Beatthechamps

The 2026 Beat the Champs Tournament Concludes at Palos Lanes – Men’s Champion Edges Runner-Up by One Pin

The 63rd Annual Beat the Champs Adult Division Finals crowned two new champions, each taking home the $10,000 first-place prize. The finals, held at Palos Lanes in Palos Hills, Illinois, on March 15, 2026, concluded the tournament, which began on the first Sunday in December and secured 13,863 entries—up 2% compared to the previous year.

One pin separated the Men’s Champion, Anthony Sheridan of Fox Bowl, from second-place finisher Justin Jones of Skyway Bowl, 1042 to 1041. In the Women’s Division, Nadine Louise Blecke of Wood Dale Bowl racked up a score of 1041 to defeat runner-up Judy Shaver of Poplar Creek Bowl, who shot 1009.

The event, which was sponsored and conducted by the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors’ Association, Storm Bowling, and Coolwick Apparel, welcomed a visit from last week’s PBA U.S. Open Champion, Patrick Dombrowski, who secured his first national touring title; he is currently an 11-time PBA Regional Champion. Dombrowski was a constant presence at the bowling center throughout the day, taking photos, signing autographs, and participating in the presentation of awards for both the morning’s 4th Annual Youth Championships as well as during the adult competition.

Illinois State BPA Tournament Director Tom Sims spoke about what makes the Beat the Champs Tournament so special: “In addition to the long history of the event, we are most proud that throughout its history all net proceeds generated from this prestigious tournament are donated to charity.” As during the prior two years, the 2026 net proceeds will be donated to the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) and are expected to total more than $14,000 in donations —up 30% compared to the prior year.

The prize list is below.

The 2026 Beat the Champs Tournament Concludes at Palos Lanes
The 4th Annual Beat the Champs Youth Division Finals crowned four champions at Palos Lanes in Palos Hills, Illinois, on March 15, 2026. The event, sponsored by the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors’ Association, Storm Bowling, and – Coolwick Apparel, awarded titles across four divisions:

Girls 12-17 Champion:
Natalie Abruzzo, Don Carter Lanes, Rockford, Ill. – 773

Boys 12-17 Champion:
Liam Letherby, Laraway Lanes, New Lenox, Ill. – 794

Girls 11 & Under Champion:
Arya Vargas, Habetler Bowl, Ill. – 759

Boys 11 & Under Champion:
Jase Royal, Laraway Lanes, New Lenox, Ill. – 724

The scoring was high, and the pace was quick, with all three games completed in less than 90 minutes. Laraway Lanes claimed both boys' titles. The Youth Division, added in 2023, has been a key complement to the historic Beat the Champs Tournament, now in its 63rd year. Adding to the excitement of the event, the 2026 PBA US Open Champion Patrick Dombrowski attended the event and participated in the presentations of awards.

As in previous years, all net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to charity. This year’s donation will once again be directed to the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL), an organization dedicated to brightening the lives of veterans. This donation is expected to exceed $14,000, up from a year-ago, assisted by a growth in entries.

Prize list below.

ISBPA Wraps Up Busy Week with Competition

The past few days have been busy ones for the Illinois State BPA Tournament office. On Thursday evening, the association hosted its 63rd Beat the Champs Target Show, live streamed by event sponsor Storm Bowling. Legends Pete Weber and Leanne Hulsenberg were joined by youth bowling standouts Jos Weems and Anna Antony, dazzling the 250 fans in attendance with both their on-lane performances and entertaining off-lane banter. It was a tremendously fun event, and the ISBPA greatly appreciates the contributions made by all participating bowlers.

The ISBPA would also like to thank Storm’s Gary Hulsenberg, Blair Blumenscheid, Emil Williams, and Bill Spigner for their partnership and professionalism in producing the live stream. A special shout-out goes to second sponsor Coolwick Apparel for distributing merchandise to fans throughout the evening.

Just two days later, the ISBPA welcomed 128 teams to compete in the Kegel / ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic. Tournament management group H2M elevated the event by increasing the field size by 20 percent compared to the previous year. The ISBPA thanks Nick Hoagland and Steve Harman for their vision and congratulates them on running another successful event.

The ISBPA also thanks the bowlers and coaches who competed in this Tier 1 event and congratulates Calumet College of St. Joseph for winning the men’s division and Mount Mercy for capturing its second consecutive women’s title.

All-Tournament Team Men:
Luke Winter, Wisconsin–Whitewater
Jacob Bockstie, Mount Mercy
Nate Trentler, Calumet
Mason Doan, Calumet
Aidan Furukawa, SCAD–Savannah

All-Tournament Team Women:
Rachel Moore, Culver–Stockton
Ashley Gorman, William Penn
Zandria Davis, Oklahoma Christian
Hailey Bozych, Lindenwood
Kenzi Nieman, Rochester Christian

63rd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show

The 63rd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show, featuring Hall of Fame bowlers Pete Weber and Leanne Hulsenberg,

alongside youth standouts Jos Weems and Anna Antony, delivered an exciting showcase of talent at Arena Lanes in Oak Lawn, Illinois, on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Sixteen-year-old Jos Weems stole the spotlight by rolling a remarkable 759 series to post the highest score of the event.

Approximately 250 bowling fans filled the center and enjoyed the spirited interactions between the bowlers and the fans.

The Beat the Champs Tournament was conducted during a weeklong in-house league qualifying round, with scores recorded throughout the week. The top scores, including handicap, will advance to qualifying rounds beginning in February. Bowlers advancing to the next zone finals will be notified in early February.

The Target Score Show honors the long-standing tradition of the tournament, which originally awarded an “I Beat the Champ” patch to bowlers who surpassed scores set by the professional competitors. While the format has evolved, today’s participants can access and print artist-rendered images of the bowlers competing in the Target Score Show through online access.

As part of the tournament’s tradition, all net proceeds are donated to charity. This year’s beneficiary is Bowlers to Veteran Links, an organization that provides funding for programs benefiting veterans’ needs. In addition, during the Target Score Show, strikes recorded in the 5th and 10th frames triggered additional donations to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah.

Event sponsors included Storm Bowling, Coolwick Apparel, and the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors’ Association. Fans can watch footage from the event at
https://www.facebook.com/StormisBowling
or https://www.youtube.com/

Adult Target Scores…
Pete Weber: 238, 237, 202 --- 677
Leanne Hulsenberg: 210, 169, 223 --- 602

Youth Child Scores…
Jos Weems: 226, 289, 244 --- 759
Anna Antony: 225, 205, 220 --- 650

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
2026 Beat the Champs Live Stream Show
Thursday Night, January 15, 2026: 5:00 pm - 6 pm

Featuring: All-Time Greats Pete Weber, Leanne Hulsenberg, with youth sensations Jos Weems and Anna Antony.

Sponsored by: Strom Bowling, Coolwick Apparel and the Illinois State BPA.

Live Stream on at:

- YouTube Welcome to the home for bowling content!

BEAT THE CHAMPS TARGET SCORE GIFTS AVAILABLE NOW

The artist renderings, complements of Storm Bowling, are now available for those bowlers who competed in the 62nd Annual Beat the Champs Contest. Click on the image below to print a copy of the bowlers who competed in the live-streaming show that aired on January 16, 2025, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Youth Division Target Scores
Brady McDonough --- 709
Malia Briggs --- 592

Adult Division Target Scores
Kyle Troup --- 776
Verity Crawley --- 643

The Field of 64 has been set for both the Adult and Youth Divisions - Norm Duke to Attend Event

Join us for what promises to be a memorable and exciting day at Hillside Bowl on March 16. One-Hundred and Twenty-Eight bowlers will compete to be crowned the 2025 Beat the Champs Contest Champions, one for each of the six divisions. This event has attracted an impressive 14,500 entries representing 45 Illinois State BPA Member Bowling Centers.

Additionally, we are thrilled to announce that PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, Norm Duke, will be attending the event! He will be available for photos and autographs, making this an even more memorable occasion for all attendees.

Event Details
Sunday, March 16
Hillside Bowl, 425 N. Hillside Avenue, Hillside, Illinois 60162
Youth Division: First Ball: 9:30 AM
Adult Division: First Ball: 1:00 PM
Note: Bowlers must check in at least 45 minutes before their scheduled start time.

Prizes........
Adult Division, payable for both divisions:
1st Pl: $10,000; 2nd Pl: $1,000; 3rd Pl: $500; 4th Pl: $250
2nd-4th Pl: Storm Bowling Ball (certificate) and Bag
5th Pl: Storm Bowling Ball (certificate) and Triple Roller Bag
6th Pl: 16th Pl: Storm Bowling Ball (certificate)
17th- 32nd Pl: Storm Triple Roller Bag

Youth Division:
Total Scholarships: $5,000 ($1,250 per division)

Awards per division:
1st Place: $400
2nd Place: $200
3rd & 4th Places: $125 each
5th - 8th Places: $100 each

Don't miss out on an action-packed day of bowling with the chance to meet a legend in the sport! We look forward to seeing you there!

The 62nd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show Concludes with a 300

Youth bowler Brady McDonough made history by shooting a perfect 300 to close out the 62nd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show. “If anyone has to sneeze, please get it out now,” Brady humorously said moments before throwing his 12th strike to seal the first-ever 300 in the history of the event, which was streamed live on YouTube.

The exhibition, held at Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, housed more than 250 fans who watched bowling’s current adult and youth stars bowl to establish the averages that must be beat in order for a participant to receive a gift. The opening round of the tournament had more than 15,000 bowlers who competed in Illinois State BPA (ISBPA) member centers.

Brady had a slow start, posting a 161, but bounced back with a 248 before finishing with his perfect game, totaling 709 for the three games. His youth counterpart, Malia Briggs, began with a 245, followed with a 216, but struggled in her final game with a 131, resulting in a total of 592. Together, the youth duo posted a combined six-game total of 1301, averaging 216.83. In addition to their bowling skills, both youth bowlers are known for their generous social media following, seeing Brady with 57,000 followers, while Malia has a massive current total of 354,000.

On the adult side, professional bowlers Kyle Troup and Verity Crawley also showcased strong performances. Kyle, on fire throughout the competition, posted scores of 257, 289, and 230, totaling 776. He came close to breaking the BtC record of 815, set by Robert Lawrence in 1992, but fell 39 pins short. Verity, from England, who came to the USA to bowl at Webber International University, scored 205, 247, and 191, for a total of 643. The two professionals combined for a six-game total of 1419, averaging 236.5.

As part of the event’s charitable tradition, Charity Strikes, which combines the total number of strikes made during the 5th and 10th frames, are then multiplied by $100 to be donated to charities of the bowlers choosing. The youth bowlers, who made 14 strikes, will be donating $1,400 to the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL); the net proceeds generated by the tournament are also scheduled to be donated to the BVL. The adult bowlers, who registered 10 strikes, have directed $1,000 to be sent to Striking Against Breast Cancer. The Charity Strikes donations were supported by Zoa Energy Drink (for the youth bowlers) and Miller Lite (for the adult bowlers).

The event was broadcast live with commentary from USBC Hall of Famer Bill Spigner and Storm’s Product Marketing Manager Blair Blumenshied. Bowling legend Carmen Salvino made a special appearance, and PBA Commissioner Tom Clark was in attendance as well. Before the competition began, Storm’s Vice President of Marketing, Gary Hulsenberg, presented both Tom Clark and ISBPA Executive Director Keith Hamilton with a custom teal bowling ball, with a hand-painted inscription recognizing that the pair will be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame in May of this year.

The tournament is sponsored and operated by the ISBPA, Storm Bowling, and Coolwick Bowling Apparel. Bowlers who qualify to compete in the Zone Finals will be notified by their participating bowling centers within the next couple of weeks, with the finals taking place on March 16, 2025, at Hillside Bowl in Hillside, Illinois.

To watch the event, click on the link below.
https://youtube.com/live/dV4hUlC8_nU?feature=share

BEAT THE CHAMPS LIVE-STREAMING SHOW TONIGHT
JANUARY 16, 2025 AT 5:00
Kyle Troup and Verity Crawley, will be joined by youth bowlers Brady McDonough and Malia Briggs, to set the Beat the Champs Target Scores for tonight's 5:00 p.m. Live Streaming Show. The exhibition can be accessed through the event's co-sponsor, Storm's, page.

62nd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show Join us for the 62nd Annual Beat the Champs Target Score Show LIVE from Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Kyle Troup and Verity Crawley will be...

STORM / ISBPA BEAT THE CHAMPS TARGET SCORE SHOW
With a special thank you to Storm Bowling, sponsors of the ISBPA Annual Beat the Champs Contest, the posters below can be downloaded and printed for those tournament participants who beat the Target Scores set by Jason Belmonte, Kelly Kulick, Jos Weems and Abigail Starkey, on the January 18 Live Stream Target Score Show.

Jason Belmonte Score = 680 / Jos Weems Score = 627
Kelly Kulick Score = 553 / Abigail Starkey Score = 648

61st Beat the Champs Finals Crowns Two Burr Oak Bowl
League Bowlers as Contest Champions

The 61st Beat the Champs Adult Division finals, held at Mardi Gras Lanes, DeKalb, Ill., witnessed a pair of bowlers from the same center take home $10,000 each. Ladesha Wilson and Mario Jones both represented ISBPA and CBPA member center Burr Oak Bowl enthusiastically took home the coveted first-place prize. The contest secured more than 14,000 bowlers who competed across 45 ISBPA member bowling centers. The top finishers competed across three Zone Finals to narrow the field to the 64 final bowlers who competed on St. Patrick's Day.

Of the 64 bowlers registered to bowl, 63 participated in the finals; the Youth division, which was held prior to the Adults, had 64 of its 64 registered bowlers appear, making this year’s BtC Final the best attended in the contest’s 61-year history. The 2nd-5th place winners in both divisions each took home a Smart Television Set, with bowlers finishing between 6th and 16th took home certificates to receive event sponsor, Storm, bowling balls. The balance of the field each received a 3-Ball Roller Bag.

Once the final numbers are calculated, the net proceeds derived from the tournament operations will be donated to the Bowlers to Veterans Link. Known as the BVL within the bowling circles, BVL will direct the funds to benefit Veterans Homes throughout the State of Illinois.