SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Romanik name is synonymous with bowling in Miami, and two members of the family helped expand the legacy to New York this week with success at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

Doug Romanik of Miami and his sister Jennifer Geimer of Miami Shores, Florida, entered the 2018 USBC Open Championships as a way to honor their brother, Michael, a 29-time tournament participant who lost his battle with cancer in late 2016.

Their team shirts were a tribute to their late brother, and Doug even used one or Michael's bowling balls to help lift him and Geimer to the top of the Classified Doubles standings Friday at the Oncenter Convention Center.

Geimer, a 46-year-old right-hander, led the effort with games of 160, 188 and 202 for a 550 series, and Romanik, a 52-year-old Open Championships first-timer, added 168, 168 and 191 for a 527 set and 1,077 total. Butch Booker of Clarissa, Minnesota, and Marvin Cole of Long Prairie, Minnesota, previously held the lead with 1,056.

"The reason we're here is because my brother bowled his whole life and loved this tournament, and we wanted to continue that tradition in his honor," Romanik said. "Really, we're here to have a good time and enjoy the fellowship, and bowling well is just a nice bonus. I came in with zero expectations, so I guess you can say I far exceeded that."

Because Romanik, a high school program director, and Geimer, a middle school principal, stay busy with their careers at The Cushman School, also in Miami, they don't have as much time to bowl as they'd like.

Though they were not able to bowl in a league this season, they enjoyed the opportunity to compete regularly last summer, and Friday's success has motivated them to try to get to the lanes more often.

Being able to compete together at the Open Championships and represent their family on the lanes meant as much to the brother-sister duo as their noteworthy performance.

"It was just nice to be out here and bowling together," said Geimer, who made her third Open Championships appearance. "But, it would be a pretty special way to honor my dad and brother if we could win."

The Romanik family owned and operated Miami's Cloverleaf Lanes from the late 1970s until closing the doors during the 2004-2005 bowling season.

The 50-lane center was the backdrop for the first 42 editions of the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas, an annual international event that includes competitors from North, Central and South America, along with representatives from the Caribbean countries.

Classified Doubles includes tandems with combined entering averages of 360 and below.

The Regular Division, which includes bowlers with entering averages of 210 and above, also saw some excitement Friday as a pair of former Junior Team USA members piled on the strikes at the Oncenter Convention Center.

Jake Peters of Henderson, Nevada, turned in a consistent performance on the way into third place in Regular All-Events with a 2,086 total. He had sets of 726 in singles, 689 in doubles and 671 in team. Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, leads Regular All-Events with 2,186.

Geoffrey Young of Roanoke, Texas, saved his strikes for singles, putting together games of 238, 278 and 227 for a 743 series, which is sixth overall. Cotie Holbek of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads Regular Singles with 802, the lone 800 series of the 2018 event.

This year's Open Championships kicked off March 24 and will run daily until July 8.

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