JANUARY 2014 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
USBC Coaching
Renames Gold Coach
Award For
Fred Borden
By Terry Bigham
ARLINGTON, Texas - The award presented to coaches
who complete Gold certification through the United
States Bowling Congress Coaching Certification and
Development has been renamed in honor of USBC Hall
of Fame coach Fred Borden.
USBC Gold is the highest level of certification a bowling
coach can achieve and coaches will receive the Fred
Borden USBC Gold Coach Award upon earning Gold
status.
"Coaching has been a lifetime passion, and I am hon-
ored to be involved with the USBC Coaching program,
the lifeblood of the future of our great sport," Borden
said.
Borden served as Team USA coach for a total of 12
years, taking the reins from 1989-1996 and again from
2000-2003. During that time, he was instrumental in the
development and implementation of the USBC Coaching
program, then known as the USA Bowling Coaching
Program. It is the only bowling coaching program recog-
nized by the United States Olympic Committee.
"Fred is a tremendous, well-respected coach, and he
was a driving force in the development of the USBC
Coaching Certification program," said Neil Stremmel,
USBC Managing Director, National Governing Body. "It
is appropriate the award coaches receive for reaching
the pinnacle in their field has been renamed in his
honor."
The USBC Coaching Gold certification process is simi-
lar to obtaining a Ph D in a field of study. It requires a
coach to demonstrate knowledge through practical appli-
cation and discussion. The final review program requires
a coach to conduct lessons and clinics for bowlers of
various skill levels while being evaluated by the final
review board, which consists of active USBC Gold
coaches and USBC staff. The review board also en-
gages the Gold candidate in discussions on subjects
related to the disciplines.
Borden began his coaching career in 1962. In 2000, he
became the first coach to be awarded USBC
Gold status. He has written several books and produced
many videos about coaching. He currently is finishing his
latest book, Train Your Brain To Improve Your Game:
The Game of Life, Business and Sport, which is ex-
pected to be released in the next few months.
Go to BOWL.com/Coaching to learn more about USBC
Coaching Certification and Development programs.
Barnes, Hamilton Win
Team USA Trials Titles
By
LAS VEGAS -
Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas,
and Brittni Hamilton of Wood-Ridge, N.J., overcame a
grueling format to claim the titles at the 2014 United
States Bowling Congress
Barnes blew away Mike Fagan of Hurst, Texas, 231-
163, to take the men's title, while Hamilton narrowly
edged Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, 205-196,
to claim the women's championship Wednesday at
The Orleans Bowling Center.
In addition to earning the titles, Barnes and Hamilton
will now represent Team USA at the 50th QubicaAMF
World Cup at a location and date later this year to be
determined.
Barnes started with six consecutive strikes and
blasted out to a big early lead to roll to the title. It was
the first Team USA Trials victory in Barnes' career.
"It's nice to come out on top, and after all these
years, I finally get to bowl the World Cup," said Bar-
nes, who has won 16 Professional Bowlers Associa-
tion titles. "Some of the best moments of my life have
come on Team USA. It's a great feeling to be a part of
this team and share victories with them."
The women's title match as much closer as Plu-
howsky had a chance to shut out Hamilton and claim
the title. Needing all three strikes in the 10th frame, the
left-handed Pluhowsky left the 3-5-9 and chopped it.
Only needing a mark to win, Hamilton converted the
10 pin in the final frame to take the title.
"It means so much to me to win that I can't even ex-
plain it," said Hamilton, a Vanderbilt graduate who has
been on Team USA two previous times. "It really has-
n't set in yet, but I'm really excited to represent Team
USA at the World Cup and be a part of this team
again."
In the semifinals, Fagan advanced in a thrilling match
by defeating John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda,
N.Y., in a one-ball, sudden-death roll-off after tying at
258-258 in regulation. Szczerbinski stepped up first
and left the 1-2-4-10 washout, and Fagan won the
match with a strike. Hamilton defeated Sarah Lokker
of New Baltimore, Mich., 226-215.
All of the players who advanced to the stepladder
finals earned automatic spots on Team USA in 2014
by surviving a grueling five-day, 30-game format that
awarded points based on the position they finished in
each day.
The National Selection Committee also announced
the remainder of the Team USA roster, which was
made up of two men and two women based solely on
their performance at the Team USA Trials and five
men and five women who met eligibility requirements,
submitted resumes for consideration and also based
on Trials performance.
The men's selections based on resumes were Bill
O'Neill, Tommy Jones, John Janawicz, AJ Johnson
and Sean Rash, while Robert Gotchall and Marshall
Kent were selected based on their Trials performance.
Joining the women's team as selections from resumes
were Shannon O'Keefe, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick,
Missy Parkin and Stefanie Johnson, while Danielle
McEwan and Holly Harris were picked based on Trials
performance.
There were also four spots on Junior Team USA
awarded Wednesday with the top two age-eligible
finishers for the boys and girls earning automatic
spots. The selection committee also added two boys
and two girls.
Joining Junior Team USA were Darren Tang, Greg
Young Jr., Tylor Greene and Ronnie Fujita on the boys
side, while Stephanie Schwartz, Mary Wells, Amanda
Fry and Makayla Douglas made it on the girls side.
For more information on the Team USA Trials,
visi
2014 USBC TEAM USA TRIALS
At The Orleans Bowling Center, Las Vegas
STEPLADDER FINALS
MEN
Semifinal
Mike Fagan, Hurst, Texas, def. John Szczerbinski,
North Tonawanda, N.Y., 258-258 (10-6)
Championship
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. Fagan, 231-
163
WOMEN
Semifinal
Brittni Hamilton, Wood-Ridge, N.J., def. Sarah Lokker,
New Baltimore, Mich., 226-215
Championship
Hamilton def. Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 205-
196
More standings on page 12
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