L-P graduate Nate Stubler takes title at PBA Midwest Open

“Growing up in the La Salle area, being able to come back ... it meant a lot to me.”

PERU — It was quite a homecoming last weekend for Nate Stubler.

The La Salle-Peru High School graduate, 2017 IHSA State Finals individual champion and three-time La Salle NewsTribune Boys Bowler of the Year earned another honor this past weekend at his old rolling grounds, as Nate Stubler won the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Midwest Open held at Illinois Valley Super Bowl.

“It was a great experience,” said Stubler, who defeated Nick Kruml in the head-to-head championship match after a weekend full of bowling. “Growing up in the La Salle area, being able to come back to my hometown and see a lot of my family and friends while competing, it meant a lot to me.

“[The Illinois Valley Super Bowl] was the bowling center I grew up in and where I learned the game. This really felt kind of whole circle.”

A local kid, Stubler has been competing in the PGA Midwest Open since he was 16 years old, and has made the Final Four previously. This, however, was his first championship at the two-day event that features seven games of qualifying to cut the field down to the top 12, then six round-robin games to reach the Final Four, and ultimately a stepladder format elimination bracket to determine the champion.

Stubler earned the No. 2 seed, meaning he had to fend off one fellow top contender, Indianapolis’ Dakota Solonka by a 246-182 score, before getting his Sunday championship bout with the top-seeded Kruml. Stubler defeated the Downers Grove kegler 226-190 to claim the title.

“Luckily, the pins fell the right way, and I was able to come away with a victory.”

—  Nate Stubler

The St. Ambrose senior — who plans to finish his collegiate bowling career and senior year at St. Ambrose shortly, then obtain his Master’s degree and Certified Public Accountant’s qualifications before potentially dipping his toes in the PBA as a true professional bowler — said the fact this past weekend’s venue was his “second home” for much of his childhood played a role in his win ... and made it all the sweeter.

“Growing up in that bowling center, I wouldn’t say it was so much knowing the characteristics of it [that gave me an edge], but just being comfortable there. That was basically my second home for the longest time,” he said.

“Luckily, the pins fell the right way, and I was able to come away with a victory.”