By: Bill Huepenbecker – NAH Regional Director
The first half of 2026 featured four fun-filled tournaments in the NAH. Thanks to the tournaments that provided me information for this post. Congrats to all these events for being sold out, evidence of the good work these tournament committees do.
Bluegrass Classic
The 42nd Annual Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl held on Feb. 20-22, 2026, was a tremendous success, once again selling out and bringing together bowlers and guests for an outstanding weekend of competition, community and celebration.
Thanks to the generous support of our major sponsors, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Miller Lite and Brunswick Bowling Equipment, we were able to provide a first-class tournament experience.
Sponsor, advertiser and supporter contributions allowed us to add $10,000 to the prize fund and donate $2,000 each to two designated local charities serving the LGBTQ+ community.
During the banquet, we also conducted a participant survey to better understand what bowlers felt we did well and where we could improve. With 137 responses, the feedback was both insightful and encouraging. Bowlers overwhelmingly praised our bowling center, Kingpin Lanes, while also sharing concerns about the host hotel. In response, we have secured a new hotel in the same area for the 2027 tournament, ensuring an even better experience for our participants and guests.
We are already busy preparing for our 2027 tournament. Stay tuned for details!
Winter Express Trio Tournament (WETT)
This tournament was held on April 11, 2026. A full field of 38 teams met at Lodge Lanes in Belleville, MI (between Detroit and Ann Arbor) for this three-game no-tap trio tournament, which starts with a team strike ball competition, followed by a buffet meal, raffles, and cash awards for the highest placing teams. Special thanks to Storm Products, Inc. for their continued sponsorship of this event and we hope to see you here in 2027!
Columbus Ohio Midwest Invitational Classic (COMIC)
COMIC was held April 24-26, 2026. This year’s Prize Fund did increase, while continuing to support our charity, Kaleidoscope Youth Center.
- COMIC26 paid 1:8 in standard tournament events (singles, doubles, team, individual all events)
- This brought the total event entry prize fund to $26,850.
- And that’s not counting the winnings distributed from all the raffles, brackets, etc. that were paid out in cash during tournament weekend
COMIC is committed to providing you with a great event every year!
Did you know? $57 of your $130 entry is designated for the prize fund (192 bowlers, $10,944). This means COMIC’s year-long efforts raised another $15,906 to contribute to payouts. In addition, we will be giving Kaleidoscope Youth Center another big donation this year!
This is only possible due to the support of:
- Our continuously growing list of tournament sponsors, including AWOL Bar, Boscoe’s, and TORSO, who support our efforts all year long.
- Our bowling house, HP Lanes, that support our efforts year round
- The committee and volunteers, many who do not bowl or didn’t bowl that weekend
- The Columbus LGBTQ+ bowling leagues and bowlers who supported fundraisers like Mystery Score, Jester, Euchre and Cornhole tournaments, and other efforts all year.
- And YOU, the bowlers throughout the weekend with COMIC Cups, Bowling Ball Raffles, the committee-donated Baskets Raffle, Mega and Regular Brackets, and those who turned out for Saturday night’s Committee Show,
We are so glad you joined us this year. COMIC is an LGBTQ+ family and community event. We appreciate your support and look forward to you joining us again for COMIC 2027.
Cleveland Gay Invitational Fellowship Tournament (GIFT)
The 36th edition of Cleveland’s GLBT Invitational Fellowship Tournament (GIFT) “Celebrating Liberty!”, was held the weekend of June 12 – 14, 2026. GIFT 2026 was again sponsored by Radical and Bowler’s Mart as well as a local Cleveland Business Group. Our host hotel, Wyndham-Independence, and AMF Brookgate Lanes provided the venues for the weekend. The GIFT 2026 Committee welcomed 184 bowlers from 99 cities across 20 states to the North Coast to participate in what attendees have described as one of the most well executed tournaments on the IGBO circuit. We again held Friday registration at the host bowling center along with a 9-pin No-tap event that saw 59 participants competing for a piece of the $550 prize fund.
As a result of the tremendous fundraising efforts of the GIFT Committee throughout the year, the base tournament prize fund was supplemented by $10,256, for a total of $16,511 in prize money. This equates to $89.73 in prize funds per bowler…not bad for an $125 entry fee! Prize fund checks were mailed to 100 different bowlers, representing 54% of all registered bowlers.
An additional $31,369 was also paid out for other optional events, including Optional Scratch, Scratch Masters, Cash Raffles, Brackets, Mystery Score, Seniors Division, Dark Horse Doubles, Strike Pot, and Strike Ball, bringing the grand total of money paid out over the weekend to $46,934.
As has been a GIFT tradition since 1986, cash donations were made to several deserving Northeast Ohio organizations. This year, a group of Cleveland business sponsors donated $1,050 to be donated to three designated organizations. The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, CANAPI (Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Initiative) and Near West Theater (Drag Story Hour) each received $350 to support their essential work throughout Northeast Ohio. A $528 donation was also given to Pride in the CLE, sourced by $1 from every Cruise passenger ticket. The GIFT cumulative donation total now stands at over $65,100.
The local business group also sponsored the Saturday lunch for all bowlers. Bowler donations totaled $310, and GIFT matched that amount, resulting in a $620 donation to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. Sherwin-Williams matched the contribution, bringing the total donation to $1,240.
The 36th Annual GIFT Cruise embarked on Saturday evening. Originally envisioned as “something for the bowlers to do on Saturday night,” this event has taken on a life of its own! A beautiful evening had 528 folks treated to a two- and one-half hour excursion on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie aboard the spacious, well-appointed Goodtime III Cruise Ship while dancing, socializing, and enjoying spectacular views of the ever-changing Cleveland skyline.
The Awards Banquet was held in the Wyndham Hotel Ballroom on Sunday evening. After being welcomed by co-directors Eric Strong and Jim Hassel the attendees enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner and dessert. Bill Huepenbecker our IGBO regional director, and GIFT committee member, reported on the current IGBO news and upcoming events. There was also special recognition for Jim Hassel, who is stepping back from director’s duties, for his years of service and many contributions to GIFT and the Cleveland Community.
Cleveland GIFT always occurs during the second full weekend in June and has become one of the premier tournaments on the IGBO circuit. Plans are already under way for the 37th edition of Cleveland GIFT, which will be held the weekend of June 11 – 13, 2027, under the direction of Eric Strong. Additional information can be found on the tournament website www.clevelandgift.org. Remember to follow us on Facebook as well!
I’m looking forward to seeing you at one or more of our tournaments in the second half of 2026, starting with TGIF (Indianapolis) in August, the sold-out Chi-Town Classic in September, MIC in Detroit and CINTIT in Cincinnati in October, and wrapping up the year with HINT in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in November.
Please feel free to contact me at nah.region@igbo.org if you have any questions or need assistance with your IGBO league or tournament and remember to Bowl up a Storm!
