Loschetter battles back at 2017 USBC Masters
February 24, 2017
LAS VEGAS - The road through the elimination bracket at the United States Bowling Congress Masters can seem endless.
After falling in the second round of the 2016 USBC Masters in Indianapolis, Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio, had seven rounds to advance through to keep his tournament hopes afloat in the double-elimination bracket.
Seven matches and 21 games later, the two-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist had earned the No. 3 seed for the televised stepladder finals, where he eventually finished fourth.
Loschetter's resilience and ability to fight on the lanes never was in doubt as he continued to advance at Indianapolis' Woodland Bowl, and he showed those same characteristics recently as he has battled and defeated testicular cancer.
The 36-year-old right-hander first noticed something wasn't right prior to the 2015 U.S. Open in Garland, Texas.
"Right before the U.S. Open, I noticed a lump," Loschetter said. "After I came back, I got it checked out and knew something was up. I got a call back after the ultrasound and was told to return right away. They told me I had cancer. That was actually the day before I was going to leave for the World Series (of Bowling), and I received clearance from the doctors to compete. When I got back, I had surgery and thought everything was fine, since we caught it really early."
Loschetter hoped he'd left cancer in his rear view mirror as he made his run at the 2016 Masters, but a check-up in July left him having to show his resilience once again.
"Unfortunately in July, we found out that the cancer had spread to my abdomen before everything was removed," Loschetter said. "I started chemotherapy on Aug. 1, and the only way to describe that is that it was brutal. I have great parents who came up and helped me out, one of my best friends from college also came and helped and my wife was incredibly supportive. Everybody really chipped in, since we also have a young son at home who's now almost 2, and they had to take care of two people instead of just one."
After completing chemotherapy and besting cancer once again, Loschetter began to look toward a return to the lanes.
Despite a slow start, he made his way to Las Vegas in October and November for three events, where he claimed his second career title as a member of Merica Rooster Illusion at the PBA Team Challenge.
"Bowling the first time after chemo was really tough," Loschetter said. "I threw like six frames and was done. I was completely out of breath. I went back a couple of days later and was able to get through a game. A few days later, a game and a half, and about two weeks later, I could throw eight or nine games in a session. I definitely wasn't 100 percent for the events in Las Vegas, but I was fortunate to be a part of a great team to get a win. That came out of nowhere."
Loschetter now feels he's back at full strength and earned the No. 16 seed in the match-play bracket at the 2017 Masters after posting a 3,359 total through his 15 qualifying games, a 223.93 average.
"It took until about January before I felt like I was 100 percent again," Loschetter said. "I lost a lot of muscle, so now I've been able to get back to working out and gaining that muscle back."
He defeated No. 49 DeeRonn Booker of Anaheim, California, in Friday's opening round at The Orleans Bowling Center and will continue his march back to the TV show by taking on USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, in the second round.
Bracket play will continue through Friday and Saturday, and the finals for the 2017 event will be broadcast live on ESPN on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.
"I always have high expectations at this tournament and have found some success in the past," Loschetter said. "Last year's performance really helped me a lot. Earlier in my career, if I had lost that early, I would have thought it was hopeless. After winning seven in a row last year and knowing it's possible, I know I can bounce back if I find myself in that situation again. I'm happy with the position I'm in, but I know the tournament starts again in the bracket."
After falling in the second round of the 2016 USBC Masters in Indianapolis, Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio, had seven rounds to advance through to keep his tournament hopes afloat in the double-elimination bracket.
Seven matches and 21 games later, the two-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist had earned the No. 3 seed for the televised stepladder finals, where he eventually finished fourth.
Loschetter's resilience and ability to fight on the lanes never was in doubt as he continued to advance at Indianapolis' Woodland Bowl, and he showed those same characteristics recently as he has battled and defeated testicular cancer.
The 36-year-old right-hander first noticed something wasn't right prior to the 2015 U.S. Open in Garland, Texas.
"Right before the U.S. Open, I noticed a lump," Loschetter said. "After I came back, I got it checked out and knew something was up. I got a call back after the ultrasound and was told to return right away. They told me I had cancer. That was actually the day before I was going to leave for the World Series (of Bowling), and I received clearance from the doctors to compete. When I got back, I had surgery and thought everything was fine, since we caught it really early."
Loschetter hoped he'd left cancer in his rear view mirror as he made his run at the 2016 Masters, but a check-up in July left him having to show his resilience once again.
"Unfortunately in July, we found out that the cancer had spread to my abdomen before everything was removed," Loschetter said. "I started chemotherapy on Aug. 1, and the only way to describe that is that it was brutal. I have great parents who came up and helped me out, one of my best friends from college also came and helped and my wife was incredibly supportive. Everybody really chipped in, since we also have a young son at home who's now almost 2, and they had to take care of two people instead of just one."
After completing chemotherapy and besting cancer once again, Loschetter began to look toward a return to the lanes.
Despite a slow start, he made his way to Las Vegas in October and November for three events, where he claimed his second career title as a member of Merica Rooster Illusion at the PBA Team Challenge.
"Bowling the first time after chemo was really tough," Loschetter said. "I threw like six frames and was done. I was completely out of breath. I went back a couple of days later and was able to get through a game. A few days later, a game and a half, and about two weeks later, I could throw eight or nine games in a session. I definitely wasn't 100 percent for the events in Las Vegas, but I was fortunate to be a part of a great team to get a win. That came out of nowhere."
Loschetter now feels he's back at full strength and earned the No. 16 seed in the match-play bracket at the 2017 Masters after posting a 3,359 total through his 15 qualifying games, a 223.93 average.
"It took until about January before I felt like I was 100 percent again," Loschetter said. "I lost a lot of muscle, so now I've been able to get back to working out and gaining that muscle back."
He defeated No. 49 DeeRonn Booker of Anaheim, California, in Friday's opening round at The Orleans Bowling Center and will continue his march back to the TV show by taking on USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, in the second round.
Bracket play will continue through Friday and Saturday, and the finals for the 2017 event will be broadcast live on ESPN on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.
"I always have high expectations at this tournament and have found some success in the past," Loschetter said. "Last year's performance really helped me a lot. Earlier in my career, if I had lost that early, I would have thought it was hopeless. After winning seven in a row last year and knowing it's possible, I know I can bounce back if I find myself in that situation again. I'm happy with the position I'm in, but I know the tournament starts again in the bracket."