USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. – Steven Arehart of Edgemoor, S.C., added his name to the honor score list at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships this week, rolling a 300 during his final game of singles at the National Bowling Stadium.
The perfect game marked Arehart’s first 300 at the USBC Open Championships, though it was not the first perfect game on a major stage for the talented right-hander. He previously rolled a 300 at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Arehart rebounded after a frustrating start to singles, opening with 192 before bouncing back with 253 and 300 for a 745 series.
“I’ve got to be honest, after doubles, I wasn’t the happiest,” Arehart said. “Our team did really well in the team event, and I was focused on trying to help our Team All-Events score. That’s really what I’m here for.”
Arehart’s group – Maximum Potential Pro Shop – took over eighth place in Regular Team (now ninth) with 3,327 and seventh in Team All-Events with 9,930. The team includes Lawrence Porter, Ethan Crouse, Raymond Cyr, David Jecko and Arehart.
The adjustment came in the final game, when Arehart made a ball change and moved deeper on the lane.
“I made a great move in the last game,” Arehart said. “I switched to the (Hammer) Widow Dynasty, moved quite a few boards left and was able to trap it really well. It worked out pretty well.”
Once the strikes started piling up, the excitement quickly built around the pair.
As soon as the final shot struck, Arehart immediately turned to his teammates with a smile.
“The first thing I said was, ‘I’m a celebrity now,” said Arehart with a laugh, joining Jecko with a 300 at the Open Championships (2022 in singles and 2024 in doubles).
Despite the perfect game, Arehart emphasized that the accomplishment meant even more because of the group he shares the experience with each year.
“We’ve been close so many times in doubles and team,” Arehart said. “It’s never been a matter of if for us, it’s when.”
Arehart credited his teammates and longtime bowling group for helping make the tournament special year after year.
“I love my team,” Arehart said. “They’re not just bowling friends anymore, they’re family.”
The group recently added another talented bowler to the lineup in Crouse, a young competitor from upstate New York who was part of Junior Team USA in 2025.
“He’s just going to keep getting better,” Arehart said. “I think our whole team is only going to keep improving.”
After relocating from New York to South Carolina, Arehart said the friendships and memories built through bowling continue to be one of the biggest reasons he returns to the Open Championships each year.
“I don’t take any of it for granted,” Arehart said. “I love coming out here with these guys.”
Arehart added 716 in team and 655 in doubles to get to 2,116 for all-events.
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.