Ohio bowler takes Standard All-Events lead at 2022 USBC Open Championships
May 21, 2022
By Nick Bonsanto
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Dustin Sword of Rittman, Ohio, took the lead in Standard All-Events with a record score in the division Friday at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Sword compiled sets of 702 in team, 672 in doubles and 620 in singles to post the record total of 1,994. Gregory Witt of Phoenix had been leading Standard All-Events since March 15 with a total of 1,982.
Witt also had held the record for the highest all-events total in the Standard Division since its introduction at the 2017 event.
The 30-year-old right-hander stepped up in the 10th frame of his final game at the South Point Bowling Plaza with several scenarios to take the outright lead. He needed at least eight on his first delivery to keep his hopes intact.
Sword removed all doubt by opening the 10th with a strike to seal the deal and the Standard All-Events lead. He knew exactly what he needed at the time.
"I definitely knew," Sword said. "I knew that 1,982 was sitting on top."
Sword, who started his singles set with 228, did start to see things change in Game 2 of singles and was feeling things tighten up for him at that point.
"I did feel it a little," Sword said. "The lanes were tightening up, and I started to box myself in mentally as well in the second game of singles. After that 181 in Game 2, I put myself in a pickle."
He finished his final game of singles with 211.
With the lead in Standard All-Events at the 129-day USBC Open Championships, which ends this year on July 18, one would think Sword would be watching the scoreboard from home in Ohio.
"I'm not going to watch for at least the first week," Sword explained. "I'm going to take a break for a week and not make myself too anxious, but I will watch it after that week."
Getting his game to this level has been a struggle physically for Sword, who tore his bicep five years ago. It took him a lot of time and hard work to get to this day.
"It was a struggle for several years to get back to form after the injury," said Sword, who made his fifth consecutive Open Championships appearance. "I took plenty of physical therapy and slowly worked my way back."
While reflecting on his accomplishments and holding the lead at the Open Championships, Sword said, "Bowling well in this tournament always means the most. Finally getting to prove myself feels good."
Standard All-Events consists of bowlers with an entering average of 156-175.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Dustin Sword of Rittman, Ohio, took the lead in Standard All-Events with a record score in the division Friday at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Sword compiled sets of 702 in team, 672 in doubles and 620 in singles to post the record total of 1,994. Gregory Witt of Phoenix had been leading Standard All-Events since March 15 with a total of 1,982.
Witt also had held the record for the highest all-events total in the Standard Division since its introduction at the 2017 event.
The 30-year-old right-hander stepped up in the 10th frame of his final game at the South Point Bowling Plaza with several scenarios to take the outright lead. He needed at least eight on his first delivery to keep his hopes intact.
Sword removed all doubt by opening the 10th with a strike to seal the deal and the Standard All-Events lead. He knew exactly what he needed at the time.
"I definitely knew," Sword said. "I knew that 1,982 was sitting on top."
Sword, who started his singles set with 228, did start to see things change in Game 2 of singles and was feeling things tighten up for him at that point.
"I did feel it a little," Sword said. "The lanes were tightening up, and I started to box myself in mentally as well in the second game of singles. After that 181 in Game 2, I put myself in a pickle."
He finished his final game of singles with 211.
With the lead in Standard All-Events at the 129-day USBC Open Championships, which ends this year on July 18, one would think Sword would be watching the scoreboard from home in Ohio.
"I'm not going to watch for at least the first week," Sword explained. "I'm going to take a break for a week and not make myself too anxious, but I will watch it after that week."
Getting his game to this level has been a struggle physically for Sword, who tore his bicep five years ago. It took him a lot of time and hard work to get to this day.
"It was a struggle for several years to get back to form after the injury," said Sword, who made his fifth consecutive Open Championships appearance. "I took plenty of physical therapy and slowly worked my way back."
While reflecting on his accomplishments and holding the lead at the Open Championships, Sword said, "Bowling well in this tournament always means the most. Finally getting to prove myself feels good."
Standard All-Events consists of bowlers with an entering average of 156-175.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.