By Matt Cannizzaro and Jessica Gilgor
USBC Communications 

RENO, Nev. - For the 10th time since its opening in 1995, the National Bowling Stadium served as the host venue for the Special Olympics National Unified Tournament and more than 360 participants from across the country.

The two-day tournament, in its 26th year, welcomed Special Olympic athletes and their unified partners from 14 states as they competed for gold, silver and bronze medals in four-player team and doubles events.

Since its inception, the event has served as part of the opening-week activities at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. The partnership dates back to the 1991 tournament in Toledo, Ohio, and gives the Special Olympics athletes the same great competitive experience Open Championships bowlers have enjoyed for more than 100 years.

"The original purpose of the tournament was to help the USBC train its staff and break in the lanes and equipment before the start of the Open Championships," said Marty Allen, who has been the tournament director for the National Unified Tournament since its start. "With most of the unified partners being USBC members, it really has become its own kind of family."

The family atmosphere and the excitement on the athletes' faces as they make their march down Center Aisle are two of the biggest highlights for Allen.

"As program director, it is always a thrill to see the athletes and watch them compete," said Allen, who also has served as the program director for Special Olympics Ohio since 1982. "All the staff we've met over the years and have gotten to know have become wonderful friends to us, and the athletes all remember them, too."

Allen looks forward to watching the National Unified Tournament grow as interest in bowling continues to increase among Special Olympic athletes. Bowling currently ranks second in participation after track and field.

"When we started this tournament, there were only eight states represented by 22 teams, and everything took place in one day," Allen said. "Today, it has grown to 14 states represented by 90 teams across 45 different delegations."

Also on hand for the tournament, cheering on the athletes and assisting in presenting medals, were USBC Hall of Famers Jimmy Schroeder of Tonawanda, New York, and Bob Hart of Suwanee, Georgia.

Schroeder played an integral role in initially bringing the two tournaments together, and he's been there every year to help things go smoothly. It's just a small part of his continued dedication to the Open Championships, where he has competed 67 consecutive times, earning one title and climbing his way to third place on the career pinfall list with 117,737.

Hart also is an Open Championships veteran, and the three-time winner is scheduled to celebrate his 60th appearance later this year at the NBS.

"I was asked if I could put together a national tournament," said Schroeder, the 1976 Classic Singles champion. "I made an appointment with what was then the American Bowling Congress in Milwaukee, and they really liked my presentation. And, here we are."

Schroeder credits the athletes and USBC for their work in making the annual event a success.

"We have a ball working with them, and they love this," Schroeder said. "The USBC has been a godsend for what they have done for these bowlers and athletes."

This year, the Open Championships makes its record 13th trip to Reno and will run daily from March 5 until July 11. More than 7,900 five-player teams will make their way to The Biggest Little City in the World to compete for a multi-million-dollar prize fund.

The NBS, which last hosted the event in 2014, also will be home to the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.