News

2026 Grog Monster Sports Trios Champions Crowned

Presented by Tony & Suzanne Reynaud

February 21, 2026 – East Providence Lanes

Oil Pattern: 42’ Kansas SYC Medium

25.76 mL Total Volume | 4.41:1 Ratio

60 Teams | 180 Competitors | 12 Match Play Finalists | Top-4 BYE

$10,000 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series Event (Top 2 teams advance to Cup Finals)

 

The 2026 NEBA season opened with 60 trios taking on the demanding 42-foot Kansas SYC Medium pattern. With 25.76 mL of oil and a 4.41:1 ratio, the pattern rewarded control and punished missed zones — especially as transition set in during match play.

 

When the final frame closed, Aaron Major / Nathan DeMello / Brandon Vallone stood alone once again — successfully defending their 2025 Grog Monster Sports Trios title.

 

Under standard NEBA trios rules, teams must include at least one non-champion with only one multi-title holder. However, defending champions are permitted to bowl together — and Major / DeMello / Vallone capitalized on that exception, navigating a loaded field to accomplish one of the rarest feats in tournament bowling: repeating.

 

MATCH PLAY RUN – ROAD TO THE TITLE

 

The top 4 teams received a BYE into the Round of 8. From there, it was single-elimination.

 

Major / DeMello / Vallone’s path:

 

Round 1

Major / DeMello / Vallone – 706

def. Aguiar / Rose / Levesque – 627

 

Quarterfinals

Major / DeMello / Vallone – 737

def. Martell / Roca / Vietri – 576

 

Semifinals

Major / DeMello / Vallone – 695

def. Forry / Kipperman / Tolbert – 661

 

Championship

Major / DeMello / Vallone – 685

def. Amrhein / Wilks / Hurne – 646

 

 

That level of consistency in bracket play is what defines championship trios bowling.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH RECAP – MAJOR / DEMELLO / VALLONE vs. AMRHEIN / WILKS / HURNE

 

The title match shifted to lanes 9–10, where friction and carrydown created a constantly evolving look.

 

Jared Amrhein, competing in his first NEBA event, showed poise beyond his experience. He struck early and filled consistently, keeping his team within striking distance throughout.

 

Tyler Hurne stayed aggressive and composed, continuing to string strikes and apply pressure deep into the game. Kyle Wilks battled transition and searched for a blend that would allow the ball to slow down properly through the midlane.

 

On the champions’ side, adjustments and execution separated them.

 

Aaron Major made a pivotal early move, putting a sanded Special Effect into play to control the midlane and smooth the breakpoint. Once lined up, he delivered key strikes in the middle frames to maintain pace.

 

Nathan DeMello returned to lanes 9–10 — the same pair where he had earlier rolled 300 — and immediately applied scoreboard pressure. He extended his carry run across match play and the finals, opening with the front eight in the championship game. When he left a single pin later in the match, he calmly converted, preserving momentum and keeping the frame clean.

 

Brandon Vallone navigated the toughest look of the three. A 7–9 split in the eighth frame created the only real opening for the challengers, but the team stayed composed. Vallone filled late frames while his teammates continued striking, preventing any major swing.

 

Entering the tenth frame:

 

Major / DeMello / Vallone – 590

Amrhein / Wilks / Hurne – 539

 

The challengers continued fighting, but the defending champions closed cleanly to secure the repeat victory, 685–646.

 

TITLE MILESTONE

 

With the victory:

 

• Aaron Major now owns 5 NEBA titles

• Nathan DeMello now owns 3 NEBA titles

• Brandon Vallone now owns 3 NEBA titles

 

Repeating in trios — especially against a 60-team field on a demanding 42-foot pattern — is extraordinarily difficult. Doing so elevates this group into rare company.

 

PAYOUT SUMMARY

 

1st Place – DeMello / Vallone / Major

$3,000 Team Prize

+$125 Tournament of Champions Entry

 

2nd Place – Amrhein / Wilks / Hurne

$1,950 Team Prize

 

3rd Place – Kipperman / Tolbert / Forry

$1,350

 

4th Place – Gentile / Ferraro / Handlowich (Qualifying leaders)

$1,350

 

HALL OF FAME COMPETITORS IN THE FIELD

 

Chris Forry (Class of 2025) – Semifinalist

Joey Transue (Class of 2020) - Quarterfinalist

Alex Aguiar (Class of 2017) – Advanced to match play

 

The depth of competition continues to reflect NEBA’s blend of Hall of Fame talent and rising contenders.

 

VINCENT HALL MEMORIAL CUP SERIES IMPACT

 

As a Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series event, the top two teams earned spots in the Cup Finals. Major / DeMello / Vallone secured their berth while reinforcing their status as one of the premier trios in NEBA competition.

 

WATCH THE FULL COVERAGE

 

The full championship match and the live champions interview are available on our YouTube channel:

Youtube.com/BowlNEBA

 

UP NEXT

 

Bowl Winkles Pro Shop Open (Singles)

Presented by Bloomfield Electric

February 28 – March 1, 2026

Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama

 

Thank you to Grog Monster Sports for supporting this event, to Tony & Suzanne Reynaud for adding $1,000 to the prize fund, and to our 2026 season sponsors — Storm Bowling Products, Roto Grip, and 900 Global. We would also like to thank the Mike Sedoma and the staff at East Providence Lanes for their support. Most importantly, thank you to our NEBA members for continuing to raise the level of competition across New England.

 

60 teams.

A demanding 42-foot pattern.