Defending champion enjoys experience, but won't repeat at Open Championships
By Matt Cannizzaro and David Ellis USBC Communications
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - In the 103-year history of the Open Championships, no one has ever defended an individual all-events title. This year, Scott Craddock of Allen, Texas, found out why.
In addition to the high expectations he set for himself and the pressure of being the defending champion, all eyes were on Craddock when he was introduced and saw the orange eagle next to his name on scoreboard for the very first time at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall on Sunday.
"Being the last one to march down center aisle and have everyone recognize me as a defending champion was probably the most special moment I've had since I started bowling," said Craddock, who took home last year's Regular All-Events title with a 2,131 nine-game total. "I really didn't think my emotions would get to me, but I was dead wrong."
Craddock bowled with the same group he's been competing with for almost 20 years, and the 38-year-old right-hander posted 598 in singles, 587 in doubles and 546 in team for a 1,731 all-events total. Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., leads Regular All-Events with 2,189.
"I can't think of anybody more special to share this with than those who are here with me right now," said Craddock, an operations manager for Amusements Over Texas. "The people who I bowl with are like my second family and they back me 110 percent. They were as excited as I was about coming back this year, and I know they're all still proud of my performance."
Craddock already is looking ahead to next year in Reno, Nev., where he is hoping that some of the pressure will be gone and his emotions will have returned to normal.
"It's easy to see why no one has repeated as champion because there is so much extra pressure to do well," Craddock said. "I'm not disappointed with the way I bowled, even if I'm a little unhappy. People can set unrealistic goals sometimes, and I knew that there was a possibility that between dealing with my emotions and trying to overdo it, I might not bowl as well as I could have this year."
Presenting sponsors for the 2006 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Texas State Aquarium, Majestic Ventures Yacht Charters, Inc., USS Lexington Museum and Texas Treasure Casino Cruises.
For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCOpen.com.