Ohio bowler reaches 50-year milestone at 2021 USBC Open Championships
May 18, 2021
By Hope Parsons
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Past surveys at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships have indicated that one of the top reasons bowlers didn't compete in the tournament sooner was because no one invited them.
More than 50 years after his first trip to the event, Denny Bluck of West Lafayette, Ohio, still is appreciative of the gentleman who asked him to participate, and he has collected a lifetime of priceless memories thanks to that initial invite.
The 78-year-old right-hander bowler is a retired teacher and coach who fell into bowling and has stuck with the sport ever since his co-workers got him into it.
Bluck's debut at the USBC Open Championships came at the 1969 event in Madison, Wisconsin, and he was recognized this week in Las Vegas for reaching 50 years of participation.
He had a memorable first tournament, rolling a 629 series in singles on the way to a 1,712 all-events total. He has been to nearly every event since, and he has traveled to almost 20 states to compete.
Prior to his team event Saturday, Bluck was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his entrance into the 50-Year Club.
"I am very thankful for health good enough to bowl in 50 Open Championships," said Bluck, who credits 45-time Open Championships participant Jerry Knoop for bringing him to the tournament for the first time.
Bluck was joined on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza by some former students wanting to bowl alongside him and help celebrate the huge milestone.
Dan Swiger of Sidney, Ohio, was coached by Bluck in football when he was in seventh grade, and he has enjoyed the tradition of bowling alongside his mentor.
"This is my 40th year at Open Championships, and I've been bowling together with Denny forever," Swiger said. "I hope I can continue bowling until I'm 77 and keep doing what I love."
Swiger was very excited to be at the ceremony in person and is inspired by how dedicated Bluck is to the sport. Swiger, and Bluck's other friends and teammates, were proud to be there to watch him receive such a prestigious award for his outstanding dedication.
On the lanes this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza and South Point Bowling Center, Bluck rolled sets of 480 in doubles, 477 in team and 436 in singles for a 1,393 all-events total.
In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 79,529 pins for a career average of 179.1.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Past surveys at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships have indicated that one of the top reasons bowlers didn't compete in the tournament sooner was because no one invited them.
More than 50 years after his first trip to the event, Denny Bluck of West Lafayette, Ohio, still is appreciative of the gentleman who asked him to participate, and he has collected a lifetime of priceless memories thanks to that initial invite.
The 78-year-old right-hander bowler is a retired teacher and coach who fell into bowling and has stuck with the sport ever since his co-workers got him into it.
Bluck's debut at the USBC Open Championships came at the 1969 event in Madison, Wisconsin, and he was recognized this week in Las Vegas for reaching 50 years of participation.
He had a memorable first tournament, rolling a 629 series in singles on the way to a 1,712 all-events total. He has been to nearly every event since, and he has traveled to almost 20 states to compete.
Prior to his team event Saturday, Bluck was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his entrance into the 50-Year Club.
"I am very thankful for health good enough to bowl in 50 Open Championships," said Bluck, who credits 45-time Open Championships participant Jerry Knoop for bringing him to the tournament for the first time.
Bluck was joined on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza by some former students wanting to bowl alongside him and help celebrate the huge milestone.
Dan Swiger of Sidney, Ohio, was coached by Bluck in football when he was in seventh grade, and he has enjoyed the tradition of bowling alongside his mentor.
"This is my 40th year at Open Championships, and I've been bowling together with Denny forever," Swiger said. "I hope I can continue bowling until I'm 77 and keep doing what I love."
Swiger was very excited to be at the ceremony in person and is inspired by how dedicated Bluck is to the sport. Swiger, and Bluck's other friends and teammates, were proud to be there to watch him receive such a prestigious award for his outstanding dedication.
On the lanes this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza and South Point Bowling Center, Bluck rolled sets of 480 in doubles, 477 in team and 436 in singles for a 1,393 all-events total.
In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 79,529 pins for a career average of 179.1.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.