Providence Senate Mourns the Tragic Loss of One of
Their Star Bowlers

Danyelle Mangum, born on December 23, 1990 passed away unexpectedly in an automobile accident on August 25, 2005 at the tender age of 14. She was a member of the close-knit organization known as the Providence Senate Junior Bowling Program. This is a sad, sad day for our members. A very sad and painful moment in our lives, as we try to cope with this loss and try to make this tragedy understandable to our young. Our hearts go out to her entire family, especially her Mom, Dad and sister Destinee (who also is a member of our program).

In three seasons, Danyelle was one of the most successful bowlers that we have ever had in the program. She is the only junior bowler to ever win back-to-back State Pepsi-Cola Tournament Championships (in 2003 & 2004). She was an Ocean State YABA Champion for three years and a TNBA Eastern Regional Champion (in 2003). Her league average improved every season by more than twenty-five pins each year, and she was a two-time Most Improved Bowler. This past season she had won the division high average award. For the last two seasons, her team has captured the league championship and she served as the team captain. Her highest game and series was a 190 and a 477.

Not only was she a fine bowler, but she was a very wonderful and respectable person. We will always LOVE and MISS you, Danyelle. Never shall we forget you. You were like a daughter to Monica and I, a sister to all of the bowlers, a grand-daughter and a friend to many others. Simply put, you were family. A cherished member of our bowling family, and we will continue to strive for success as we dedicate this upcoming season to you. It just hurts so much, because you had such a bright future ahead of you, and also because you were so young.

God Bless Danyelle! Her Mom! Her Dad! Her Sister! And the Rest of her family. Rest In Peace from all of us that love & miss YOU! ... the PSJBP Team.

Danyelle Mangum's Accomplishments at da Senate

September 8, 2002 to May 10, 2005

2002-03

State YABA Champ - Teams
TNBA East Region Champ - Doubles
Pepsi-Cola State Champion (11 & under)

2003-04

PSJP League Champion
Most Improved Bowler 76 to 101
State YABA Champ - Teams
Pepsi-Cola State Champion (12 & up)
Our 1st ever Back-to-Back Champ

2004-05

PSJP League Champion
Most Improved Bowler 101 to 126
State YABA Champ-Singles, Doubles & Teams
Pepsi-Cola State Qualifier
Member of Travel Team
TNBA East Region - Team

My Fondest Memory of Danyelle by Coach Marty

My fondest memory of Danyelle came in her rookie season, on the first weekend of March in 2003. This was a special moment for me, because it was then that I realize how much of a special bowler she really was. Over that weekend, (1) she made her mother very proud, (2) her dad very proud, and (3) our entire program very proud that she was a part of it.

It actually all began two days before the weekend when I picked her up from the Washington Park CC along with the rest of the team for a practice session in North Kingstown. At this practice session, we pretended to be bowling in the Pepsi Tour. Keep in mind that at the time, Danyelle's average was only a 69 and she was the underdog in this practice exercise. Well needless to say, she won the pretend practice event with ease over our more experienced youth bowlers, and you could see the excitement in her eyes. After the practice, we went out for pizza before Coach Monica and I dropped everyone off at home and I mentioned to her that if she bowled like that on Sunday, then she would do just fine.

But first things first, we had another big tournament that was taking place on Saturday of that weekend in New Jersey called the Eastern Regionals. This was a huge event and we took the entire league and their parents on a chartered bus to the daylong competition. I recall (Danyelle's Mom) coming along to support both Danyelle and Destinee at the event. This was the first time that many of our new bowlers had ever competed out of the state, and this particular tournament could be quite intimidating to a new bowler. Youth bowlers from Boston to Virginia were represented at this tournament and the bowling center itself was huge. It had both upper and lower levels consisting of 88 lanes in all. The youth bowlers in my program as part of our tournament policy are instructed to always find me and let me know how they are making out, so that I can helped those that need it. About the second game, my services were sought to go to lanes 55/56 (Danyelle's assigned lanes). So I started to head over there from lane 3 were the older youths were bowling, and I wonder to myself how bad could she possibly be doing in her first regional tour. All I remember was that one of my assistant coaches said that I need to go to Danyelle's lane immediately. Well, when I finally got to the lanes were Danyelle was bowling, all I could see was a great big PROUD smile on her mom's face along with and all the kids from our program that were bowling near her. Danyelle, who had a 69 average (I repeat - just bowled an outstanding 178 game). And needless to say, that led to a fabulous first place finish. Danyelle's outburst in New Jersey was our biggest victory of the day and we celebrating all the way back to RI. No one was prouder than we were, well except her mom of course. We returned to RI at 11:30 p.m. and the celebration had to be cut short, because the States biggest tournament was taking place in the morning at 10 a.m. and Danyelle was a participant.

The next morning, I met Danyelle and the rest of the team in North Kingston for the State Pepsi-Cola Tournament Championship (in the 11 and under division). The winner of this particular tournament receives scholarship money, a trophy and a jacket. Every youth program in the state sends their top qualifiers to this event with the hopes of capturing the title. In the older division, the winner represents our state at the Nationals. It was here that I met Danyelle's Dad for the first time. Although he knew very little about bowling, he asked me all the right questions to gain the knowledge needed to understand the magnitude of this event. He was very encouraging to Danyelle and SHE seemed so happy that he was there for her. As a result, Danyelle advanced to the final round as the number one seed. I explained to her dad that this means that she could finish no less than second place. He was so excited, as was Danyelle as we prepared for the final match. To make a long story short, Danyelle went on to win the state championship with some clutch bowling, while displaying the confidence that I had never seen before from a first year bowler. This tournament presents a lot of pressure and she handled it like a veteran despite the large crowd in the background (with some rooting against her). Both her father and I were so proud of her that we huged her immediately after the victory. I rode back to Providence with Danyelle, sister (Destinee) and her Dad and all the way back we all kept cheering, smiling, and laughing. We chanted "The State Champion" Danyelle. We returned back to our home bowling center for league play and that was where the entire program awaited us. So, we again celebrated with our newest state champion for the remainder of the day.

Danyelle was our champion and we will continue to strive for success through work hard, because that was the type of person that she was. She was very respectable and got along with everyone. We will miss her dearly and we are greatful to her parents for allowing Danyelle to be a part of our bowling family for those three seasons. Our bowling community will always cherish the moments that we shared together.

Danyelle Mangum "Benefit Tournament Results"

The Benefit Tournament took place on September 24th, and it was a huge success. Congratulations to our winners: Joshua Briggs and Daniel Strothers (bumper division); Brandon Medina and Alex Barsczc (youth division); Jonathan Van Hees and Reggie Character (adult division). The Mangum Family and Providence Senate Junior Program would like to thank EVERYONE that made a donation and/or participated in the event. Special thanks go out to the Boston Senate Junior SuperStars, Ripping the Rack, Kingstown Bowl Junior Program, AMF Cranston Lanes, AMF Pro Shop, the Providence Journal Employees, and our TNBA Family. This was a tragic and unexpected loss, we really appreciate all of you that came to the aid of the family.