Family connects for Classified lead at 2026 USBC Open Championships
April 12, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Family connections and a clutch performance took center stage at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Friday as Kaitlin Hofmeister of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and Everett Hofmeister of Emerson, Nebraska, surged into the lead in Classified Doubles with a total score of 1,170 at the famed National Bowling Stadium.
The uncle-and-niece pairing delivered a consistent effort across all three games. Kaitlin put together games of 202, 186 and 192 for a 580 series, while Everett led the way with scores of 184, 202 and 204 to get to 590.
Joshua Dichoso of Madison, Wisconsin, and Vichee Vue of DeForest, Wisconsin, had held the lead since March 22 with 1,153.
“I knew we had a chance,” Everett said. “I didn’t know how high of a chance, but we were bowling pretty well. It just came down to that third game and if we could keep our scores up and keep the pins falling. I knew we got the lead after I stepped up in the 10th. At that point, it was just about finishing it out strong.”
Kaitlin added, “We just kept marking and kept the pins falling. I knew after the first game we had a shot, and then by the 10th frame, we knew it was there.”
The pair has only been competing at the USBC Open Championships for a few years – Everett made his fourth appearance in 2026, while Kaitlin competed for the third time – with this year’s appearance serving as their first time as a doubles team.
Despite the limited time together, their chemistry and composure proved to be a great combination.
“It would be really cool if we ended up winning,” Kaitlin said. “Doing this together, especially as first-timers, would be an amazing feeling.”
Beyond the competition, both bowlers emphasized that the experience of traveling to the Open Championships is something that will keep them coming back.
“I plan on bowling as long as I can,” Everett said. “I enjoy going to different places and experiencing things outside of bowling, too. It’s almost like a vacation, and then you get to bowl. When you bowl well, it’s really good. When you bowl bad, it’s tough, but it’s always fun.”
As the tournament continues and the leaderboard begins to fill, the pair knows there is still a long way to go before anything is decided. Still, the possibility of holding onto the lead in the final days is something they’ve already started to imagine.
“That would be a pretty amazing feeling,” Everett said. “To be back home and get that call that we won, especially doing it together, would mean a lot.”
Kaitlin added, “We’ll definitely be watching the leaderboard. No matter what happens, it would be great to bring something like this home.”
In the hopes that they would hang on to win a coveted Eagle, the team wanted to dedicate this performance.
“My dad and grandfather to Kaitlin passed away this January, and we want to dedicate our performance to him tonight,” Everett said. “I just know he was watching over us with a smile.”
Classified Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 320 and below.
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.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The uncle-and-niece pairing delivered a consistent effort across all three games. Kaitlin put together games of 202, 186 and 192 for a 580 series, while Everett led the way with scores of 184, 202 and 204 to get to 590.
Joshua Dichoso of Madison, Wisconsin, and Vichee Vue of DeForest, Wisconsin, had held the lead since March 22 with 1,153.
“I knew we had a chance,” Everett said. “I didn’t know how high of a chance, but we were bowling pretty well. It just came down to that third game and if we could keep our scores up and keep the pins falling. I knew we got the lead after I stepped up in the 10th. At that point, it was just about finishing it out strong.”
Kaitlin added, “We just kept marking and kept the pins falling. I knew after the first game we had a shot, and then by the 10th frame, we knew it was there.”
The pair has only been competing at the USBC Open Championships for a few years – Everett made his fourth appearance in 2026, while Kaitlin competed for the third time – with this year’s appearance serving as their first time as a doubles team.
Despite the limited time together, their chemistry and composure proved to be a great combination.
“It would be really cool if we ended up winning,” Kaitlin said. “Doing this together, especially as first-timers, would be an amazing feeling.”
Beyond the competition, both bowlers emphasized that the experience of traveling to the Open Championships is something that will keep them coming back.
“I plan on bowling as long as I can,” Everett said. “I enjoy going to different places and experiencing things outside of bowling, too. It’s almost like a vacation, and then you get to bowl. When you bowl well, it’s really good. When you bowl bad, it’s tough, but it’s always fun.”
As the tournament continues and the leaderboard begins to fill, the pair knows there is still a long way to go before anything is decided. Still, the possibility of holding onto the lead in the final days is something they’ve already started to imagine.
“That would be a pretty amazing feeling,” Everett said. “To be back home and get that call that we won, especially doing it together, would mean a lot.”
Kaitlin added, “We’ll definitely be watching the leaderboard. No matter what happens, it would be great to bring something like this home.”
In the hopes that they would hang on to win a coveted Eagle, the team wanted to dedicate this performance.
“My dad and grandfather to Kaitlin passed away this January, and we want to dedicate our performance to him tonight,” Everett said. “I just know he was watching over us with a smile.”
Classified Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 320 and below.
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.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.