Indiana bowler rolls 820 series at 2022 USBC Open Championships
May 19, 2022
By Nick Bonsanto
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Michael Grimm of Newburgh, Indiana, tallied the highest series of the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday with an 820 set while competing in doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 41-year-old right-hander rolled games of 253, 299 and 268 en route to the first 800 series in doubles at the 2022 event and second overall of the year. Robby Callan of Vacaville, California, rolled an 808 set in team competition March 20.
Rolling the highest series of the competition so far is a huge accomplishment, but it did have one brief moment of disappointment for Grimm in Game 2, when he left a 10 pin on his 12th shot to miss perfection.
"It was the most nerve-wracking shot I've ever had in my bowling career," said Grimm while describing his final shot for 299.
Grimm, competing in his 21st USBC Open Championships, was a collegiate bowler at Vincennes University. His doubles partner for this year's event was his collegiate bowling coach, Gary Sparks.
"It's wonderful to bowl with him," Grimm said. "It's nice that even 20 years after I left college, he's only a phone call away."
Grimm has competed with Sparks for 19 of his 21 years at the Open Championships.
"I was a junior at Vincennes, and he said he needed someone to bowl, and I have been bowling with him ever since," Grimm added. "He brings a team of former players every year to the Open Championships."
Bowling an 820 series at the Open Championships is something that many dream about, and Grimm now knows how that feels.
"It's still so surreal," Grimm said. "You dream of something like this."
Grimm and Sparks tallied a doubles total of 1,315. The leaders in Regular Doubles are Nick Powanda of San Diego and Tony Odom of Palm Springs, California, with a 1,518 total.
Grimm had his best showing in his 21 years this week at the Open Championships. He bowled a 642 series in team Tuesday and finished with 606 in singles for an all-events total of 2,068, which places him in the top 60 in Regular All-Events to date.
His previous high total was 1,922 at the 2002 event in Billings, Montana.
The Regular All-Events leader is Brian Waliczek of Frankenmuth, Michigan, who totaled 2,241.
What will Grimm remember from his memorable 2022 Open Championships appearance?
"I don't know yet," Grimm said. "I'm still on cloud nine."
Bowlers competing in Regular Doubles have combined entering averages of 351 and above. Regular All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Michael Grimm of Newburgh, Indiana, tallied the highest series of the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday with an 820 set while competing in doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 41-year-old right-hander rolled games of 253, 299 and 268 en route to the first 800 series in doubles at the 2022 event and second overall of the year. Robby Callan of Vacaville, California, rolled an 808 set in team competition March 20.
Rolling the highest series of the competition so far is a huge accomplishment, but it did have one brief moment of disappointment for Grimm in Game 2, when he left a 10 pin on his 12th shot to miss perfection.
"It was the most nerve-wracking shot I've ever had in my bowling career," said Grimm while describing his final shot for 299.
Grimm, competing in his 21st USBC Open Championships, was a collegiate bowler at Vincennes University. His doubles partner for this year's event was his collegiate bowling coach, Gary Sparks.
"It's wonderful to bowl with him," Grimm said. "It's nice that even 20 years after I left college, he's only a phone call away."
Grimm has competed with Sparks for 19 of his 21 years at the Open Championships.
"I was a junior at Vincennes, and he said he needed someone to bowl, and I have been bowling with him ever since," Grimm added. "He brings a team of former players every year to the Open Championships."
Bowling an 820 series at the Open Championships is something that many dream about, and Grimm now knows how that feels.
"It's still so surreal," Grimm said. "You dream of something like this."
Grimm and Sparks tallied a doubles total of 1,315. The leaders in Regular Doubles are Nick Powanda of San Diego and Tony Odom of Palm Springs, California, with a 1,518 total.
Grimm had his best showing in his 21 years this week at the Open Championships. He bowled a 642 series in team Tuesday and finished with 606 in singles for an all-events total of 2,068, which places him in the top 60 in Regular All-Events to date.
His previous high total was 1,922 at the 2002 event in Billings, Montana.
The Regular All-Events leader is Brian Waliczek of Frankenmuth, Michigan, who totaled 2,241.
What will Grimm remember from his memorable 2022 Open Championships appearance?
"I don't know yet," Grimm said. "I'm still on cloud nine."
Bowlers competing in Regular Doubles have combined entering averages of 351 and above. Regular All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.