By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — Kyle Krol of Tinley Park, Ill., and Kyle Damon of Orland Park, Ill., put together 18 strikes in their final game of doubles June 4 at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to get to the lead in Regular Doubles.
Krol, a 27-year-old right-hander, led the way at the South Point Bowling Plaza with games of 242, 278 and 267 for a 787 series, while Damon, a 27-year-old right-hander, added 276, 191 and 268 for a 735 set and 1,522 total.
Tony Odom of Palm Springs, Calif., and Nick Powanda of San Diego had held the lead in Regular Doubles since April 10 with 1,518.
Entering their final frame of doubles Saturday, both Krol and Damon were working on three consecutive strikes after recording spares in the sixth frame.
For a chance at the lead, one of them needed to double in the 10th frame, while the other needed at least the first strike and good count on the second shot.
Damon stepped up first and struck on his first two deliveries. Krol struck on his first shot and left a 10 pin on his second, which meant Damon needed at least seven pins on his fill shot to secure the outright lead. He knocked over nine pins, while Krol converted the spare.
Damon and Krol have been friends since elementary school and bowled together during high school. They have been able to share in a lot of great moments, and they are hoping for another one at the end of the 2022 event on July 18.
“We got the lead for right now, and it gives me chills,” Krol said. “We’ve been best friends since sixth grade. Everything just clicked, and it’s great. It’ll be nerve-wracking waiting to see, and it will be a very long six weeks.”
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
PARTICIPATION MILESTONES
Two bowlers celebrated milestone appearances this week at the 2022 USBC Open Championships, with San Antonio’s Bob Martin making his 60th consecutive appearance and Skipper Arsenault of Port Arthur, Texas, joining the 50-Year Club on June 6.
Martin became the 32nd bowler in tournament history, and third in 2022, to make his 60th appearance at the Open Championships. He started his career at the 1962 event in Des Moines, Iowa.
He entered the 2022 event having knocked over 95,905 pins in his first 59 appearances for a career average of 180.6.
Arsenault started his journey at the Open Championships at the 1970 event in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had toppled 81,932 pins for a lifetime average of 193.6 through his first 49 trips to the tournament.
LOOK AHEAD
The members of BowlU of Kenmore, N.Y., will be back at the USBC Open Championships after winning the Team All-Events title at the 2021 event in Las Vegas.
Led by Kevin Bienko’s 2,226 all-events total, BowlU collected the win at the South Point Bowling Plaza and Bowling Center with a 9,958 total. Bienko was joined by Andrew Herbert (2,086), Chad Mee (2,042), Ryan Reese (1,929) and Joseph DiNardo (1,675).
Bienko’s all-events total placed him third in Regular All-Events in 2021, and he paired with Mee to finish second in Regular Doubles with a 1,462 total. During the group’s run to the title, Reese also fired a 300 game during his singles set.
In 2022, the team will be split up, with Bienko, Herbert, Mee and Reese representing Bowl U 1, with DiNardo joining 2017 Regular All-Events champion Brad Angelo on Bowl U 2.
Both groups will bowl team event June 9 at 5 p.m. Eastern, with the teams being split across multiple squads for doubles and singles June 10.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of June 7, 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, Holly Lanes 3, Sanford, Mich., 3,404. 5, Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,403. 6, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,398. 7, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 8, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 9, S.W.O.R.D., Rochester, N.Y., 3,357. 10, Frost Memorial Team 45, Piscataway, N.J., 3,356.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 351 and above)
1, Kyle Krol, Tinley Park, Ill./Kyle Damon, Orland Park, Ill., 1,522. 2, Nick Powanda, San Diego/Tony Odom, Palm Springs, Calif., 1,518. 3, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y./Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 1,485. 4(tie), Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas/Billy Rogers, Denison, Texas, and Gregory Young Jr., East Dundee, Ill./Aaron Ruiz, Nashville, Tenn., 1,479. 6, Christopher Lamb, Rochester, N.Y./Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 1,471. 7, Chad Meyer/Antonio Tejeda, Alexandria, Minn., 1,465. 8, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 1,455. 9, Stephen Dale Jr., Windham, N.H./ Jonathan Van Hees, Hope Valley, R.I., 1,450. 10, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y./Michael Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 1,440.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Scott Patke, Lansing, Mich., 835. 2, Jeff Nimke, Appleton, Wis., 796. 3, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 791. 4, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 790. 4, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 6, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 7(tie), Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., and Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., 781. 9, DJ Archer, Simpsonville, S.C., 778. 10, Sam Cantrell, Roseville, Calif., 777.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 2,241. 2, Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., 2,222. 3, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 2,220. 4, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,219. 5, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 2,212. 6, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 2,203. 7, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 2,201. 8(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197. 10, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 2,188.
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, K and J Finishing 1, Carpentersville, Ill., 10,118. 6, Lightning Strike Pro Shop, Rochester, N.Y., 10,116. 7, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 8, Vi Jines Bar, Ingleside, Ill., 9,982. 9, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,981. 10, Red Carpet Lanes, Ocala, Fla., 9,976.
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, Dale Diamond Team 2, Chatham, Ill., 3,079. 3, Cinderella Shoes, Bradley, Ill., 3,005. 4, Sunshine POS, Phoenix, 3,001. 5, Imperial Lanes, Clinton, Iowa, 2,977. 6, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 7(tie), Merrill-2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967. 9, Kneel for the Cross, Villa Park, Ill., 2,966. 10, Ampro, New Haven, Ind., 2,958.
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, Chuck Herman, Broken Bow, Neb., 711. 7(tie), Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., and Chris Walcher, Springfield, Ill., 705. 9, Monte Steenson, Lincoln, Neb., 703. 10(tie), Richard Howerton, University Place, Wash., and Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 701.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Dustin Sword, Rittman, Ohio, 1,994. 2, Gregory Witt, Phoenix, 1,982. 3, William Bradford, Plano, Ill., 1,972. 4, Dean Bruinsma, Clear Lake, S.D., 1,959. 5, Sky Gettys, Thornville, Ohio, 1,947. 6, David Lee, South Bound Brook, N.J., 1,944. 7, James Lamb, Rock Hill, S.C., 1,935. 8, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,930. 9, James Hamrick, Springfield, Ill., 1,927. 10, Kurtis Baird, Meadville, Pa., 1,914.
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, Wildcards, Aurora, Colo., 2,673. 5, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 6, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 7, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 8, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 9, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629. 10, HGNB 3, Chicago, 2,616.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Melissa Burnham/ Dennis Burnham, White River Junction, Vt., 1,188. 2, Terri Donahue, Ulster Park, N.Y./Ronald Jackson, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 1,165. 3, John Brazzillo, Los Banos, Calif./Anthony Carvalho, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1,153. 4, Brenden Hutchinson/Robert Schuller, Salem, Ore., 1,146. 5, Betsy Nigh/Nathan Nigh, Rushville, Ind., 1,138. 6, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 7, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 8, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115. 9, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113. 10, Blake Fetgatter, Tomball, Texas/Oscar Sicola, Houston, 1,112.
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, Joseph Callas, Spring Grove, Ill., 648. 5, Edwin Humbert, Strasburg, Colo., 644. 6, Bruce Cody, Salem, Ohio, 643. 7(tie), Dean Crick, Waddell, Ariz., and Benjamin Tingue, Stafford, Va., 636. 9(tie), Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., and Lucas Janda, Leander, Texas, 633.
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, Joseph Constantino, Sun Tan Valley, Ariz., 1,772. 5, Bruce Heekin, Jamestown, Tenn., 1,744. 6, Joseph Callas, Spring Grove, Ill., 1,738. 7, Mitch Jones, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,734. 8, Daxdon Marrott, Santaquin, Utah, 1,732. 9, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 1,730. 10, Zachary