Michigan bowler latest to join 50-Year Club at 2019 USBC Open Championships
May 04, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and Daniel Farish
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - For John Vorpagel of Sterling Heights, Michigan, bowling always has been about camaraderie.
That, and a strong sense of perseverance, have helped him on the journey that led to his 50th United States Bowling Congress Open Championships appearance this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The a 72-year-old right-hander made his milestone march to the lanes Thursday, and he received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
From his early days of bowling in youth leagues, all the way up to his most recent trip to the championship lanes, he has surrounded himself with people he not only likes to bowl with, but enjoys traveling with as well.
"I bowl with a couple of guys, Gerrit and Kevin, who have been going at this a long time, and we've kind of pushed each other," says Vorpagel, who only missed four years at the USBC Open Championships since his debut at the 1966 event in Rochester, New York.
His teammates, Gerrit DeMeulenaere and Kevin Wojcik, made their 51st and 38th tournament appearances, respectively. DeMeulenaere celebrated his 50th appearance at the South Point Bowling Plaza in 2017.
Born in Detroit in 1946, Vorpagel began bowling in the mid-1950s with neighborhood friends and classmates from school. From there, the progression he followed was routine for the times. After success as a youth bowler, he moved on to compete with the Detroit All-Stars as an adult competitor.
"Bowling at East Warren Lanes, they always took two or four teams to the Open Championships, and that's how I got started here," Vorpagel said. "Each bowling center would have their best group of guys go, and we just kept continuing on."
Once Vorpagel hit his 30th year of competition in 1999 Open Championships in Syracuse, New York, he realized 50 was a mark he could hit.
"I think the goal became to just go and bowl in the tournament every year after I had so many in it," Vorpagel said. "I got to 30, I got a plaque. Then I hit 35, and I got a plaque. I figured, as long as I kept going, every five years I would get a plaque, which is a nice recognition."
Vorpagel's dedication to the game not only has been as a competitor, but as a volunteer as well. As as former president, and current board member, of the Metro Detroit USBC Bowling Association, Vorpagel has maintained a presence in the bowling community.
Traveling for bowling hasn't been limited to just competition for Vorpagel. As a member of the board, he has been selected with others to represent the Metro Detroit USBC at both state and national conventions across Michigan and the United States.
Like many others, a favorite destination for Vorpagel has been Reno, Nevada, a familiar home for the Open Championships.
"Reno is probably the best because it has everything you need," Vorpagel said. "The National Bowling Stadium is second to none, and the gambling and downtown entertainment are great. It doesn't get much better than that."
The 2003 event in Knoxville, Tennessee, stands out in his memory, as he and his new wife celebrated their honeymoon in conjunction with the Open Championships.
For the most part, however, it's always been about the bowling for Vorpagel and his group.
"Until 2003 when I got married, it was just me and the guys," said Vorpagel, who has six USBC-certified 300 games and four certified 800 series. "We didn't really have the extra time for much more than bowling, which was OK. It just meant we stayed focused on the lanes."
As he looks back at the accomplishment of joining the 50-Year Club at the Open Championships, Vorpagel credits the group he travels with, as well as his own perseverance, for making it this far.
"Make sure you have a team that wants to go," Vorpagel said. "Matter of fact, maybe even two teams, so you have a whole group of guys that are there for one another. The camaraderie just builds. And, before you know it, you've been coming for 50 years."
On the lanes this year, Vopagel rolled sets of 538 in singles, 506 in doubles and 478 in team for a 1,522 all-events total. In 50 Open Championships appearances, he has knocked over 81,757 pins for a career average of 182.9.
Vorpagel is one of 23 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation during the 2019 tournament at South Point.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - For John Vorpagel of Sterling Heights, Michigan, bowling always has been about camaraderie.
That, and a strong sense of perseverance, have helped him on the journey that led to his 50th United States Bowling Congress Open Championships appearance this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The a 72-year-old right-hander made his milestone march to the lanes Thursday, and he received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
From his early days of bowling in youth leagues, all the way up to his most recent trip to the championship lanes, he has surrounded himself with people he not only likes to bowl with, but enjoys traveling with as well.
"I bowl with a couple of guys, Gerrit and Kevin, who have been going at this a long time, and we've kind of pushed each other," says Vorpagel, who only missed four years at the USBC Open Championships since his debut at the 1966 event in Rochester, New York.
His teammates, Gerrit DeMeulenaere and Kevin Wojcik, made their 51st and 38th tournament appearances, respectively. DeMeulenaere celebrated his 50th appearance at the South Point Bowling Plaza in 2017.
Born in Detroit in 1946, Vorpagel began bowling in the mid-1950s with neighborhood friends and classmates from school. From there, the progression he followed was routine for the times. After success as a youth bowler, he moved on to compete with the Detroit All-Stars as an adult competitor.
"Bowling at East Warren Lanes, they always took two or four teams to the Open Championships, and that's how I got started here," Vorpagel said. "Each bowling center would have their best group of guys go, and we just kept continuing on."
Once Vorpagel hit his 30th year of competition in 1999 Open Championships in Syracuse, New York, he realized 50 was a mark he could hit.
"I think the goal became to just go and bowl in the tournament every year after I had so many in it," Vorpagel said. "I got to 30, I got a plaque. Then I hit 35, and I got a plaque. I figured, as long as I kept going, every five years I would get a plaque, which is a nice recognition."
Vorpagel's dedication to the game not only has been as a competitor, but as a volunteer as well. As as former president, and current board member, of the Metro Detroit USBC Bowling Association, Vorpagel has maintained a presence in the bowling community.
Traveling for bowling hasn't been limited to just competition for Vorpagel. As a member of the board, he has been selected with others to represent the Metro Detroit USBC at both state and national conventions across Michigan and the United States.
Like many others, a favorite destination for Vorpagel has been Reno, Nevada, a familiar home for the Open Championships.
"Reno is probably the best because it has everything you need," Vorpagel said. "The National Bowling Stadium is second to none, and the gambling and downtown entertainment are great. It doesn't get much better than that."
The 2003 event in Knoxville, Tennessee, stands out in his memory, as he and his new wife celebrated their honeymoon in conjunction with the Open Championships.
For the most part, however, it's always been about the bowling for Vorpagel and his group.
"Until 2003 when I got married, it was just me and the guys," said Vorpagel, who has six USBC-certified 300 games and four certified 800 series. "We didn't really have the extra time for much more than bowling, which was OK. It just meant we stayed focused on the lanes."
As he looks back at the accomplishment of joining the 50-Year Club at the Open Championships, Vorpagel credits the group he travels with, as well as his own perseverance, for making it this far.
"Make sure you have a team that wants to go," Vorpagel said. "Matter of fact, maybe even two teams, so you have a whole group of guys that are there for one another. The camaraderie just builds. And, before you know it, you've been coming for 50 years."
On the lanes this year, Vopagel rolled sets of 538 in singles, 506 in doubles and 478 in team for a 1,522 all-events total. In 50 Open Championships appearances, he has knocked over 81,757 pins for a career average of 182.9.
Vorpagel is one of 23 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation during the 2019 tournament at South Point.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.