Illinois bowler honored for 50 years at USBC Open Championships
June 19, 2026
RENO, Nev. – From 37 years as a proprietor of a bowling center to 50 appearances at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, it’s safe to say that Tom Sims of Lisle, Illinois, has showcased some impressive dedication throughout his journey in the sport.
Sims recently celebrated his milestone appearance at the USBC Open Championships and was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to recognize his longevity at the event.
During his presentation at the National Bowling Stadium, Sims was joined by his wife, Kimberly, and longtime teammates and friends, Michael Nape Sr. and Gregg Zicha.
Sims’ time in bowling has seen him wear many hats, most notably as the owner of Fox Bowl in Wheaton, Illinois.
“I owned my own center for 37 years, and my family had been in the bowling business since 1954,” Sims said. “I originally bought Fox Bowl when I was 26 years old. I’ve been state president, on the national board of directors for the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and after I sold the business 10 years ago, I took a job as tournament director with the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association.”
While Sims was seeing the center stay busy year after year, he also started to accumulate appearances at the Open Championships. His first stop was in Dayton, Ohio, during the 1975 event, and he’s made his annual trek to compete in each edition since 1977.
He secured his first all-events score north of 1,800 (200 average across nine games) during the 1979 event in Tampa, Florida (1,864), and posted one of his most memorable performances during the 1982 tournament in Baltimore.
Pairing with Al Bruder – who had won Regular Doubles with Jim Kontos and Team All-Events with Cook County Tobacco No. 2 in 1981 – they combined for a 1,341 total to finish the year in fourth place. Sims rolled 679 in the performance, while Bruder added 662.
“That year, I was a replacement on the team that had won Team All-Events the year before,” said Sims, a member of the Suburban Windy City USBC Hall of Fame. “I was Mike Steinbach’s replacement – he was PBA Rookie of the Year (1982) and someone I sponsored on tour. I was kind of a last-minute fill-in and got to bowl with the defending doubles champion – Al Bruder.
“I think he would have been the first bowler to ever win back-to-back doubles titles, and we missed by about 20 pins.”
Although they didn’t capture the victory that year, Sims has seen the Fox Bowl name all over the tournament’s leaderboard. Several members of his group have claimed Eagles at the tournament as well.
In 1998, Rick Hara and Keith Klenck won Regular Doubles at the National Bowling Stadium with a 1,455 total. Three years later in Reno, Bob Udseth and Zicha recorded the victory in doubles with 1,449.
Zicha earned his second title in 2008 alongside Nape, Anthony Jordan, Walter Schaub II and Pete Spreadbury as Fox Bowl 2 captured Team All-Events in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a 10,025 total.
“It’s a great tradition there, and every time they step on the lanes they have a chance to win,” Sims said. “It was great to see them win Team All-Events – they put everything together and it was phenomenal. I have nine plaques for top 10 team finishes, and we’ve had four winners in the doubles event.”
The groups that Sims brought to the tournament certainly were looking to attain championship glory, but the experience shared together also served as an important factor.
“It was business for us when we came to the tournament,” Sims said. “I sponsored the two teams, and back then, everything was in cash, so I had to bring a money belt. At the end of the day, we never had a year where we came up short. When I would make my way back to Chicago, my money belt was full to the max, but I had pockets, too.
“But, even though it was a business trip for us, we always made it fun at the end.”
He noted the trips to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as highlights due to the close proximity to New Orleans and a long drive to Billings, Montana, in 2002.
“Billings was interesting, since we drove there nonstop in a van with five guys in it – we just rotated driving,” Sims said. “In the middle of the night, we were so worried we were going to run out of gas because we didn’t see another car for hours at a time and every place was closed. But, we did make it.”
Sims was able to take in his first 50-year presentation during the 2025 event as teammate Thomas Carter of Aurora, Illinois, reached the milestone. As he reflected on his own road to 50 appearances, Sims appreciated all he’s worked through to compete year after year.
“Just to make it through all these events – I’ve had two knee replacements and a hip replacement and I still made it through all those years,” Sims said.
With his 50th tournament now complete, Sims has a career pinfall of 86,335 at the Open Championships for an average of 194.4.
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Sims recently celebrated his milestone appearance at the USBC Open Championships and was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to recognize his longevity at the event.
During his presentation at the National Bowling Stadium, Sims was joined by his wife, Kimberly, and longtime teammates and friends, Michael Nape Sr. and Gregg Zicha.
Sims’ time in bowling has seen him wear many hats, most notably as the owner of Fox Bowl in Wheaton, Illinois.
“I owned my own center for 37 years, and my family had been in the bowling business since 1954,” Sims said. “I originally bought Fox Bowl when I was 26 years old. I’ve been state president, on the national board of directors for the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and after I sold the business 10 years ago, I took a job as tournament director with the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association.”
While Sims was seeing the center stay busy year after year, he also started to accumulate appearances at the Open Championships. His first stop was in Dayton, Ohio, during the 1975 event, and he’s made his annual trek to compete in each edition since 1977.
He secured his first all-events score north of 1,800 (200 average across nine games) during the 1979 event in Tampa, Florida (1,864), and posted one of his most memorable performances during the 1982 tournament in Baltimore.
Pairing with Al Bruder – who had won Regular Doubles with Jim Kontos and Team All-Events with Cook County Tobacco No. 2 in 1981 – they combined for a 1,341 total to finish the year in fourth place. Sims rolled 679 in the performance, while Bruder added 662.
“That year, I was a replacement on the team that had won Team All-Events the year before,” said Sims, a member of the Suburban Windy City USBC Hall of Fame. “I was Mike Steinbach’s replacement – he was PBA Rookie of the Year (1982) and someone I sponsored on tour. I was kind of a last-minute fill-in and got to bowl with the defending doubles champion – Al Bruder.
“I think he would have been the first bowler to ever win back-to-back doubles titles, and we missed by about 20 pins.”
Although they didn’t capture the victory that year, Sims has seen the Fox Bowl name all over the tournament’s leaderboard. Several members of his group have claimed Eagles at the tournament as well.
In 1998, Rick Hara and Keith Klenck won Regular Doubles at the National Bowling Stadium with a 1,455 total. Three years later in Reno, Bob Udseth and Zicha recorded the victory in doubles with 1,449.
Zicha earned his second title in 2008 alongside Nape, Anthony Jordan, Walter Schaub II and Pete Spreadbury as Fox Bowl 2 captured Team All-Events in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a 10,025 total.
“It’s a great tradition there, and every time they step on the lanes they have a chance to win,” Sims said. “It was great to see them win Team All-Events – they put everything together and it was phenomenal. I have nine plaques for top 10 team finishes, and we’ve had four winners in the doubles event.”
The groups that Sims brought to the tournament certainly were looking to attain championship glory, but the experience shared together also served as an important factor.
“It was business for us when we came to the tournament,” Sims said. “I sponsored the two teams, and back then, everything was in cash, so I had to bring a money belt. At the end of the day, we never had a year where we came up short. When I would make my way back to Chicago, my money belt was full to the max, but I had pockets, too.
“But, even though it was a business trip for us, we always made it fun at the end.”
He noted the trips to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as highlights due to the close proximity to New Orleans and a long drive to Billings, Montana, in 2002.
“Billings was interesting, since we drove there nonstop in a van with five guys in it – we just rotated driving,” Sims said. “In the middle of the night, we were so worried we were going to run out of gas because we didn’t see another car for hours at a time and every place was closed. But, we did make it.”
Sims was able to take in his first 50-year presentation during the 2025 event as teammate Thomas Carter of Aurora, Illinois, reached the milestone. As he reflected on his own road to 50 appearances, Sims appreciated all he’s worked through to compete year after year.
“Just to make it through all these events – I’ve had two knee replacements and a hip replacement and I still made it through all those years,” Sims said.
With his 50th tournament now complete, Sims has a career pinfall of 86,335 at the Open Championships for an average of 194.4.
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.