Iowa bowler joins 50-Year Club at 2026 USBC Open Championships
April 25, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Emmett Tragord of Evansdale, Iowa, spoke of the “little things you never forget” looking back on his path to 50 consecutive appearances at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
From driving to Oklahoma City in 1976 for his tournament debut to big scores in Billings, Montana, in 2002, the moments that make each trip special have stood out to the 68-year-old competitor.
Tragord was celebrated for his longevity Monday at the National Bowling Stadium, surrounded by family and friends. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the moment, and he shared the spotlight at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins alongside his wife, Patsy, during the presentation.
“My wife was here, along with my two daughters, Ashley and Heather, and my oldest sister, Colleen, and her husband,” Tragord said. “They were really impressed with the presentation and all that, so it was a good thing. They really liked it.
“I was really nervous walking out in front of everyone. I don’t like talking in front of people like that. But, when I was in the back and they were giving me the plaque, I didn’t expect the whole room to clap and cheer. It kind of choked me up a little bit.”
At next year’s event in Las Vegas, Tragord will get to be on the other side of the celebration as longtime teammate and friend Joseph Engelkes of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will prepare for his 50th consecutive appearance.
Tragord also is thankful to Engelkes for his role in coordinating their group each year.
“Joe’s been with me for 49 of the 50 years,” Tragord said. “He didn’t start until the year after I did. We bowl together back home and see each other all the time, and I think he can’t wait to get here next year and go through what I just did.
“You need a good captain to line things up, and Joe has always done that for us.”
The final piece of excitement in 2026 for Tragord was watching another longtime teammate and friend – Kurt Krull of Cedar Falls, Iowa – roll 300 during his final game of singles Tuesday at the NBS.
“We bowl with Kurt a lot, and it’s not unusual – when he gets lined up, there’s nobody better,” Tragord said.
While Tragord certainly has enjoyed watching his friends find success at the Open Championships, he’s had his fair share of strong performances on the tournament lanes.
The big scores in Billings included a 299 game in his team event on the way to a 734 series, and he closed the 2002 tournament with his top all-events score (2,019). There also was a nice win in the 1-5-9 Strike Jackpot.
“That’s when they first started the 1-5-9 Jackpot,” Tragord said. “I needed the one in the ninth frame of the last game to win that – it was like $1,800. I was splitting with Kurt and Joe if one of us did it. I’ll never forget, I got the ninth one and Kurt was cheering. I said, ‘Yeah, I did it.’ He about picked me up, and I said, ‘No, I won the 1-5-9 Jackpot.’ He got a cut of that. He didn’t even know I was in that.”
At the 2008 Open Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he connected for his highest three-game set (750) in singles to finish the year tied for 31st in the Regular Division.
In 2012, he led Fran’s Pro Shop 1 into the top 10 of Regular Team with a 3,239 total, posting a 678 series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team finished the year in 11th place.
The group that year featured Tragord, Engelkes, Krull, Gordon Kilpatrick and Matt Smith.
In 50 appearances at the Open Championships, Tragord has carried an average of 193.5, toppling 87,119 pins.
Looking ahead, he has his sights set on reaching 100,000 pins at the tournament. He’s battled some health issues in recent years, though, but he plans to keep the event on the schedule as long as he continues to enjoy it.
“It became a routine – every year we went to state, then nationals,” Tragord said. “As long as I have fun doing it, I’m going to keep coming back and chase that 100,000 goal. But, I have to make it that long. I’ve battled through cancer, but I’ve had some other health problems. I just love bowling, through – that’s what keeps me coming back. Plus, I get to go on vacation with my really good friends and look forward to it each year.”
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.
From driving to Oklahoma City in 1976 for his tournament debut to big scores in Billings, Montana, in 2002, the moments that make each trip special have stood out to the 68-year-old competitor.
Tragord was celebrated for his longevity Monday at the National Bowling Stadium, surrounded by family and friends. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the moment, and he shared the spotlight at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins alongside his wife, Patsy, during the presentation.
“My wife was here, along with my two daughters, Ashley and Heather, and my oldest sister, Colleen, and her husband,” Tragord said. “They were really impressed with the presentation and all that, so it was a good thing. They really liked it.
“I was really nervous walking out in front of everyone. I don’t like talking in front of people like that. But, when I was in the back and they were giving me the plaque, I didn’t expect the whole room to clap and cheer. It kind of choked me up a little bit.”
At next year’s event in Las Vegas, Tragord will get to be on the other side of the celebration as longtime teammate and friend Joseph Engelkes of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will prepare for his 50th consecutive appearance.
Tragord also is thankful to Engelkes for his role in coordinating their group each year.
“Joe’s been with me for 49 of the 50 years,” Tragord said. “He didn’t start until the year after I did. We bowl together back home and see each other all the time, and I think he can’t wait to get here next year and go through what I just did.
“You need a good captain to line things up, and Joe has always done that for us.”
The final piece of excitement in 2026 for Tragord was watching another longtime teammate and friend – Kurt Krull of Cedar Falls, Iowa – roll 300 during his final game of singles Tuesday at the NBS.
“We bowl with Kurt a lot, and it’s not unusual – when he gets lined up, there’s nobody better,” Tragord said.
While Tragord certainly has enjoyed watching his friends find success at the Open Championships, he’s had his fair share of strong performances on the tournament lanes.
The big scores in Billings included a 299 game in his team event on the way to a 734 series, and he closed the 2002 tournament with his top all-events score (2,019). There also was a nice win in the 1-5-9 Strike Jackpot.
“That’s when they first started the 1-5-9 Jackpot,” Tragord said. “I needed the one in the ninth frame of the last game to win that – it was like $1,800. I was splitting with Kurt and Joe if one of us did it. I’ll never forget, I got the ninth one and Kurt was cheering. I said, ‘Yeah, I did it.’ He about picked me up, and I said, ‘No, I won the 1-5-9 Jackpot.’ He got a cut of that. He didn’t even know I was in that.”
At the 2008 Open Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he connected for his highest three-game set (750) in singles to finish the year tied for 31st in the Regular Division.
In 2012, he led Fran’s Pro Shop 1 into the top 10 of Regular Team with a 3,239 total, posting a 678 series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team finished the year in 11th place.
The group that year featured Tragord, Engelkes, Krull, Gordon Kilpatrick and Matt Smith.
In 50 appearances at the Open Championships, Tragord has carried an average of 193.5, toppling 87,119 pins.
Looking ahead, he has his sights set on reaching 100,000 pins at the tournament. He’s battled some health issues in recent years, though, but he plans to keep the event on the schedule as long as he continues to enjoy it.
“It became a routine – every year we went to state, then nationals,” Tragord said. “As long as I have fun doing it, I’m going to keep coming back and chase that 100,000 goal. But, I have to make it that long. I’ve battled through cancer, but I’ve had some other health problems. I just love bowling, through – that’s what keeps me coming back. Plus, I get to go on vacation with my really good friends and look forward to it each year.”
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.