John Zikis of East Haven, Conn., is the national duckpin bowling champion for the past season.

It’s a title he didn’t pursue, and the fact that his average score for all the sets he’s played in the past season was slightly more than 148 came as a surprise. He was presented a trophy Saturday at the opening ceremony of the 86th National Duckpin Bowling Congress Tournament at Meadowbrook Lanes in Warwick.

Zikis played in the singles division and with his father, John, in the doubles division. He was introduced to bowling at six months old and was playing in a youth league by the time he was four. He loves the game and has a bit of an edge in that his aunt, Sandi Thomas, owns lanes in Hamden and he gets to play for free. During the winter months he plays in two leagues and, depending on where he’s got the time, fits in a practice session.

So what keeps him coming back to the lanes?

“The fact that nobody has been perfect, that’s enough to keep going,” he said. His top score, which he has attained twice, is 279 out of a perfect 300. “This is a tough game.”

Players from Virginia, West Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island will be competing in the tournament that stretches over the next four weekends. Stan Kellum expects the biggest contingent of competitors will be from Maryland. Kellum is executive director of the National Duckpin Bowling Congress.

The association, with about 5,600 members, moves the tournament from year to year. They have held it in Rhode Island before, but this is the first time in more than a decade that it’s been at Meadowbrook.

Duckpin bowling has been in a slump in recent years.

“Every year we end up losing houses,” Kellum said.

Some places close when their owners sell the land for development. Others close with the waning interest in the game.

Kellum also attributes the lack of growth to an aging population of players, although the association has emphasized youth participation.

“Rhode Island has a strong interest in tournament play,” he said.

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian welcomed national and state officials in attendance at the opening ceremony, pointing out that Meadowbrook Lanes owner Robert Farrell is chair of the Warwick Democratic Committee and he is a Republican mayor.

“The way we do things in this city is all about people, not politics,” he said.

Avedisian welcomed the added business the tournament would bring to area hotels and other businesses.

“Spend freely and often,” he urged to laughs.

Kellum said the tournament offers cash prizes that are based on the number of registrants in each area of the competition. Each set is three games. Zikis said he’ll put in his set and then wait to see how he fared at the end of the tournament.

In addition to Avedisian, who spoke briefly, opening ceremonies included a prayer by Father Francis O’Hara, formerly of St. Kevin Church, who said he has fond memories of bowling at Meadowbrook. His prayer with use of bowling terms such as strikes and spares was a hit.

Sophie Colantuono, daughter of the Ward 1 Councilman Steven Colantuono, sang the national anthem.