Being a team captain at the USBC Open Championships takes hard work and dedication.

Captains must be well-organized and willing to serve as the team's leader, recruiter, accountant, courier and even travel agent.

This year, the Open Championships is being held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., for the second consecutive year, marking the first time a city has held back-to-back events. With this in mind, USBC challenged team captains to help make the unprecedented return a memorable one.

In order to reward and recognize team captains for their hard work, USBC and the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority formed an exclusive club, THE USBC EAGLE'S NEST.

The Eagle's Nest includes more than 5,900 captains, who brought teams to Reno in 2010 and have signed up to return in 2011, while some went above and beyond, registering four or more teams.

In all, 200 captains have earned "Super Captain" status. Let's meet one now:


Captain: Arman Prescott Jr.

Hometown: Conifer, Colo. (outside of Denver)

Age: 48

Number of teams: 16 in 2010 and 16 planned in 2011

Date and time of team event: June 13 (8:30 p.m.)

Open Championships appearances (through 2010): about 10

Favorite host city: Reno is good, but way too often. It loses its appeal after awhile. Las Vegas?

Best Open Championships memory: team dinners after our team event

My favorite part of the Open Championships experience is: just bowling with old and new friends; The Forty Frame Game is a blast with our group, too.

I am a team captain because: I love the people. I started out with two teams, needed some subs, and they stuck. They wanted to invite some people, so we grew. It's a vicious cycle. We're now leveling off at 16 teams.

The thing I am most looking forward to about the 2011 tournament is: bowling with old and new friends

Favorite place to stay in Reno: Eldorado or Silver Legacy

Two favorite (appropriate) Reno memories: 1. golfing; 2. time with the kids (Circus, Circus)

Three favorite things to do in Reno when not bowling: 1. golfing; 2. time with the kids; 3. sightseeing. Gambling is OK, but not my top choice.

Four favorite places to eat in Reno: n/a

If you only had five minutes to recruit a new bowler, how would you sell the Open Championships: I'd sell them on our group, first, by telling him/her we have people with averages between 130 and 230 - that usually diffuses any "performance concerns."

Then, I'd let them know that I'll take care of the bowling arrangements, and he/she just needs to pay, get there and get a room.

Once I get him/her there, they're usually hooked after that and return. So, I tell them this is something they should do just once in their lifetime, and the rest (our group, the tourney) has to sell itself for repeat occurrences. I sell the "people" aspect of it more than anything else.