By DONOVAN GRUBAUGH
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. – There are some familiar names at the top of the standings after the first day of competition Friday at Team USA Trials in Reno, Nevada, at the National Bowling Stadium.
Katelyn Abigania out of San Diego averaged just over 234 for six games to lead Day 1 in the women’s field, using games of 194, 265, 235, 196, 237 and 278 to claim the top spot. The Junior Team USA member’s 278 was the second-highest game in the squad, just behind Stephanie Hong’s 279 in Game 3.
Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Fla., placed second on the day with 1,380, while Melia Mitskavich of DuBois, Pa., was third with 1,355. Ashly Galante of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Breanna Clemmer of Lebanon, Ill., were fourth and fifth with 1,329 and 1,328, respectively.
Among Ohioans in the 99-player women’s field, Tallmadge’s Kirsten Moore is 16th (1,253); Ravenna’s Hannah Klein is 45th (1,188); Painesville’s Jillian Justinger is 79th (1,085); Painesville’s Mackenzie Pilny is 82nd (1,056); and Wooster’s Emma Yoder is 86th (1,044)
Abigania looks to join Junior Team USA for the third straight year, and her fast start puts her in position to do so, as Day 1 was all about focusing on throwing quality shots.
“Today was about staying slow and making sure the ball is in front of me,” said Abigania. “I also focused on making spares and just throwing shots that I know will get me something that I can make.”
She credits the coaching staff for her development, not only in international competition but in other tournaments she participates in.
“We have the best coaches at Team USA, they are hall of famers and college coaches who live, breathe, watch bowling all the time. Allowing myself to learn from them helps tremendously.”
The strong start also boosted her confidence for the rest of the event.
“This is a talented field of competitors and lets myself know that I can compete with these girls and gives me a clear mind for the rest of the week,” Abigania said.
JOHNSON LEADS MEN
Later in the afternoon, Team USA member AJ Johnson from Kenosha, Wis., led the men’s field with a six-game total of 1,412 as he looks to make the team for the ninth straight year and 11th time overall.
Fellow Team USA members Darren Tang of Las Vegas and Jake Peters of Henderson, Nev., tied for second on the day with 1,402, while Robert Vater of Iola, Wis. (1,395), and Nick Dudeck of Manhattan, Ill. (1,385), rounded out the top five overall standings. Defending U.S. Amateur champion Julian Salinas of Richmond, Texas, ended the day in 25th place with 1,310.
The highest game of the day belonged to Cameron Crowe of Orland Park, Ill., with a 289 in Game 2.
Among Ohioans in the 182-player men’s field, Hamersville’s Austin Grammar is 45th (1,266); Painesville’s Joe Justinger is 54th (1,247); Cuyahoga Falls’ Bryce Oliver is 55th (1,245); Marion’s Jayden Combs is 67th (1,220); and Willowick’s Dean Vargo is 110th (1,159).
When Johnson was last in the National Bowling Stadium, he was helping Team USA to the team gold medal at the PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships.
“(PANAM) really helped me get a feel for how the building plays,” said Johnson. “It had been a while since we bowled here, and I had a feeling we would be bowling here again in the future.”
Johnson mentioned that during practice Thursday, he didn’t feel super comfortable and talked to others like known bowling coach Mark Baker to get a different perspective on the 43-foot pattern that was put out today.
“I had conversations with people like Mark just trying to get their thoughts and tell them what I was feeling and their input. Just wanted to do what I could to manage the middle part of the lane because it was a tricky pattern to play. I had a feeling 210-220 were going to be good games today and fortunately I had a couple good pairs where my ball did the right thing and I was able to shoot 260.”
In prior years at Team USA Trials, Johnson has had a few slower starts and needed some great days in the middle of the week to come back into contention. With his hot start today, he says it takes some of the pressure off.
“This is going to help me focus on what to do day-to-day and get my ball to do the right thing. I made a couple of fit changes that allowed me to do what I want with my hand, which was a big thing today,” Johnson said.
The oil patterns were for the Trials were created by GlenOak High School graduate and former USBC Open Championships singles champion Nick Hoagland.
The men’s first round pattern was a 43-foot asymmetrical pattern with a 43-foot drop brush that featured 28.04 mL of Kegel Fire oil — 18.64 mL forward and 9.4 mL reverse — left-side ratios of 1.53-1 middle-outside track, 1.16-1 middle-middle track, and 1-1 middle-inside track and right-side ratios of 1.77-1 middle-outside track, 1-1 middle-middle track, and 1-1 middle-inside track.
The women’s first round pattern was a 43-foot symmetrical pattern with a 43-foot drop brush that features 26.92 mL of Kegel Fire oil — 17.36 mL forward and 9.56 mL reverse — and ratios of 2.21-1 middle-outside track, 1.04-1 middle-middle track, and 1-1 middle-inside track.
Hoagland made this posst on Facebook after the patterns were released at practice on Thursday:
“Team USA Trials starts today and good luck to all of the athletes!
I will be trying to do a better job of posting the patterns, after their release, and providing a bit more insight.
This year, there are a few tweaks/changes as compared to the past few years. Most notably, bowling at the NBS instead of Gold Coast!
We are using the new KEGEL Atlas Pro lane machine (which is incredible BTW) with Fire in both tanks as opposed to using two (2) different conditioners. We’ll be using these same machines at the US Open which starts in a few weeks.
3 of the patterns are similar to last year. Day 3 and Day 5 have patterns that are different between the men and the women; especially the difference on Day 5. That (is) the first time, in recent memory, that we have done that.
All in all, the athletes should be encouraged to play all different angles throughout their journey as the shapes are different and distances range from 36 feet to 45 feet.
Good luck to all, and as always, enjoy your experience!“
Competition continues Saturday at 11 a.m. with the women’s field before the men take the lanes at 5 p.m., exclusively on BowlTV.