LYNDORA — More than 450 women’s bowling teams will be rolling into Butler over a seven-weekend period beginning Friday.

Family Bowlaway and Sherwood Lanes are hosting the 78th annual Pennsylvania State USBC Women’s Bowling Association Tournament. Family Bowlaway will host the singles and doubles portion of the event with the team competition slated for Sherwood.

Butler has never hosted the women’s state tourney. The men’s state tourney was held here in 1994, 2004 and 2012.

“The previous (Butler Women’s Association) presidents didn’t want anything to do with it,” Butler WBA president Laura Paul said of the state tourney. “When I took over four years ago, we decided we wanted to bid on it.”

The state tournament is awarded three years in advance. Butler beat out Lancaster — site of next year’s tourney — in the bidding to be this year’s host.

“Location plays a big part in who gets the tournament,” state tourney manager Susan Kresge said. “Butler has never had it before and that made a big difference in the decision for this one.

“We’ve gotten 550 teams each of the past two years. Right now, we’re at 450 for this year and a few more are still coming in, But, overall, we’re down by comparison. That’s how bowling is right now, though.”

The women’s state tourney had a whopping 2,600 teams in Allentown in 1982. It has been held annually since 1939 with the exception of 1945.

“They didn’t have one that year because the nation was at war,” Kresge said.

The tournament will be held this weekend, April 15-17, April 22-24, April 29-May 1, May 13-15, May 20-22 and June 3-5. The busiest weekend will be April 22-24 with 114 teams scheduled. There are 79 teams coming in April 29 to May 1.

“Bowlers come in and they’re here for the entire weekend with only two bowling squad times,” Paul said. “They need other things to do while they’re here.

“We’ve worked with area restaurants to offer discounts to women when they show their USBC cards while they’re here. About 20 to 30 restaurants are on board with that. We’ve also given information on the outlet malls and casinos, along with the Butler County Tourism Bureau.”

The minimum age to participate in the tournament is generally 18, but a couple of younger bowlers have turned in parental consent forms to join the event. There are more than 40 bowlers over the age of 80 registered, including five age 90 or older.

Betty Wagner, 94, of Girard is the oldest registered bowler in the tournament.

“We have some women who have done this tournament for 50 straight years or longer,” Kresge said.

Paul emphasized that the tournament is open to the public and “spectators are welcome.”

Kresge lives in Saylorsburg, on the eastern side of the state, but will travel to Butler each weekend to oversee the tournament, as will Pa. USBC women’s bowling president Donna Shaw.

“The state runs the tournament. We (Butler County association) are the hands and feet of it,” Paul said. “We host a social on the second Friday night, put together the state (bowling) Hall of Fame dinner and make sure we have enough people at the lanes to handle what needs done each weekend.”

Registration for the tournament is still available. Contact Kresge at 570-629-6822 or e-mail kres329@ptd.net.

“We’re excited to host this tournament,” Paul said. “We’re hoping to get the chance to do it again.”