured the newcomers’ game with your energy and dedication. Keeping us posted with the weekly newsletter is something we all look forward to. A game with you is always enjoyable, and I have improved just by watching you. You are truly an asset to our club.”
SOME TOP PLAYERS AT THE FORT WAYNE REGIONAL
(left) Allan Graves (Barnet VT) and Reanette Frobouck (Vero Beach FL) — teammates of Rodwell and Meckstroth — 131.56 mp each.
(center) Jeff Meckstroth (Tampa FL), Valentin Kovachev (Stony Brook NY), Eric Rodwell (Clearwater Beach FL), and John Russell (North Barrington IL) — Together this foursome earned a total of 404.47 mp.
(right) Hannah Moon (Prince Albert SK) — teammate of Barry Harper, Ken Gee, Bob Carteaux, and Dick Ellis. Bob and Dick are members of Unit 154.