New leaders emerge in Regular Doubles at 2023 USBC Open Championships
April 19, 2023
RENO, Nev. – When the National Bowling Stadium first opened its doors to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in 1995, a new era in tournament history was ushered in as bowlers made their way to compete in record numbers at the one-of-a-kind venue.
Only a few of those bowlers were able to claim spots as the first champions in the standalone facility, however, helping start a legacy that now spans more than 25 years and countless tournament memories and moments.
Scott Kruppenbacher of Rochester, New York, is one of those bowlers. He teamed with Michael Wambold to win the Regular Doubles title in 1995 with a 1,486 total.
Approximately 28 years later, Kruppenbacher finds himself back at the NBS and at the top of the standings once again in Regular Doubles, pairing with former Junior Team USA member Cassandra Leuthold of Lincoln, Nebraska, to take the lead Wednesday with a 1,388 total at the 2023 event.
Leuthold led the steady effort from the pair, rolling games of 221, 236 and 242 for a 699 series. Kruppenbacher started with 202 and finished with 246 and 241 for a 689 series.
Perry Crowell IV of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and Jeffrey Mastny of Arlington, Nebraska, had taken the lead April 14 with 1,362.
“It’s very exciting and kind of surprising,” said Kruppenbacher, who made his 19th tournament appearance. “I didn’t have a great start to the tournament for my first game of team last night, but we worked together as a team in doubles, talked about equipment selection and how to play and lanes and were able to execute some great shots. It’s really fun to be back here in this position.”
Communication was key for them as they made their way down to the final frames of Game 3. Kruppenbacher put together five consecutive strikes heading into the 10th frame, while Leuthold rolled strikes on her final five deliveries.
“I started off with my Rubicon and thought it looked pretty decent,” said Leuthold, who made her seventh USBC Open Championships appearance. “I started off just being real gentle with it and taking my hand out of it – I let the ball do most of the work. Scott was a little up in the air on his ball choice, so we ran through what he had with him. Using some of my previous experience, I suggested for him to get into his Reality, and it ended up reacting real pleasantly and fit into his wheelhouse.
“We got to a point where we questioned about switching away from it, but the ball was still mixing the pins around. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, so we decided to play it out and see what happened.”
Kruppenbacher bowled in the Open Championships for several years after his win with Wambold in 1995 but had stepped away from the sport for nearly 20 years to focus on work and family before making his return to bowling in 2019.
“I left this game for 18 years and came back four years ago,” Kruppenbacher said. “It’s been a whole new learning experience. I’ve had a lot of help along the way coming back to today’s equipment, lane surfaces and lane transitions. There’s a ton of people I need to thank. Thankfully, everything worked out for the best today.”
Leuthold also made her own return to the tournament after skipping last year’s event due to multiple injuries.
The former collegiate standout at Nebraska and competitor on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour has been working hard off the lanes to come back, and she’s happy to see the preparation she’s taken pay off in her performance Wednesday.
“I have a herniated disc in my neck between C6 and C7,” Leuthold said. “I’ve had a doctor tell me that I need to have a full artificial disc replacement, and another tell me it could heal naturally. I’m trying to go the natural route by making sure I take care of myself physically. The muscle weakness did show today, but I did manage it the best I could and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
“With my lower back injury, it’s going to go back to taking care of myself physically and making sure I’m strong and stable at the foul line.”
Kruppenbacher and Leuthold now will have to wait and see if history will repeat itself in Reno.
As they look forward to seeing if their score can hold its spot at the top of the standings, the experience will be something they can share as they each make their way back home.
“It’s a long time (until the end of the tournament),” Kruppenbacher said. “Is it going to hold up – who knows? It’s a tough lane condition, but there are a lot of excellent bowlers that still are going to run through this tournament. But, just to be in this position for a second time is enough for me. It’s humbling to do this back at the Stadium where it happened in 1995, and I get to share it with a great partner.”
Pictured above (from left): Scott Kruppenbacher and Michael Wambold at the 1995 Open Championships/Scott Kruppenbacher and Cassandra Leuthold at the 2023 Open Championships
Leuthold finished her 2023 event by adding 594 in team and 549 in singles for an all-events total of 1,842. Kruppenbacher had 576 in team and 571 in singles for 1,836.
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Only a few of those bowlers were able to claim spots as the first champions in the standalone facility, however, helping start a legacy that now spans more than 25 years and countless tournament memories and moments.
Scott Kruppenbacher of Rochester, New York, is one of those bowlers. He teamed with Michael Wambold to win the Regular Doubles title in 1995 with a 1,486 total.
Approximately 28 years later, Kruppenbacher finds himself back at the NBS and at the top of the standings once again in Regular Doubles, pairing with former Junior Team USA member Cassandra Leuthold of Lincoln, Nebraska, to take the lead Wednesday with a 1,388 total at the 2023 event.
Leuthold led the steady effort from the pair, rolling games of 221, 236 and 242 for a 699 series. Kruppenbacher started with 202 and finished with 246 and 241 for a 689 series.
Perry Crowell IV of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and Jeffrey Mastny of Arlington, Nebraska, had taken the lead April 14 with 1,362.
“It’s very exciting and kind of surprising,” said Kruppenbacher, who made his 19th tournament appearance. “I didn’t have a great start to the tournament for my first game of team last night, but we worked together as a team in doubles, talked about equipment selection and how to play and lanes and were able to execute some great shots. It’s really fun to be back here in this position.”
Communication was key for them as they made their way down to the final frames of Game 3. Kruppenbacher put together five consecutive strikes heading into the 10th frame, while Leuthold rolled strikes on her final five deliveries.
“I started off with my Rubicon and thought it looked pretty decent,” said Leuthold, who made her seventh USBC Open Championships appearance. “I started off just being real gentle with it and taking my hand out of it – I let the ball do most of the work. Scott was a little up in the air on his ball choice, so we ran through what he had with him. Using some of my previous experience, I suggested for him to get into his Reality, and it ended up reacting real pleasantly and fit into his wheelhouse.
“We got to a point where we questioned about switching away from it, but the ball was still mixing the pins around. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, so we decided to play it out and see what happened.”
Kruppenbacher bowled in the Open Championships for several years after his win with Wambold in 1995 but had stepped away from the sport for nearly 20 years to focus on work and family before making his return to bowling in 2019.
“I left this game for 18 years and came back four years ago,” Kruppenbacher said. “It’s been a whole new learning experience. I’ve had a lot of help along the way coming back to today’s equipment, lane surfaces and lane transitions. There’s a ton of people I need to thank. Thankfully, everything worked out for the best today.”
Leuthold also made her own return to the tournament after skipping last year’s event due to multiple injuries.
The former collegiate standout at Nebraska and competitor on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour has been working hard off the lanes to come back, and she’s happy to see the preparation she’s taken pay off in her performance Wednesday.
“I have a herniated disc in my neck between C6 and C7,” Leuthold said. “I’ve had a doctor tell me that I need to have a full artificial disc replacement, and another tell me it could heal naturally. I’m trying to go the natural route by making sure I take care of myself physically. The muscle weakness did show today, but I did manage it the best I could and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
“With my lower back injury, it’s going to go back to taking care of myself physically and making sure I’m strong and stable at the foul line.”
Kruppenbacher and Leuthold now will have to wait and see if history will repeat itself in Reno.
As they look forward to seeing if their score can hold its spot at the top of the standings, the experience will be something they can share as they each make their way back home.
“It’s a long time (until the end of the tournament),” Kruppenbacher said. “Is it going to hold up – who knows? It’s a tough lane condition, but there are a lot of excellent bowlers that still are going to run through this tournament. But, just to be in this position for a second time is enough for me. It’s humbling to do this back at the Stadium where it happened in 1995, and I get to share it with a great partner.”
Pictured above (from left): Scott Kruppenbacher and Michael Wambold at the 1995 Open Championships/Scott Kruppenbacher and Cassandra Leuthold at the 2023 Open Championships
Leuthold finished her 2023 event by adding 594 in team and 549 in singles for an all-events total of 1,842. Kruppenbacher had 576 in team and 571 in singles for 1,836.
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.