Wish comes true for Iowa bowler at 2018 USBC Open Championships
April 25, 2018
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Juan Cavazos of Clinton, Iowa, enjoys the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships experience because it gives him a chance to explore the country and compete on the sport's biggest stage.
The 53-year-old left-hander doesn't check the leaderboard or watch scores or set lofty goals.
In fact, during a trip this week to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in nearby Cooperstown, New York, Cavazos came across a wishing well of sorts, tossed in a shiny dime and simply wished to bowl well this week at the Oncenter Convention Center.
His wish came true, and his 10-cent investment paid off Wednesday as he cruised into the lead in Classified Singles with a 617 series. The performance included games of 195, 208 and 214, and his total was the highest of his four-year USBC Open Championships career by 136 pins.
Rocky Martin of Enosburg, Vermont, previously held the lead in Classified Singles with 597.
Prior to Wednesday, Cavazos never had cracked the 200 barrier on the tournament lanes, so achieving that was the first memorable milestone of the afternoon.
"For some reason, you just show up when you come to a venue like this, and since it's only once a year, you want to do your best," said Cavazos, who made his fourth consecutive Open Championships appearance. "It started with the team event last night, when I got close to 200 and ended up with the highest game I'd ever bowled here (196). I thought it would be nice to go up from there, and I was just feeling it today. I did get some breaks along the way, but it was awesome to get there."
Cavazos had two simple goals on the lanes this year in Syracuse.
The first was to record a clean game, regardless of the final score. He accomplished that in his final game, while also locking up the top spot on the leaderboard.
His other goal was to keep pace with, and even out-score, the 200-plus average bowlers in his group, who were bowling on the next pair. He succeeded in that task, as well.
Ultimately, though, having a well-rounded experience each year is the ultimate goal for Cavazos, who has gotten to visit four different host cities in his short Open Championships career.
"Every time we go somewhere, we always get out to see the sights, which is what keeps us coming back to the tournament," said Cavazos, who made his tournament debut at the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas. "We enjoy the venue and the bowling, too, of course. I think the whole experience is great, and everyone should try it at least once. I bet that would make them want to come back for sure."
Cavazos added sets of 485 in team and 438 in doubles for a career-best 1,540 all-events total, which is tied for ninth place in Classified All-Events. Wayne Kommalan of Perryville, Maryland, leads with 1,594.
The Classified Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The 53-year-old left-hander doesn't check the leaderboard or watch scores or set lofty goals.
In fact, during a trip this week to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in nearby Cooperstown, New York, Cavazos came across a wishing well of sorts, tossed in a shiny dime and simply wished to bowl well this week at the Oncenter Convention Center.
His wish came true, and his 10-cent investment paid off Wednesday as he cruised into the lead in Classified Singles with a 617 series. The performance included games of 195, 208 and 214, and his total was the highest of his four-year USBC Open Championships career by 136 pins.
Rocky Martin of Enosburg, Vermont, previously held the lead in Classified Singles with 597.
Prior to Wednesday, Cavazos never had cracked the 200 barrier on the tournament lanes, so achieving that was the first memorable milestone of the afternoon.
"For some reason, you just show up when you come to a venue like this, and since it's only once a year, you want to do your best," said Cavazos, who made his fourth consecutive Open Championships appearance. "It started with the team event last night, when I got close to 200 and ended up with the highest game I'd ever bowled here (196). I thought it would be nice to go up from there, and I was just feeling it today. I did get some breaks along the way, but it was awesome to get there."
Cavazos had two simple goals on the lanes this year in Syracuse.
The first was to record a clean game, regardless of the final score. He accomplished that in his final game, while also locking up the top spot on the leaderboard.
His other goal was to keep pace with, and even out-score, the 200-plus average bowlers in his group, who were bowling on the next pair. He succeeded in that task, as well.
Ultimately, though, having a well-rounded experience each year is the ultimate goal for Cavazos, who has gotten to visit four different host cities in his short Open Championships career.
"Every time we go somewhere, we always get out to see the sights, which is what keeps us coming back to the tournament," said Cavazos, who made his tournament debut at the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas. "We enjoy the venue and the bowling, too, of course. I think the whole experience is great, and everyone should try it at least once. I bet that would make them want to come back for sure."
Cavazos added sets of 485 in team and 438 in doubles for a career-best 1,540 all-events total, which is tied for ninth place in Classified All-Events. Wayne Kommalan of Perryville, Maryland, leads with 1,594.
The Classified Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.