Illinois father and son lead Standard Doubles at 2019 USBC Open Championships
March 18, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and Regina Daniel
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - David and Mitchell Scheller, a father-and-son duo from Mount Olive, Illinois, were excited to be bowling together at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but they made sure not to set their expectations too high.
They simply were focused on shooting respectable scores and having fun together on the biggest stage in bowling. They never could've imagined the type of success they had Monday at the South Point Bowling Plaza - success that almost didn't happen.
The Schellers, who both bowl at Mount Olive's Turner Hall, saved their best performances of 2019 for the doubles event, where David, a 58-year-old left-hander rolled a 619 series, and Mitchell, a 30-year-old right-hander, added a 611 set to lift them into the lead in Standard Doubles with a 1,230 total.
Michael Voorhies and Arthur Norton of Fort Wayne, Indiana, previously held the lead with 1,191.
While it was smooth sailing for the new leaders on the lanes, getting to Las Vegas was a bit more of an adventure.
Their original flight was canceled because of inclement weather, and they ended up arriving in the host city a day later than scheduled. All the while, David was eager to get back onto the tournament lanes, after a knee injury sidelined him in 2018.
This year's event in Las Vegas marked Mitchell's 14th consecutive appearance at the Open Championships, while David has participated nine times, forced to bowl on and off due to various injuries, since his debut in 2005.
David added sets of 593 in singles and 542 in team for a 1,754 all-events total. Mitchell had 530 in singles and 512 in team for a 1,653 total, a career-best for him at the Open Championships.
Standard Doubles is for pairs with combined entering averages of 311-350.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - David and Mitchell Scheller, a father-and-son duo from Mount Olive, Illinois, were excited to be bowling together at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but they made sure not to set their expectations too high.
They simply were focused on shooting respectable scores and having fun together on the biggest stage in bowling. They never could've imagined the type of success they had Monday at the South Point Bowling Plaza - success that almost didn't happen.
The Schellers, who both bowl at Mount Olive's Turner Hall, saved their best performances of 2019 for the doubles event, where David, a 58-year-old left-hander rolled a 619 series, and Mitchell, a 30-year-old right-hander, added a 611 set to lift them into the lead in Standard Doubles with a 1,230 total.
Michael Voorhies and Arthur Norton of Fort Wayne, Indiana, previously held the lead with 1,191.
While it was smooth sailing for the new leaders on the lanes, getting to Las Vegas was a bit more of an adventure.
Their original flight was canceled because of inclement weather, and they ended up arriving in the host city a day later than scheduled. All the while, David was eager to get back onto the tournament lanes, after a knee injury sidelined him in 2018.
This year's event in Las Vegas marked Mitchell's 14th consecutive appearance at the Open Championships, while David has participated nine times, forced to bowl on and off due to various injuries, since his debut in 2005.
David added sets of 593 in singles and 542 in team for a 1,754 all-events total. Mitchell had 530 in singles and 512 in team for a 1,653 total, a career-best for him at the Open Championships.
Standard Doubles is for pairs with combined entering averages of 311-350.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.