East Bay Club: 2024 USBC ‘Nationals’ in Las Vegas

Bowling One-On-One with East Bay Club: 2024 USBC ‘Nationals’ in Las Vegas

Michael McKay, Fred Toth, Allan Ables, Eric Buckalew

The USBC Open Championships, also known as the ‘Nationals’ is taking place right now (Feb.-July) at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vagas, Nevada. USBC members travel to these national tournaments each year from all over the country to take their shot at bowling on the sport’s biggest stage. Also, to experience the traditions of the Open Championship’s 200 year old history. This year, more than 11,000 teams have signed up for the tournament.

This was my first Nationals event and I will always remember it. I joined a group of locals that I bowl league with. The knowledge they shared with me before the event gave me great confidence going into it. Perhaps too much. I went in thinking I was going to break all-time records and be carried out of the plaza on my teammates’ shoulders in triumphant fashion. Instead, after my first three games, I was rushed out the back door by security as I had just registered the lowest scores they had ever seen. It was rough, but things got better and I’m thankful to Mr. Michael McKay for the invitation and experience.

Micheal McKay is a true ambassador of the sport of bowling. He’s also a great leader, organizer, world wide traveler and just an all around good guy and friend to many. He’s also a competitor and loves to bowl. Each year he pulls a great group of bowlers together from Clayton Valley Bowl, located in a small community in Contra Cost County of the East Bay in Northern California, USA. I asked Mike to share some of his history with the event and about his experience this year.

“This is my 6th year organizing this group. I have been bowling the USBC Open Championships (Nationals) since 2010. I got the idea of forming groups after my experiences with bowling with other people.  I started with 10 people from Clayton Valley back in 2017 and now the group has grown to 30. I have always enjoyed bowling in tournaments and bowling them with my teammates and friends make the experience so much better. There is a lot of behind the scenes organization that goes along with being the group captain. A lot of groups just throw random people together but I am trying to build more than just random teams, my goal is to build a community. I form the teams by average and team chemistry. Some people on the teams bowl with one another in leagues or are good friends and I try to keep that into account when I create the teams.”

“This year’s tournament was one of the most difficult yet and I feel each year gets more challenging. I try to go into it with a game plan and usually then I have to rethink it. Even watching videos and other squads doesn’t really prepare you that much. The real test lies in staying mentally strong and focused during the competition. I was fortunate to bowl my best 3 game set and the best game ever of the tournament singles (596 series and 212 game). My goal is to just improve from last year and If I happen to cash, that’s just a bonus. I find it incredibly rewarding to see everyone come together and enjoy the experience, both on and off the lanes.”

Darren Boldstad was participating in his fourth Nationals event. It just doesn’t get any easier does it Darren?

“Bowling this year was more humbling than usual. Both sessions felt frustratingly close to finding the right line, but no adjustments I made seemed to work. There were points I might have tried throwing a house ball if they had them lying around, or asking for the practice ramp like my kids used when they were younger. I did some informal polling about whether the answer would be to ‘bring more balls’, or different types of balls, or whatever is behind door number three, and most responses were to get more practice on various sports shots. Now, to just find the time..”

What would you say was your favorite part about the tournament?

“The best part of Nationals for me is getting to spend quality time with a large group of great people. When bowling at home, the rhythm of the game can make it tough to have more than brief conversation, and sometimes it feels like a season goes by and somehow you didn’t get to bowl against a team or two. Being at Nationals for a few days allows time to hang out with friends, including those that maybe moved across the country (looking at you, Don!), and to make new ones where our paths haven’t yet crossed at home. The Vegas location, with the addition of copious amounts of alcohol and also all the gambling, makes it seem like the whole thing could have been a fever dream. Yup. It was allll just a dream. I’ll be ready for next time where I hopefully have better luck against the pattern du jour.”

Daryl Temple

Kristin Lunghi Slown

Kristin Lunghi Slown is a friendly soul, dedicated to her craft, loves to compete and takes advantage of the challenges that the USBC Nationals has to offer.

How would you describe this year’s Nationals event in Las Vegas?

“This was my second Nationals event. I have Women’s Nationals coming up in May, which will be my 3rd. For me, participating in Nationals is a way for me to challenge myself to step out of the comfort zone of a house shot and learn what it will take to get to the next level. I’m always humbled by the experience. I walk away learning what I still need work on and always walk away ‘needing’ a new ball 😀. I walk away motivated to do better.“

“Aside from bowling itself, Nationals allows me to further bond with my bowling community. I’m reminded not only how we all support each other in our sport, but also how much love and support we have for each other outside of it. Bonding with my bowling community is truly my favorite part of the whole experience.”

Leo Dulay, Raul Cienfuegos, Sandy Ruckey

Tamara Rich (CEO: Tam’s Ball Express)

Eric Buckalew, Don Russell, Kurt Reisinger, Jackie Ables

Hector Delgado

Hector Delgado is one sharp shooter and has one of the smoothest releases I’ve seen. This was his second Nationals event.

“In my 2nd year of nationals what I’m able to take in and process is that humans are creatures of habit. We don’t like change and want to be comfortable, and bowling nationals will make you feel the most uncomfortable you have been your entire bowling life. You have two options in that moment, let it defeat you or absorb the experience and learn from it. That’s when you will know the kind of bowler you really are. If I had a quote for this experience, it would be ‘it’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.’ – Rocky Balboa”

What was your game plan going in and what adjustments did you find yourself making throughout the event? Also, what was your favorite part of this year’s Nationals?

“My game plan for nationals this year was to mentally prepare myself for the difficulty I knew was ahead of me. my main focus was SPARES SPARES SPARES!!! I wanted to do my best at bowling as clean of a game as possible because I knew that strikes were going to be hard to come by. The adjustments I mentally prepared myself to make was throwing angles I typically never throw and I knew the lanes were going to put me in that uncomfortable situation to have success. Were the adjustments successful? Let’s just say there were successful throws and NOT successful throws.” 

“The best part of this year’s nationals was going as such a big group. Hanging out with so many bowlers and getting to know everyone individually and on a different level. Nationals is humbling, however the people you meet and learn from is such a great experience.” 

Mark Blackshere, Toni Blackshere, Jay Ysip

Sunny McHugh

One example of great sportsmanship in bowling is Renee Matsatui. This was her sixth USBC Nationals event and she had a successful trip.

“This was the first year I felt I did well. Leading up to Nationals I was hearing the chatter of how to play the lanes for team & doubles. I have finally learned that I need to find what works for me and watch what my ball does and make the adjustments. Also, I practiced with both dull and polished balls to determine what was best for me for the pair of lanes. It worked.”

“This is the first time I bowled more games over my average and even rolled a 182 game. I came in with a 133 National average 😂. I even won bracket money for the first time. I’ve learned to accept the good & the bad and try not to let bad shots or gutter balls get to me. I just try to have fun. I love bowling with our bowling family and having the time to get to know them better and cherish the time together! I also love to travel to different cities to bowl Nationals like Syracuse, Baton Rouge, Reno etc. Bowling Nationals is always a bit daunting but it makes me realize if I start to bowl on tougher patterns it can only help me become a better bowler! So hopefully next year will be a good one too!!!”

Fred Toth

Brett Denels was a part of a squad that bowled a week later than our squad and he reports that the lane conditions and challenges did not get any easier.

This was Brett’s third Nationals tournament. How would you describe your experience at the USBC Nationals this year?

“I enjoyed bowling with great friends. Having the right bowling equipment in your hands including following the transitions in every game you bowl in a plus. To have the physical game, as well the mental game is a plus in my book. The object is to help your teammates in the Team event as well as in Doubles and if you are at the top of your division, the covenant Eagle trophy will be in your hands.”

“For me, not knowing what pattern it was and how long in length. I had to get a guess during warm ups. In the Teams event you get ten minutes but in Doubles/ Singles you get six minutes. I tried each ball I brought on different shots on the lanes until I felt comfortable. I tried to move my target 2-1 and my eyes as well. But I kept throwing it in an area I knew was out of bounds and I kept trying to do it hoping I can break it down. But it never did and what I thought would work. I had the equipment and didn’t get the job done.”

“I will be ready for it in 2026, but until then, I’ll enter some tournaments so I can get the feeling of different shots since with Nationals, you only get one shot at it.”

David Courtney

In closing, I want to say again that I’m thankful for participating in my first Nationals event and with such a great group of people. A very humbling experience overall. It was challenging and frustrating but this only made each bit of success that much sweeter.

Thanks again to Micheal McKay for all of the organizing work you do and for pulling this great group together. And thanks to all of you, my teammates, who helped make this article possible by sharing your love and passion for this great sport.

And, for those of you who were able to bring back great scores from the Nationals to talk with family and friends about, congratulations, I envy you. For me, and some others, what happened in Vegas, stays in Vegas 😉.

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