By MATT CANNIZZARO
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — David Jecko of Whitesboro, N.Y., threw 57 strikes across six games at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on April 23.
The 38-year-old right-hander averaged 263.5 for his doubles and singles sets at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, rolled the 15th perfect game of this year’s event and moved into the lead in Regular Singles with a 788 total.
He needed every strike, too, as his doubles partner and teammate, Steven Arehart of Holland Patent, N.Y., had taken the lead a moment earlier with 787.
A 3-6-7-10 split on the second shot of his final frame cost Arehart an 800 series and the chance to lock up the top spot in the singles standings. He cleaned up the 3, 6 and 10 pins, but leaving the 7 pin standing also left the door open for Jecko.
Jecko finished with games of 289, 199 and 300, while Arehart had 267, 256 and 264. Brandon St. Onge of Zephyrhills, Fla., previously held the lead in Regular Singles with 781.
Prior to the singles battle, Jecko and Arehart made a run in Regular Doubles. They settled into second place with a 1,485 total.
Jecko led the performance with a 793 series, and Arehart contributed 692. Nick Powanda of San Diego and Tony Odom of Palm Springs, California, lead with 1,518.
The huge night for Jecko, a math teacher, added up to a career-best 2,212 all-events total, which is second in Regular All-Events behind another standout from upstate New York, Brett Cunningham of Clay, New York, who leads with 2,220.
Jecko’s total helped Maximum Potential Pro Shop of Baldwinsville, N.Y., into third place in Team All-Events with a 10,140 total. DiLaura Brothers 1 of Clinton Township, Mich., leads this year with a record score of 10,585.
Arehart added a 2,092 all-events total for Maximum Potential Pro Shop and was followed by Lawrence Porter (2,050), Raymond Cyr (1,939) and Josh McClusky (1,847).
NEW STANDARD LEADERS
The Standard Division, the middle tier of average-based competition at the USBC Open Championships, got new leaders in two events this week — singles and team.
Bill Kolstad of Mendota Heights, Minn., recently returned to bowling after having surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, but any lingering effects of the injury didn’t seem to slow his run up the Standard Singles leaderboard April 24.
The 58-year-old right-hander’s 714 series is the highest set rolled in Standard Singles since the Standard Division was introduced in 2017, and it now makes him the player to beat with two-thirds of the 129-day event still to be contested.
Kolstad rolled games of 215, 256 and 243 to slip past Daryl Stephens of Gilbert, Arizona, who took the lead with a 705 series on March 13, the first day of doubles and singles competition at the 2022 tournament at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The highest winning score in the first four years of Standard Singles competition was 711, rolled by Mark Wojtusiak of Chandler, Ariz., in 2021.
The highest series rolled by and Standard bowler is 761, posted by Tim Pounds of Shawnee, Kansas, in his team event in 2021.
Kolstad’s score may not be an overall record, but it does mark the highest series of his 19 appearances at the Open Championships, and it helped him to the best all-events total of his career.
His highest series prior to this year was a 620 effort in singles in 2006.
Kolstad added sets of 563 in doubles and 546 in team for a 1,823 total, his best by 95 pins. Gregory Witt of Phoenix leads Standard All-Events this year with a record 1,982 total, and Kolstad’s score puts him just outside the top 30.
Lemont Bandits of Oak Lawn, Ill., stole the top spot in the Standard Team standings with a record 3,097 total April 24.
The team improved each game at the South Point Bowling Plaza, turning in scores of 1,003, 1,021 and 1,073 to cruise into the lead, while a full final frame from anchor Ronald Demco gave the quintet the highest score in the short history of the Standard Division.
Cinderella Shoes of Bradley, Ill., previously held the lead this year with 3,005, and the previous record of 3,086 belonged to Proformance Team 2 of Clermont, Fla., the 2021 Standard Team champion.
Stephen Lewis paced the new leaders this week with a 675 series and was followed by Ronald Sereyka (635), Demco (608), Steve Sereyka (605) and Jason Surges (574).
Standard Singles and Standard All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 156-175. Standard Team features teams with combined entering averages of 776-875.
EIGHT REACH MILESTONES
Eight bowlers celebrated participation milestones this week at the 2022 USBC Open Championships, with five reaching the coveted 50-year plateau, and three competing for the 55th time.
To commemorate their five decades on the tournament lanes, each new member of the 50-Year Club received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin. Those making their 55th appearances were presented with a plaque, chevron and engraved watch.
John Kamenitsky of Stratford, Conn. (April 20), Edward Gronski of Mulkeytown, Ill. (April 23), and Jules Falcone of Media, Pa. (April 25), were the three bowlers making their 55th appearances.
Robert Benjamin of Downers Grove, Ill. (April 22); Larry Fulton of University Place, Wash. (April 22); Mark Scullion of Salem, Ohio (April 22); Derold Millsaps of Hixson, Tenn. (April 23); and Robert Vidra of Oak Lawn, Ill. (April 23), all reached 50 years.
There are 31 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation during the 2022 event. The agenda for the year also includes three bowlers bowling for the 60th time, one competing for the 65th time and one making his 70th appearance on the championship lanes.
A LOOK AHEAD
Four bowlers will celebrate special participation milestones this week in Las Vegas.
John Mack of Fort Lee, N.J. (April 29), John James of Waukesha, Wis. (May 1), and Timothy Shanabrook of Hanover, Pa. (May 1), all will be joining the 50-Year Club.
On April 30, Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Ill., will continue his climb up the participation and pinfall lists.
He’s one of 15 members of the elite 65-Year Club, and he will be competing for the 67th time. He also is one of 24 bowlers to eclipse the 100,000 mark in career pinfall at the event. He enters the 2022 tournament 15th on the all-time list with 105,151.
Three bowlers share the participation record at the Open Championships with 71 years, and the top number on the pinfall list is 124,087.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of April 26, 2022
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 876 and above)
1, Storm Products Inc. 1 (Matthew McNiel, Jon Rakoski, Justin Veitch, David Langer, Ronald Mohr), Alva, Fla., 3,486. 2, DiLaura Brothers 1, Clinton Township, Mich., 3,468. 3, Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,403. 4, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 5, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 6, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,335. 7, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 3,329. 8, Enhance That 1, Allen, Texas, 3,326. 9, Holiday Bowl, Boonton, N.J., 3,305. 10, Mento Produce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,303.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 351 and above)
1, Nick Powanda, San Diego/Tony Odom, Palm Springs, Calif., 1,518. 2, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y./Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 1,485. 3, Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas/Billy Rogers, Denison, Texas, 1,479. 4, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 1,455. 5, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y./Michael Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 1,440. 6(tie), Andrew Carson, York, Pa./Scott Kinkaid, Elizabethtown, Pa., and Brandon St. Onge/Drew Markwardt, Zephyrhills, Fla., 1,433. 8, Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich./Jeffrey Mastny, Arlington, Neb., 1,431. 9, Trevor Yonan, Sheboygan, Wis./Rob Warren, Antigo, Wis., 1,425. 10, Gerald Johnson, Taylor, Mich./Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,424.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 2, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 3, Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., 781. 4, DJ Archer, Simpsonville, S.C., 778. 5, Sam Cantrell, Roseville, Calif., 777. 6, Jeff Carroll, Missoula, Mont., 773. 7, Ryan Schlotfeld, Lincoln, Neb., 772. 8, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 771. 9, Ryan VanHecke, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 770. 10, Virginia Young, Sun City, Ariz., 769.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 2,220. 2, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 2,212. 3, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 2,201. 4(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197. 6, Ryan Volcko, Liverpool, N.Y., 2,181. 7, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 2,171. 8, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich., 2,167. 9, Kai Pedro, Tacoma, Wash., 2,163. 10, Brody Green, Delavan, Wis., 2,161.
Team All-Events
1, DiLaura Brothers 1, (Jay Lang, John Buffa, Ryan VanHecke, John Kelley, Ronnie Sparks Jr.), Clinton Township, Mich., 10,585. 2, Mento Produce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,444. 3, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 4, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 5, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,981. 6, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 9,917. 7, Nicholas J’s Pro Shop 2, La Crosse, Wis., 9,888. 8, Storm Products Inc. 1, Alva, Fla., 9,859. 9(tie), Upper Lip Surprise, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Ansara Restaurant Group 2, Farmington Hills, Mich., 9,804.
STANDARD DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 776-875)
1, Lemont Bandits (Jason Surges, Steve Sereyka, Ronald Sereyka, Stephen Lewis, Ronald Demco), Oak Lawn, Ill., 3,097. 2, Cinderella Shoes, Bradley, Ill., 3,005. 3, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 4(tie), Merrill 2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967. 6, Kneel For The Cross, Villa Park, Ill., 2,966. 7, Parkway Bowl Team 1, Lakeside, Calif., 2,936. 8, Whitewater Cheated 3, Appleton, Wis., 2,934. 9(tie), #TeamHaidin20, Beaumont, Texas, and Les for Lawns, Alexandria, Minn., 2,933.
Doubles
(Combined Averages of 311-350)
1, Douglas Becht, San Tan Valley, Ariz./Lee Rottman Sherrard, Ill., 1,360. 2, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis./Dan Cherek, Wausau, Wis., 1,312. 3, Anthony Dann, Dayton, Ohio/Sheldon Short, Huber Heights, Ohio, 1,291. 4, Eric Davis, Fall Creek, Wis./Michael Holzhueter, Menomonie, Wis., 1,287. 5, Keith Betts/Bryan Miloshoff, Griffith, Ind., 1,257. 6, Michael Wilcox, Decatur, Ill./Michael Parnell, Springfield, Ill., 1,254. 7, Johnny Baker III, Erda, Utah/John Harris, Tooele, Utah, 1,251. 8, James Rutherford Jr./James C. Rutherford, Coatesville, Pa., 1,249. 9, Blair Cleaver, Lakeville, Minn./David Hays, Escondido, Calif., 1,248. 10, Ashton Wardrup/Andrew Wardrup, Santa Fe, Texas, 1,245.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., 714. 2, Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., 705. 3, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 701. 4, Walter Shaft, Freeland, Mich., 700. 5, Tyler Smith, Malad City, Idaho, 697. 6, Jun Dailo, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 695. 7(tie), John Tomcics Jr., Catasauqua, Pa., and Daniel Hudson, Comstock Park, Mich., 691. 9, Bill Robson, Easley, S.C., 684. 10, Robert Alvarado, Corona, Calif., 680.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Gregory Witt, Phoenix, 1,982. 2, Dean Bruinsma, Clear Lake, S.D., 1,959. 3, David Lee, South Bound Brook, N.J., 1,944. 4, Steve Bowling, Union, Ky., 1,910. 5, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 1,902. 6, Allen Jackson, Belle Plaine, Minn., 1,898. 7, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis., 1,895. 8, David Remsen, Loxahatchee, Fla., 1,894. 9, Eric Davis, Fall Creek, Wis., 1,856. 10, James Hallam, Streator, Ill., 1,855.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 775 and below)
1, Alamo City PINs (Miguel Villarreal, Frances Villarreal, Ruben Rodriguez, Luis Ramirez, Robert Rosas), Helotes, Texas, 2,788. 2, Witt’s Classified Family Affair, Phoenix, 2,681. 3, Rocky Mountain Insurance Group, Clancy, Mont., 2,677. 4, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 5, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 6, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 7, Northern New Mexico Elite, Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., 2,611. 8, Where’s Corby, West Jordan, Utah, 2,606. 9, FPA, League City, Texas, 2,584. 10, Relax Release Repeat, Thomasville, Ohio, 2,578.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 2, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 3, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113. 4, Jason Klimek, Glenwood, Minn./David Corneliusen, Alexandria, Minn., 1,109. 5, Shiong Chu, San Gabriel, Calif./Todd Van, Temple City, Calif., 1,107. 6, Angel Olmeda Jr./Elly Olmeda, Boise, Idaho, 1,106. 7, Theain Lim/David Lim, Las Vegas, 1,100. 8, Dan Rizzo/Ronald Rizzo, Florence, Ariz., 1,099. 9, Larry Flannigan/Nicole Flannigan, Kaneohe, Hawaii, 1,093. 10(tie), Bobby Myers, Twin Falls, Idaho/Scott Livingston, Hansen, Idaho, and Jeremy Wininger/Jacob Wininger, Georgetown, Texas, 1,091.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 665. 2, Hunter Reber, Cedar City, Utah, 657. 3, Edwin Humbert, Strasburg, Colo., 644. 4(tie), Dean Crick, Waddell, Ariz., and Benjamin Tingue, Stafford, Va., 636. 6, Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., 633. 7, David Granados, El Centro, Calif., 632. 8, Chad Clapp, Casa Grande, Ariz., 630. 9, Travis Spier, Sioux Falls, S.D., 629. 10, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 628.
All Events
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 1,824. 2, Bruce Heekin, Woodinville, Wash., 1,744. 3, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 1,730. 4, Zachary Watson, Thornton, Colo., 1,728. 5(tie), Jose Ruiz, Brighton, Colo., and Drew Manor, Winona, Minn., 1,723. 7. Edmund Manning, Pahrump, Nev., 1,718. 8, Brock Green, Plymouth, Minn., 1,707. 9, Adam Mojica, Chicago, 1,706. 10, Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., 1,70