Jabczenski reaches 50th consecutive appearance at Open Championships
June 23, 2023
RENO, Nev. – The emotions were high for two-time Eagle winner Mitch Jabczenski as he returned to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships for his 50th consecutive appearance Wednesday at the National Bowling Stadium.
Jabczenski, of South Lyon, Michigan, made his debut at the 1973 event in Syracuse, New York, and he was joined in his ceremonial march down Center Aisle at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins by his wife, Dee, as he was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
Moments after his presentation, he was able to watch as his teammate and longtime friend – USBC Hall of Famer Bob Goike of Canton, Michigan – also was recognized for 50 consecutive years at the Open Championships.
“This event has always had a special place in my heart, since you come here to show you are the best of the best each year,” said Jabczenski, a 70-year-old right-hander. “It was a very emotional day for me trying to soak it all in. Above all things, I am so glad I was able to share this day with Bob, since he is my mentor and one of my best friends.”
Surrounded by family, friends and longtime teammates like Goike and Fred McClain of Allen Park, Michigan, who made his 51st tournament appearance this week in Reno, Jabczenski was overcome with feelings of joy while reflecting on the past 50 years.
One moment that easily stands out was returning to the same building where he was able to help Lodge Lanes Too of Orlando, Florida, capture the Regular Team title in 2013 with a then-record score of 3,538.
Competing alongside USBC Hall of Famers John Gaines and John Janawicz, Vernon Peterson and Scott Newell, Jabczenski and Lodge Lanes Too were able to break a 20-year-old record at the Open Championships by a single pin (Bruegger’s Bagels of Albany, New York, with 3,537 in 1993) on the way to victory.
“Having my 50th year at the Stadium in Reno is really special because of the team Eagle I have here from when we broke the record in 2013,” Jabczenski said. “I was blessed to be surrounded by such great bowlers then, and honestly, all throughout my career.”
The win in 2013 was the second for Jabczenski. He also was part of the 1987 Team All-Events champion with Murdock Machine No. 1 of Detroit, which consisted of McClain, USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Gene Stus, two-time champion Ed Marzka and Randy Pierce.
Murdock Machine No. 1 put up a score of 9,185 to take home the title in Niagara Falls, New York.
“Having Fred here for my 50th was great as well,” Jabczenski said. “We have been teammates for a long time, and being able to share this with him as well as reminisce on our win in 1987 will live with me forever.”
With his 50th appearance in the books, Jabczenski has his eyes set on two more goals looking ahead in his career – the 100,000-Pin Club at the Open Championships and induction to the USBC Hall of Fame.
“Now that I got to 50, I really think I can get to 100,000 pins in the next few years,” said Jabczenski, who now sits at 91,743 total pins for a lifetime average of 203.8 through 50 appearances after posting a nine-game total of 1,741 at the 2023 event. “If I can get to that 100,000-pin mark, I am hoping that would be enough to get me into the USBC Hall of Fame. Bob (Goike) is there, as he should be, and I want to be able to join him before my days of bowling are long gone.”
Through all the years and time spent with friends joining him at the tournament, Jabczenski truly cherished the moments with his family the most.
“I shot my first all-events score over 2,000 the year I bowled with my son in 2005, which is one of the four years I accomplished that,” Jabczenski said. “I also think that without my wife, none of this would have been possible. She has supported my bowling for so many years and has been on so many trips with me.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Jabczenski, of South Lyon, Michigan, made his debut at the 1973 event in Syracuse, New York, and he was joined in his ceremonial march down Center Aisle at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins by his wife, Dee, as he was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
Moments after his presentation, he was able to watch as his teammate and longtime friend – USBC Hall of Famer Bob Goike of Canton, Michigan – also was recognized for 50 consecutive years at the Open Championships.
“This event has always had a special place in my heart, since you come here to show you are the best of the best each year,” said Jabczenski, a 70-year-old right-hander. “It was a very emotional day for me trying to soak it all in. Above all things, I am so glad I was able to share this day with Bob, since he is my mentor and one of my best friends.”
Surrounded by family, friends and longtime teammates like Goike and Fred McClain of Allen Park, Michigan, who made his 51st tournament appearance this week in Reno, Jabczenski was overcome with feelings of joy while reflecting on the past 50 years.
One moment that easily stands out was returning to the same building where he was able to help Lodge Lanes Too of Orlando, Florida, capture the Regular Team title in 2013 with a then-record score of 3,538.
Competing alongside USBC Hall of Famers John Gaines and John Janawicz, Vernon Peterson and Scott Newell, Jabczenski and Lodge Lanes Too were able to break a 20-year-old record at the Open Championships by a single pin (Bruegger’s Bagels of Albany, New York, with 3,537 in 1993) on the way to victory.
“Having my 50th year at the Stadium in Reno is really special because of the team Eagle I have here from when we broke the record in 2013,” Jabczenski said. “I was blessed to be surrounded by such great bowlers then, and honestly, all throughout my career.”
The win in 2013 was the second for Jabczenski. He also was part of the 1987 Team All-Events champion with Murdock Machine No. 1 of Detroit, which consisted of McClain, USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Gene Stus, two-time champion Ed Marzka and Randy Pierce.
Murdock Machine No. 1 put up a score of 9,185 to take home the title in Niagara Falls, New York.
“Having Fred here for my 50th was great as well,” Jabczenski said. “We have been teammates for a long time, and being able to share this with him as well as reminisce on our win in 1987 will live with me forever.”
With his 50th appearance in the books, Jabczenski has his eyes set on two more goals looking ahead in his career – the 100,000-Pin Club at the Open Championships and induction to the USBC Hall of Fame.
“Now that I got to 50, I really think I can get to 100,000 pins in the next few years,” said Jabczenski, who now sits at 91,743 total pins for a lifetime average of 203.8 through 50 appearances after posting a nine-game total of 1,741 at the 2023 event. “If I can get to that 100,000-pin mark, I am hoping that would be enough to get me into the USBC Hall of Fame. Bob (Goike) is there, as he should be, and I want to be able to join him before my days of bowling are long gone.”
Through all the years and time spent with friends joining him at the tournament, Jabczenski truly cherished the moments with his family the most.
“I shot my first all-events score over 2,000 the year I bowled with my son in 2005, which is one of the four years I accomplished that,” Jabczenski said. “I also think that without my wife, none of this would have been possible. She has supported my bowling for so many years and has been on so many trips with me.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.