Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 - (Page 57)

TEAM USA TRIALS COURTESY USBC Following the Trials in suburban Las Vegas, Team USA 2008 was expanded to include (from the left) Stefanie Nation, Derek Eoff, Brenda Viator, John Janawicz, Shannon O'Keefe, Del Ballard Jr., Tina Stickney, Nathan Bohr and Tish Johnson. sists of the previously selected Sean Rash, David O'Sullivan, Rhino Page, David Haynes, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Kim Terrell, Diandra Asbaty, Missy Bellinder, Lynda Barnes, Tennelle Milligan and Shannon Pluhowsky. Rare among national teams in any sport, bowling's Team USA now includes two husband-and-wife duos: the Barneses and the Ballards. It also includes national Hall of Famers in Dorin-Ballard, Tish Johnson, Williams and Bohn, as well as international Hall of Famers in Asbaty and Lynda Barnes. The Trials attracted two other Hall of Famers — Anne Marie Duggan and Dana Miller-Mackie — who finished eighth and 11th, respectively, in the women's division. Obviously, with talent like that in the Trials field, the opportunity to bowl for one's country must hold considerable allure. "To represent your country in anything you do is pretty awesome as far as I'm concerned," said Tish Johnson, who won 24 pro titles, including the 1992 U.S. Open, during her LPBT/PWBA career. "The people on Team USA are the best at that given time, and I feel I'm just as good as anyone." Although she's one of the older players on the team, endurance should not be a problem for Johnson. She bowled in more consecutive pro tournaments than any other woman: 244. The desire to compete still burns inside Del Ballard as well. "I've kind of moved on a little bit in my career after being exempt [on the Denny's PBA Tour] last year," he said, "and it's okay if I don't make my living bowling. But I still enjoy bowling, hate to lose and love the competition." O'Keefe was the only already-selected Team USA bowler to compete in the Trials. Why did she make the trip from suburban Milwaukee to southern Nevada when she didn't have to? "I've worked so hard on my game that I need to take every opportunity I can to learn and grow to get to the next level," she explained. "I'm never satisfied, and I see this week as a chance to improve my game." Winning the women's title was just a nice bonus. "I think anytime you come out and perform well and walk away with a win, it means something" she said. "To start off the year on the right foot gives me a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the year." Then there is the curious case of men's champ Eoff, who tied a record by winning five out of a possible six medals in his Team USA debut at last year's WTBA American Zone Championships, only to be thrown back into the Trials in order to retain his Team USA spot. He had to be thinking, "What does a guy have to do?" Eoff was the most visible victim of the new, pro-inclusive, team selection process. True, he could have been chosen by the National Selection Committee after the Trials, but by winning the men's division, Eoff avoided that stressful waiting game. "Winning this tournament is something I've always wanted to do," he said, "and it's definitely nice to earn my spot on the team instead of waiting around to see if I'm selected. The field was tough, and it's nice to know that I made most of the right moves and adjustments this week on four very demanding lane patterns." Now the pressure shifts to the Team USA coaching staff, which must decide who bowls and who sits in this year's international competition. bowlers journal international 57 MARCH 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Par Bowling The Coach Calendar Inside Line Tournaments The Truth Be Bowled Pro Bowling Back On Track Weber Tales Spares Do Matter Cover Story Up Close USBC Women's Time Capsule Flashback Strategy Session Guest Column Regional Roundup Team USA Trials Military Salute Global Guide No Holes Barred Marketplace Bowling Summit Museum Update Hall Marks Advertisers' Index Rememberance Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

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