By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS —The members of the two-team contingent representing BowlU of Kenmore, N.Y., have established themselves as a must-watch group at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Five of the members returned to the event June 9-10 at the South Point Bowling Plaza after winning the Team All-Events title at the 2021 USBC Open Championships, and although they are not leaving with the lead in 2022, the group put together another strong performance at the tournament.
The champions in 2021 — Andrew Herbert, Joseph DiNardo, Ryan Reese, Kevin Bienko and Chad Mee — were split between the two teams in 2022, but the teamwork and communication that has made the group successful was on display again as they now are in the top 15 in Team All-Events, Regular Team, Regular Doubles, Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
BowlU 1, featuring Herbert, Reese, Bienko, Mee and Thomas Sorce, took over fourth place at the 2022 Open Championships in Team All-Events with a 10,422 total, continuing the momentum from a 3,403 team series that moved them into a tie for fifth place in Regular Team.
Reese and Jacob Klein paired up and are tied for ninth in Regular Doubles with 1,455, and 2017 Regular All-Events and two-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Brad Angelo is tied for 12th in Regular Singles with 778.
Sorce, who returned to the team this year after missing the 2021 Open Championships, fired sets of 775 in team, which included a 299 game, 739 in singles and 685 in doubles to take over eighth place in Regular All-Events with 2,199.
In addition to Sorce’s 2,199, the run to fourth in Team All-Events for BowlU 1 included 2,098 from Herbert, 2,051 from Bienko and matching 2,037 totals from Reese and Mee.
Angelo led the way for BowlU 2 with 2,135 and was followed by Klein (2,104), DiNardo (1,943), Branden Simone (1,818) and Adam Michaud (1,772) to move into the top 30 in Team All-Events with 9,772.
“It just feels good to know that everything we’ve done leading up to this is paying off and coming to fruition,” said Bienko, who made his sixth tournament appearance. “Hopefully, we can continue to do that in the future. I have confidence in all our guys to go out there and get it done, and I think we did that for the most part this year.”
In 2021, BowlU left the South Point Bowling Plaza and Bowling Center with the lead in Team All-Events with a 9,958 total. Bienko also left Las Vegas as the leader in Regular All-Events with a 2,226 nine-game tally and was second in Regular Doubles with Mee with 1,462.
Bienko ultimately finished third in Regular All-Events, while the doubles total with Mee held on for a runner-up finish.
The Team All-Events score held on as each team member collected their first victory at the Open Championships.
FLORIDA TEAM TOPS STANDARD
A big final game helped push JW’s All Stars of Wellington, Fla., to the top of the leaderboard in Standard Team at the 2022 USBC Open Championships on June 14.
After starting with games of 971 and 1,018 at the South Point Bowling Plaza, the team fired 1,143 in the final game to finish with a 3,132 total. Lemont Bandits of Oak Lawn, Ill., had held the lead with 3,097.
Keith Bradford led the charge in the final game with 290, and his 716 series paced JW’s All Stars. He was followed in the effort by Andrew Lawson (643), Bryan Jones (615), Russell Weltzien (597) and Edwin Jawdy (561).
Standard Team features five-player teams with combined entering averages of 776-875.
ANOTHER MILESTONE
Thomas Meade of Elizabeth, N.J., joined the 50-Year Club at the 2022 USBC Open Championships on June 8.
The 81-year-old left-hander started his career at the 1972 tournament in Long Beach, California, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin in his 50th consecutive appearance.
In 1996, Meade recorded his best performance at the Open Championships in Salt Lake City, rolling to a 2,018 all-events total.
In his 50th appearance, Meade put together sets of 543 in singles, 471 in doubles and 458 in team for an all-events total of 1,472. For his career at the tournament, he now has knocked over 83,862 pins for a lifetime average of 186.3.
LOOKING AHEAD
Clancy Mueller of St. Charles, Mo., will look to become the 25th bowler in the 118-year history of the USBC Open Championships to join the 100,000-Pin Club this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Mueller made his 60th tournament appearance at the 2021 event and sits at 99,155 pins for his career. He will need 845 pins in his 61st appearance to earn the famed crystal pin awarded to bowlers who reach the milestone.
He will take the lanes June 16 and June 17.
Mueller began his tournament career at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has averaged 183.6 through his first 60 years on the championship lanes.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of June 14, 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(tie), Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., and BowlU 1, Kenmore, N.Y., 3,403. 7, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,398. 8, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 9, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 10, S.W.O.R.D., Rochester, N.Y., 3,357.
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(tie), Christopher Lamb, Rochester, N.Y./Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., and Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas/Marc Heninger, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 1,471. 8, Chad Meyer/Antonio Tejeda, Alexandria, Minn., 1,465. 9(tie), Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., and Jacob Klein, Islip, N.Y./Ryan Reese, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,455.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Scott Patke, Lansing, Mich., 835. 2, Jeff Nimke, Appleton, Wis., 796. 3(tie), Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., and William Gensch, Greenwood Village, Colo., 791. 5, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 790. 6, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 7, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 8(tie), Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., Paul Enright, Henderson, Nev., and Dusten Moore, San Antonio, 781.
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, Thomas Source, Blasdell, N.Y., 2,199. 9(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197.
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, BowlU 1, Kenmore, N.Y., 10,422. 5, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 6, K and J Finishing 1, Carpentersville, Ill., 10,118. 7, Lightning Strike Pro Shop, Rochester, N.Y., 10,116. 8, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 9, Finish Him!!!!, Melissa, Texas, 10,009. 1, Vi Jines Bar, Ingleside, Ill., 9,982.
STANDARD DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 776-875)
1, JW’s All Stars (Andrew Lawson, Edwin Jawdy, Russell Weltzien, Bryan Jones, Keith Bradford), Wellington, Fla., 3,132. 2, Lemont Bandits, Oak Lawn, Ill., 3,097. 3, Dale Diamond Team 2, Chatham, Ill., 3,079. 4, Cinderella Shoes, Bradley, Ill., 3,005. 5, Explosive Pin Action, Leesburg, Ga., 3,003. 6, Sunshine POS, Phoenix, 3,001. 7, Imperial Lanes, Clinton, Iowa, 2,977. 8, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 9(tie), Merrill-2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967.
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, Kaylea Norman, Iowa City, Iowa/Jerry Norman, Wylie, Texas, 1,255.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Sky Gettys, Thronville, Ohio, 763. 2, Joseph Saccente, West Sayville, N.Y., 730. 3, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 4, Edward Zurawski, Woodstock, Ill., 716. 5(tie), William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., and Richard Zaitonia, Chesterfield, Mich., 714. 7, Chuck Herman, Broken Bow, Neb., 711. 8(tie), Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., and Chris Walcher, Springfield, Ill., 705. 10, Monte Steenson, Lincoln, Neb., 703.
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, Kulshan Brewery, Bellingham, Wash., 2,694. 3, Witt’s Classified Family Affair, Phoenix, 2,681. 4, Rocky Mountain Insurance Group, Clancy, Mont., 2,677. 5, Wildcards, Aurora, Colo., 2,673. 6, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 6, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 8, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 9, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 10, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629.
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, Gordon Hudson, Arbela, Mo./Tom Bridgman, Bloomfield, Iowa, 1,120. 9, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115. 10, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113.
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., Lucas Janda, Leander, Texas, and Tony Untalan, Del Rio, 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, San 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 Watson, Thornton, Colo., 1,728.