By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — The members of Team NABR of Fairport, N.Y., have made a habit of rewriting the leaderboard at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in recent years, and the group did not disappoint at the 2022 edition of the event.
After moving into fifth place in Regular team on Saturday at the South Point Bowling Plaza with a 3,398 total, the team entered their final frames of singles Sunday with the chance to set a record score in Team All-Events and capture the lead in Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
Three-time titlist Brian Waliczek of Frankenmuth, Mich., was able to roll three strikes in his 10th frame to take over the top spot in Regular All-Events with a 2,241 total.
The quintet settled into second in team all-events with a 10,538 total, and three-time champion Adam Barta of Girard, Ohio, now is second in Regular Singles with a 790 series.
Brett Cunningham of Clay, N.Y., previously led Regular all-events with 2,220.
Storm Products Inc. 1 of Alva, Fla., leads Regular Team with 3,486, and DiLaura Brothers 1 of Clinton Township, Mich., leads Team all-events with a record score of 10,585.
Waliczek, a 44-year-old right-hander, needed the first strike in his final frame of singles for the chance to take the outright lead in Regular all-events. He finished his final game with 256 for a 746 series. He added sets of 750 in doubles and 745 in team to average 249 for his nine games over the weekend at the Bowling Plaza.
“Our team works well together on trying to play the lanes correctly,” said Waliczek, who helped Team NABR to wins in Regular team (2015 and 2017) and team all-events (2017). “We were able to keep our transitions at a minimum and stay in our zones.”
Barta had the chance to roll the first 800 series in singles at the 2022 event entering his final frame, but he left a 3-6 combination on his first delivery.
He converted the spare and tossed a strike on his fill ball to secure second place, finishing with games of 256, 267 and 267.
Barta also moved into seventh in Regular all-events, adding 714 in doubles and 684 in team for a 2,188 total.
Waliczek and Barta were joined in the run at team all-events by four-time Eagle winner Mike Rose Jr. (2,154), three-time champion Scott Pohl (2,059) and 2013 Regular Team titlist Vernon Peterson (1,896).
The chemistry, camaraderie and teamwork put forth for the Open Championships each year by these five players is well known, but they also will be the first to credit the work put in by their crossing team, Lightning Strikes Pro Shop of Rochester, N.Y.
Led by Troy McClure’s 2,114 all-events tally, Lightning Strikes Pro Shop also eclipsed the 10,000 mark in team all-events, moving into fifth place with 10,116.
McClure was joined by Kevin Donovan (2,093), Kyle Keegan (2,033), Christopher Lamb (1,950) and Robert Wiley (1,926).
“They crushed it this year, and it was awesome,” said Waliczek, who also took over fourth place in Regular doubles with Lamb (1,471 total). “They’ve been working so hard, and it was fun to see both squads crush it.”
NIMKE MOVES TO TOP
Four bowlers connected for 300 games this week, including two-time titlist Jeff Nimke of Appleton, Wis., on his way to the lead in Regular singles with 796.
The 60-year-old right-hander rolled games of 257, 300 and 239 on May 14 to become the 26th bowler at the 2022 event to achieve perfection at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Nimke also became the 36th bowler in tournament history to roll multiple 300s at the Open Championships. His first perfect game came in doubles at the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas.
Heading into his final frame, Nimke needed two strikes and three pins to take the outright lead from David Jecko of Whitesboro, N.Y., who held the lead with 788. He rolled three strikes to finish the game.
Nimke is the 1993 Regular all-events champion and won the Regular Team title at the 1998 event. He made his 40th consecutive tournament appearance in 2022.
The day before Nimke’s run at perfection and the lead, three bowlers rolled 300 during their team competition at South Point.
Jack Sullivan of Bensenville, Ill., was the first to connect for 300, finishing his team set with 19 consecutive strikes for a 716 series.
Cody Roedner of Cottage Grove, Wis., and James Wakefield Jr. of Oak Lawn, Ill., rolled their 300s while competing on the same pair of lanes during the same game May 13.
Roedner finished his perfect game first in Game 2 of their team set, and Wakefield joined him on the next delivery as they alternated shots in the 10th frame.
Roedner finished with a 680 series, and Wakefield had a 750 set.
TOPPING CLASSIFIED DOUBLES
Ronald Jackson of Stone Ridge, N.Y., and Terri Donahue of Ulster Park, N.Y., took over the top spot in Classified Doubles with a 1,165 total at the 2022 USBC Open Championships.
Jackson, a 36-year-old right-hander, led the way May 16 with games of 172, 237 and 234 for a 643 series at the South Point Bowling Plaza, while Donahue, a 51-year-old right-hander, added 164, 187 and 171 for a 522 set.
Anthony Carvalho of Morgan Hill, Calif., and John Brazzillo of Los Banos, Calif., had held the lead with 1,153.
Classified Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 310 and below.
HITTING 50 APPEARANCES
The 50-Year Club at the USBC Open Championships continues to grow as three new members celebrated their milestone appearance at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Neil Sinclair of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, made his 50th tournament appearance May 10. His first visit to the tournament was at the 1970 event in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Jack Pentek of Chardon, Ohio, celebrated his fifth decade at the Open Championships on May 14. He began his tournament career at the 1971 event in Detroit.
Chicago’s John King was the final bowler of the week to make his milestone march at South Point. His first appearance was at the 1970 event.
King became the 22nd bowler at the 2022 event to join the 50-Year Club on May 14. Each bowler received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate their longevity at the event.
A LOOK AHEAD
Three bowlers are scheduled to make a milestone appearance at the 2022 USBC Open Championships during the same squad May 22.
Two of those bowlers — Robert Teeters of Lapel, Ind., and Mike Schmid of Minneapolis — will add onto their legacies at the event as they make their 65th and 60th tournament appearances, respectively.
Both Teeters and Schmid are members of the 100,000-Pin Club at the Open Championships. Teeters has knocked over 105,821 pins in his first 64 visits, and Schmid has toppled 101,966 pins through 59 appearances.
The third bowler to join the excitement May 22 will be Lawrence Kubiak of Daytona Beach, Calif.. Kubiak will be making his 50th tournament appearance.
All three bowlers will be honored for the longevity prior to the start of their team competition at 5 p.m.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of May 17, 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, Ballard’s Bowling Academy 3, Keller, Texas, 3,426. 4, Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,403. 5, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,398. 6, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 7, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 8, S.W.O.R.D., Rochester, N.Y., 3,357. 9, Frost Memorial Team 45, Piscataway, N.J., 3,356. 10, Donald Pyle Team 1, Wilmington, Del., 3,353.
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, Christopher Lamb, Rochester, N.Y./Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 1,471. 5, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 1,455. 6, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y./Michael Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 1,440. 7(tie), Andrew Carson, York, Pa./Scott Kinkaid, Elizabethtown, Pa., and Brandon St. Onge/Drew Markwardt, Zephyrhills, Fla., 1,433. 9, Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich./Jeffrey Mastny, Arlington, Neb., 1,431. 10, Joseph Hutchings/Benjamin Hill, Marshall, Mich., 1,426.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Jeff Nimke, Appleton, Wis., 796. 2, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 790. 3, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 4, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 5, Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., 781. 6, DJ Archer, Simpsonville, S.C., 778. 7, Sam Cantrell, Roseville, Calif., 777. 8, Robert Rose Jr., Melvindale, Mich., 775. 9, Jeff Carroll, Missoula, Mont., 773. 10, Ryan Schlotfeld, Lincoln, Neb., 772.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 2,241. 2, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 2,220. 3, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 2,212. 4, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 2,201. 5(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197. 7, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 2,188. 8, Ryan Volcko, Liverpool, N.Y., 2,181. 9, Jon Breckel, Mandan, N.D., 2,177. 10, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 2,171.
Team All-Events
1, DiLaura Brothers 1 (Jay Lang, John Buffa, Ryan VanHecke, John Kelley, Ronnie Sparks Jr.), Clinton Township, Mich., 10,585. 2, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 10,538. 3, Mento Produce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,444. 4, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 5, Lightning Strikes Pro Shop, Rochester, N.Y., 10,116. 6, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 7, Vi Jines Bar, Ingleside, Ill., 9,982. 8, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,981. 9, Red Carpet Lanes, Ocala, Fla., 9,976. 10, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 9,917.
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, Imperial Lanes, Clinton, Iowa, 2,977. 4, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 5(tie), Merrill 2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967. 7, Kneel for the Cross, Villa Park, Ill., 2,966. 8, Ampro, New Haven, Ind., 2,958. 9, Go Nuts for Kokonuts, Providence, R.I., 2,943. 10, Parkway Bowl Team 1, Lakeside, Calif., 2,936.
Doubles
(Combined Averages of 311-350)
1, Richard Oakes Jr., Fresno, Calif./Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,362. 2, Douglas Becht, San Tan Valley, Ariz./Lee Rottman, Sherrard, Ill., 1,360. 3, Michael Schaal, Slinger, Wis./Wade Bisick, Oconto Falls, Wis., 1,320. 4, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis./Dan Cherek, Wausau, Wis., 1,312. 5, Anthony Dann, Dayton, Ohio/Sheldon Short, Huber Heights, Ohio, 1,291. 6, Eric Davis, Fall Creek, Wis./Michael Holzhueter, Menomonie, Wis., 1,287. 7, Raffy Stodomingo, Torrance, Calif./Hermie LaBaquin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,267. 8, Brad Suttorp/Ron Morrison, Columbus, Ohio, 1,258. 9, Keith Betts/Bryan Miloshoff, Griffith, Ind., 1,257. 10, Michael Wilcox, Decatur, Ill./Michael Parnell, Springfield, Ill., 1,254.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Sky Gettys, Thronville, Ohio, 763. 2, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 3, Edward Zurawski, Woodstock, Ill., 716. 4(tie), William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn. and Richard Zaitonia, Chesterfield, Mich., 714. 6, Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., 705. 7, Monte Steenson, Lincoln, Neb., 703. 8(tie), Richard Howerton, University Place, Wash., and Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 701. 10, Walter Shaft, Freeland, Mich., 700.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Gregory Witt, Phoenix, 1,982. 2, Dean Bruinsma, Clear Lake, S.D., 1,959. 3, Sky Gettys, Thornville, Ohio, 1,947. 4, David Lee, South Bound Brook, N.J., 1,944. 5, James Lamb, Rock Hill, S.C., 1,935. 6, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,930. 7, Steve Bowling, Union, Ky., 1,910. 8, Brad Suttorp, Columbus, Ohio, 1,907. 9, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 1,902. 10, Allen Jackson, Belle Plaine, Minn., 1,898.
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, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 5, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 6, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 7, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 8, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629. 9, Northern New Mexico Elite, Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., 2,611. 10, Sam Harren Team 2, Jackson, Mich., 2,609.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Terri Donahue, Ulster Park, N.Y./Ronald Jackson, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 1,165. 2, John Brazzillo, Los Banos, Calif./Anthony Carvalho, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1,153. 3, Betsy Nigh/Nathan Nigh, Rushville, Ind., 1,138. 4, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 5, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 6, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115. 7, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113. 8, James Retta/Shawn Mullings, Littleton, Colo., 1,110. 9, Jason Klimek, Glenwood, Minn./David Corneliusen, Alexandria, Minn., 1,109. 10(tie), Shiong Chu, San Gabriel, Calif./Todd Van, Temple City, Calif., and Carolyn Flanders, Greenbriar, Tenn./Darwin Diaz, Santa Ana, Calif., 1,107.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 665. 2, Hunter Reber, Cedar City, Utah, 657. 3, John Lesner, Cave Creek, Ariz., 653. 4, Edwin Humbert, Strasburg, Colo., 644. 5(tie), Dean Crick, Waddell, Ariz., and Benjamin Tingue, Stafford, Va., 636. 7, Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., 633. 8, David Granados, El Centro, Calif., 632. 9, Chad Clapp, Casa Grande, Ariz., 630. 10, Travis Spier, Sioux Falls, S.D., 629.
All-Events
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 1,824. 2, Tyler O’Neill, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1,783. 3, Wayne Eaves, Boynton Beach, Fla.,1,774. 4, Bruce Heekin, Woodinville, Wash., 1,744. 5, Mitch Jones, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,734. 6, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 1,730. 7, Zachary Watson, Thornton, Colo., 1,728. 8(tie), Jose Ruiz, Brighton, Colo., and Drew Manor, Winona, Minn., 1,723. 10. Edmund Manning, Pahrump, Nev., 1,718.