Krol and Damon return to defend doubles title at USBC Open Championships
June 29, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Kyle Krol and Kyle Damon
RENO, Nev. – Kyle Krol of Tinley Park, Illinois, and Kyle Damon of Orland Park, Illinois, shared the spotlight on bowling’s biggest stage last year at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to win the Regular Doubles title at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The longtime friends made their charge up the leaderboard in early June, and they were able to remain at the top of the standings when the final ball was rolled more than a month later in Las Vegas to record their first wins at the event with a 1,522 total.
The pair recently returned to the USBC Open Championships for their appearance in 2023, and although they were unable to successfully defend their title at the National Bowling Stadium, they enjoyed the moment coming full circle as they look ahead to their future on the championship lanes.
In 2022, Krol had games of 242, 278 and 267 for a 787 series, and Damon added 276, 191 and 268 for 735 in the winning effort.
The excitement came down to the final frames, as both players needed to string some strikes down the stretch in Game 3 to surpass the 1,518 posted by Tony Odom of Palm Springs, California, and Nick Powanda of San Diego. Odom and Powanda finished second in Regular Doubles in 2022.
After a posting a pair of spares in the sixth frame, both Damon and Krol delivered strikes in their seventh, eighth and ninth frames. Damon added two more strikes and knocked over nine pins on his fill ball, while Krol rolled a strike on his first offering and spared the 10 pin he left on his second shot to take the lead.
The wait to see if their number was going to be enough quickly started for both as they made their way back to the Chicagoland area, and although there were some close calls along the way, they were able to celebrate the moment at the conclusion of the 2022 event.
“We were scoreboard watching the entire time, and I can’t tell you how many times I was a nervous wreck,” Krol said after getting the official call on the victory last July. “I’ve been getting to certain spots in my bowling career and have been so close to the next steppingstone. To be able to finally say I have a national title and an Eagle, and to do it with my best friend on top of it, is a dream come true. It’s nice to be able to show all the hard work, dedication and time practicing really does mean something in the end.”
Their combined 1,522 score was the highest total in Regular Doubles since Stephen and Brenda Padilla set the record at the Open Championships in 2009 with 1,566.
“I’m still a little bit at a loss for words believing that we held up and got it,” Damon said last July. “It’s unreal that we captured that. It will never get taken away. Every year, we get to hear it. This is one of the biggest things you can do in bowling, and to actually achieve it is beyond words.”
Upon their return to the event in 2023, they did their best to prepare for the extra attention they knew was coming their way as the defending champions.
However, there are things you still can’t prepare for until you get to see it for the first time.
“For me, it was coming in and actually seeing the banner,” said Krol, a 28-year-old right-hander who made his seventh tournament appearance in 2023. “I’ve had numerous friends send me photos, but I don’t know if there are many words that can describe that feeling. You still get that ‘pinch me, it’s real’ kind of deal.”
In addition to seeing their banner hanging from the rafters at the National Bowling Stadium, Krol and Damon also were presented with their championship watches prior to the start of their team competition.
“It’s not something I’m used to,” said Damon, a 29-year-old right-hander making his seventh appearance at the Open Championships. “We won a high school state title and there was a ceremony for that, but that was with all our high school friends, so it didn’t feel that intimidating. For this, we had our friends and family, the guys I’ve bowled with for about seven years and the entire squad of bowlers staring at you. I think my college graduation was a little less intimidating.
“When you’re taking part in the presentation and they mention defending your title, it makes you think, ‘Wow, I got to show up and put myself up there and bowl to the best of my ability.’”
The support from friends and family as part of a 12-team group representing Lawn Lanes in Chicago helped to ease some of the nerves as they made their way into their team event.
The title defense for doubles didn’t start until the following day, and after a strong start in Game 1, they unfortunately could not keep the momentum going. They finished their 2023 event with 1,191.
Damon led the way with games of 217, 236 and 156 for a 609 series, while Krol added 224, 168 and 190 for 582.
Nick Kruml of St. Peters, Missouri, and Christopher Wiley of Bettendorf, Iowa, lead Regular Doubles at the 2023 Open Championships with 1,438.
Although there wasn’t a return trip to the leaderboard for Damon and Krol in 2023, they are confident in their group and have trust in their ability to find continued success as they progress in their careers at the Open Championships.
“I really enjoy that feeling with the 10 guys we bowl with right now,” Krol said. “It’s a solid group. We all live within 30 minutes of each other, so we can really build this team up and hopefully be a threat in the future.
“In the end, I would love to be able to have that experience again, and hopefully someday in the future, it does happen. We just have to work together and make it happen. It’s surreal and kind of all happens in a blur. It flashes through pretty quick, and I still can’t believe it happened.”
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
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.
RENO, Nev. – Kyle Krol of Tinley Park, Illinois, and Kyle Damon of Orland Park, Illinois, shared the spotlight on bowling’s biggest stage last year at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to win the Regular Doubles title at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The longtime friends made their charge up the leaderboard in early June, and they were able to remain at the top of the standings when the final ball was rolled more than a month later in Las Vegas to record their first wins at the event with a 1,522 total.
The pair recently returned to the USBC Open Championships for their appearance in 2023, and although they were unable to successfully defend their title at the National Bowling Stadium, they enjoyed the moment coming full circle as they look ahead to their future on the championship lanes.
In 2022, Krol had games of 242, 278 and 267 for a 787 series, and Damon added 276, 191 and 268 for 735 in the winning effort.
The excitement came down to the final frames, as both players needed to string some strikes down the stretch in Game 3 to surpass the 1,518 posted by Tony Odom of Palm Springs, California, and Nick Powanda of San Diego. Odom and Powanda finished second in Regular Doubles in 2022.
After a posting a pair of spares in the sixth frame, both Damon and Krol delivered strikes in their seventh, eighth and ninth frames. Damon added two more strikes and knocked over nine pins on his fill ball, while Krol rolled a strike on his first offering and spared the 10 pin he left on his second shot to take the lead.
The wait to see if their number was going to be enough quickly started for both as they made their way back to the Chicagoland area, and although there were some close calls along the way, they were able to celebrate the moment at the conclusion of the 2022 event.
“We were scoreboard watching the entire time, and I can’t tell you how many times I was a nervous wreck,” Krol said after getting the official call on the victory last July. “I’ve been getting to certain spots in my bowling career and have been so close to the next steppingstone. To be able to finally say I have a national title and an Eagle, and to do it with my best friend on top of it, is a dream come true. It’s nice to be able to show all the hard work, dedication and time practicing really does mean something in the end.”
Their combined 1,522 score was the highest total in Regular Doubles since Stephen and Brenda Padilla set the record at the Open Championships in 2009 with 1,566.
“I’m still a little bit at a loss for words believing that we held up and got it,” Damon said last July. “It’s unreal that we captured that. It will never get taken away. Every year, we get to hear it. This is one of the biggest things you can do in bowling, and to actually achieve it is beyond words.”
Upon their return to the event in 2023, they did their best to prepare for the extra attention they knew was coming their way as the defending champions.
However, there are things you still can’t prepare for until you get to see it for the first time.
“For me, it was coming in and actually seeing the banner,” said Krol, a 28-year-old right-hander who made his seventh tournament appearance in 2023. “I’ve had numerous friends send me photos, but I don’t know if there are many words that can describe that feeling. You still get that ‘pinch me, it’s real’ kind of deal.”
In addition to seeing their banner hanging from the rafters at the National Bowling Stadium, Krol and Damon also were presented with their championship watches prior to the start of their team competition.
“It’s not something I’m used to,” said Damon, a 29-year-old right-hander making his seventh appearance at the Open Championships. “We won a high school state title and there was a ceremony for that, but that was with all our high school friends, so it didn’t feel that intimidating. For this, we had our friends and family, the guys I’ve bowled with for about seven years and the entire squad of bowlers staring at you. I think my college graduation was a little less intimidating.
“When you’re taking part in the presentation and they mention defending your title, it makes you think, ‘Wow, I got to show up and put myself up there and bowl to the best of my ability.’”
The support from friends and family as part of a 12-team group representing Lawn Lanes in Chicago helped to ease some of the nerves as they made their way into their team event.
The title defense for doubles didn’t start until the following day, and after a strong start in Game 1, they unfortunately could not keep the momentum going. They finished their 2023 event with 1,191.
Damon led the way with games of 217, 236 and 156 for a 609 series, while Krol added 224, 168 and 190 for 582.
Nick Kruml of St. Peters, Missouri, and Christopher Wiley of Bettendorf, Iowa, lead Regular Doubles at the 2023 Open Championships with 1,438.
Although there wasn’t a return trip to the leaderboard for Damon and Krol in 2023, they are confident in their group and have trust in their ability to find continued success as they progress in their careers at the Open Championships.
“I really enjoy that feeling with the 10 guys we bowl with right now,” Krol said. “It’s a solid group. We all live within 30 minutes of each other, so we can really build this team up and hopefully be a threat in the future.
“In the end, I would love to be able to have that experience again, and hopefully someday in the future, it does happen. We just have to work together and make it happen. It’s surreal and kind of all happens in a blur. It flashes through pretty quick, and I still can’t believe it happened.”
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
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.