Wisconsin bowler joins 50-Year Club at 2018 USBC Open Championships
April 22, 2018
By Matt Cannizzaro and Fran Piraino
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Gary McGroarty of West Allis, Wisconsin, reached a special career milestone this weekend as he celebrated his 50th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 71-year-old right-hander, who said he had two big goals in life - to be married for 50 years and to bowl in the USBC Open Championships 50 times - earned a special spot in tournament history when he walked onto the lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center to become the newest member of the event's 50-Year Club.
McGroarty's supporting cast in the spotlight Saturday included his wife of 50 years, Phyllis, son, Troy, daughter-in-law, Pam, and his teammates.
"This ranks at the top of my bowling accomplishments, and to do this 50 years in a row is special," said McGroarty, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. "It nice to have my family and my team with me for this. I love my team. I couldn't have done this without them."
McGroarty made his first Open Championships appearance as a 21-year-old when the tournament visited Madison, Wisconsin, in 1969.
"I got started bowling in this through the company I worked for at the time," said McGroarty, who worked in the printing industry for 38 years before retiring. "Our company was right next to a bowling alley. We worked third shift and bowled in the morning. That year, they took some of the better bowlers in the league and sent them to the tournament in Madison. Things started from there, and I kept going to this event."
McGroarty remembers being awestruck as a first-timer entering the enormous venue for the 66th edition of the event, which was held at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum.
"When I first saw the arena we were bowling in, I was like 'wow, this is crazy,' because of the how big it was," McGroarty said. "We were all used to bowling in just a little house."
McGroarty said good health was the key factor in helping him reach five decades on the championship lanes.
He keeps himself physically fit with exercise, in addition to bowling regularly at New Berlin Bowl in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Years ago, the athletic McGroarty signed a professional baseball contract out of high school and pitched at the Triple AAA level, before an arm injury derailed his career.
In 50 years at the Open Championships, he has knocked down 80,757 pins for a career average of 181.8.
Those stats include sets of 505 in team, 449 in singles and 402 in doubles this year in Syracuse for a 1,356 all-events total.
McGroarty is the fourth of 15 bowlers scheduled to reach the 50-year plateau at the 2018 Open Championships, while three compete for the 60th time.
Maynard Johnson of Crystal, Minnesota, added his name to the short list of bowlers who have made 65 tournament appearances when he hit the lanes Sunday afternoon.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Gary McGroarty of West Allis, Wisconsin, reached a special career milestone this weekend as he celebrated his 50th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 71-year-old right-hander, who said he had two big goals in life - to be married for 50 years and to bowl in the USBC Open Championships 50 times - earned a special spot in tournament history when he walked onto the lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center to become the newest member of the event's 50-Year Club.
McGroarty's supporting cast in the spotlight Saturday included his wife of 50 years, Phyllis, son, Troy, daughter-in-law, Pam, and his teammates.
"This ranks at the top of my bowling accomplishments, and to do this 50 years in a row is special," said McGroarty, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. "It nice to have my family and my team with me for this. I love my team. I couldn't have done this without them."
McGroarty made his first Open Championships appearance as a 21-year-old when the tournament visited Madison, Wisconsin, in 1969.
"I got started bowling in this through the company I worked for at the time," said McGroarty, who worked in the printing industry for 38 years before retiring. "Our company was right next to a bowling alley. We worked third shift and bowled in the morning. That year, they took some of the better bowlers in the league and sent them to the tournament in Madison. Things started from there, and I kept going to this event."
McGroarty remembers being awestruck as a first-timer entering the enormous venue for the 66th edition of the event, which was held at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum. "When I first saw the arena we were bowling in, I was like 'wow, this is crazy,' because of the how big it was," McGroarty said. "We were all used to bowling in just a little house."
McGroarty said good health was the key factor in helping him reach five decades on the championship lanes.
He keeps himself physically fit with exercise, in addition to bowling regularly at New Berlin Bowl in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Years ago, the athletic McGroarty signed a professional baseball contract out of high school and pitched at the Triple AAA level, before an arm injury derailed his career.
In 50 years at the Open Championships, he has knocked down 80,757 pins for a career average of 181.8.
Those stats include sets of 505 in team, 449 in singles and 402 in doubles this year in Syracuse for a 1,356 all-events total.
McGroarty is the fourth of 15 bowlers scheduled to reach the 50-year plateau at the 2018 Open Championships, while three compete for the 60th time.
Maynard Johnson of Crystal, Minnesota, added his name to the short list of bowlers who have made 65 tournament appearances when he hit the lanes Sunday afternoon.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.