Captain's Corner: Robert Ashley
April 01, 2011
Being a team captain at the USBC Open Championships takes hard work and dedication.
Captains must be well-organized and willing to serve as the team's leader, recruiter, accountant, courier and even travel agent.
This year, the Open Championships is being held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., for the second consecutive year, marking the first time a city has held back-to-back events. With this in mind, USBC challenged team captains to help make the unprecedented return a memorable one.
In order to reward and recognize team captains for their hard work, USBC and the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority formed an exclusive club, THE USBC EAGLE'S NEST.
The Eagle's Nest includes more than 5,900 captains, who brought teams to Reno in 2010 and have signed up to return in 2011, while some went above and beyond, registering four or more teams.
In all, 200 captains have earned "Super Captain" status. Let's meet one now:
Captain: Robert Ashley
Hometown: Centreville, Va.
Age: 45
Number of teams: 4
Date and time of team event: Sunday, March 20 (8:30 p.m.)
Open Championships appearances (through 2010): 13
Favorite host city: Reno
Best Open Championships memory: My highest all-events total came in the 1998 (ABC) Championships in Reno.
My favorite part of the Open Championships experience is: being able to bowl with friends who have left the local area
I am a team captain because: I tend to be detail-oriented about the whole process, which comes from being a league secretary-treasurer for more than 20 years.
The thing I am most looking forward to about the 2011 tournament is: getting together with everyone again and enjoying the perks of being an Eagle's Nest Team Captain. :)
Favorite place to stay in Reno: Eldorado
Two favorite (appropriate) Reno memories: 1. cashing in the 1998 event; 2. bringing eight teams in 2010
Three favorite things to do in Reno when not bowling: 1. Reno Wine Walk; 2. dueling pianos at Rum Bullions; 3. playing some blackjack
Four favorite places to eat in Reno: 1. Brew Brothers; 2. Eldorado buffet; 3. Kokopelli Sushi; 4. Ruby River Steak House
If you only had five minutes to recruit a new bowler, how would you sell the Open Championships: It's the opportunity to bowl at the National Bowling Stadium, compete on a challenging lane pattern, and be part of something special when you walk down Center Aisle.
Captains must be well-organized and willing to serve as the team's leader, recruiter, accountant, courier and even travel agent.
This year, the Open Championships is being held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., for the second consecutive year, marking the first time a city has held back-to-back events. With this in mind, USBC challenged team captains to help make the unprecedented return a memorable one.
In order to reward and recognize team captains for their hard work, USBC and the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority formed an exclusive club, THE USBC EAGLE'S NEST.
The Eagle's Nest includes more than 5,900 captains, who brought teams to Reno in 2010 and have signed up to return in 2011, while some went above and beyond, registering four or more teams.
In all, 200 captains have earned "Super Captain" status. Let's meet one now:
Captain: Robert Ashley
Hometown: Centreville, Va.
Age: 45
Number of teams: 4
Date and time of team event: Sunday, March 20 (8:30 p.m.)
Open Championships appearances (through 2010): 13
Favorite host city: Reno
Best Open Championships memory: My highest all-events total came in the 1998 (ABC) Championships in Reno.
My favorite part of the Open Championships experience is: being able to bowl with friends who have left the local area
I am a team captain because: I tend to be detail-oriented about the whole process, which comes from being a league secretary-treasurer for more than 20 years.
The thing I am most looking forward to about the 2011 tournament is: getting together with everyone again and enjoying the perks of being an Eagle's Nest Team Captain. :)
Favorite place to stay in Reno: Eldorado
Two favorite (appropriate) Reno memories: 1. cashing in the 1998 event; 2. bringing eight teams in 2010
Three favorite things to do in Reno when not bowling: 1. Reno Wine Walk; 2. dueling pianos at Rum Bullions; 3. playing some blackjack
Four favorite places to eat in Reno: 1. Brew Brothers; 2. Eldorado buffet; 3. Kokopelli Sushi; 4. Ruby River Steak House
If you only had five minutes to recruit a new bowler, how would you sell the Open Championships: It's the opportunity to bowl at the National Bowling Stadium, compete on a challenging lane pattern, and be part of something special when you walk down Center Aisle.