Edwards, Janawicz lead Team USA Trials
December 17, 2009
HENDERSON, Nev. - Brenda Edwards of Mansfield, Texas, and John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., lead the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials headed into the final day of competition.
Edwards is ahead of the women's field with a 27-game total of 5,937, an average of 219.8, while Janawicz held onto his lead in the men's division with 6,237, an average of 231, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas.
A member of Team USA in 2007 and 2008, Edwards moved from third after Round 2 to first on Thursday after shooting a nine-game block of 1,955. Emily Maier of Wichita, Kan., is second, 34 pins back, while Amanda Falk of Tucson, Ariz., who led the first two rounds, is third, 82 pins off the lead.
"Instead of looking at the prize ahead, I'm taking it one shot at a time," Edwards said. "That's been my focus the whole time. It's all about staying in the moment and knocking down all 10 pins. You can't control anything but the shot in your hand at that moment."
Janawicz, who moved into the overall lead after the second round, shot 2,047 for nine games on Thursday and leads Professional Bowlers Association exempt player Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., by 52 pins. Current Team USA member John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, N.Y., is third, 199 pins off the lead.
"I'm in an ideal position because it's always good to be the frontrunner," said Janawicz, a member of Team USA in 2007 and 2008. "You never want to get yourself in a position where you have to shoot a big number to make Team USA. I've still got some really good players behind me, so I have to keep pressing forward."
Matthew Tuckfield of Miami threw the tournament's third perfect game Thursday on the longest of the four lane conditions. Tuckfield sits in 27th place with 5,758. Josh McBride of Wichita and Maier also have 300 games this week.
Competition concludes Friday with the last of four nine-game blocks. The top three men and top three women finishers after 36 games will earn automatic spots on Team USA, while the National Selection Committee will pick two additional men and two additional women to join the team.
The top two male and top two female competitors who are 20 years old or younger before Jan. 1, 2010 will earn automatic spots on Junior Team USA 2010. The National Selection Committee will select two additional boys and two additional girls to join the team. The National Selection Committee will select from players who either competed in the Team USA Trials or who advanced to the match-play portion of the USBC Junior Gold Championships, which were held in July in Indianapolis.
2010 USBC TEAM USA TRIALS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Thursday's Results
(Top 5; 27 games)
MEN
1, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 6,237. 2, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6,185. 3, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 6,038. 4, Craig Hanson, Orlando, Fla., 5,954. 5, Cassidy Schaub, Polk, Ohio, 5,949.
WOMEN
1, Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 5,937. 2, Emily Maier, Wichita, Kan., 5,903. 3, Amanda Falk, Tucson, Ariz., 5,855. 4, Kendra Gaines, Orlando, Fla., 5,826. 5, Jennifer Boisselle, Brandon, Fla., 5,810.
Edwards is ahead of the women's field with a 27-game total of 5,937, an average of 219.8, while Janawicz held onto his lead in the men's division with 6,237, an average of 231, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas.
A member of Team USA in 2007 and 2008, Edwards moved from third after Round 2 to first on Thursday after shooting a nine-game block of 1,955. Emily Maier of Wichita, Kan., is second, 34 pins back, while Amanda Falk of Tucson, Ariz., who led the first two rounds, is third, 82 pins off the lead.
"Instead of looking at the prize ahead, I'm taking it one shot at a time," Edwards said. "That's been my focus the whole time. It's all about staying in the moment and knocking down all 10 pins. You can't control anything but the shot in your hand at that moment."
Janawicz, who moved into the overall lead after the second round, shot 2,047 for nine games on Thursday and leads Professional Bowlers Association exempt player Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., by 52 pins. Current Team USA member John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, N.Y., is third, 199 pins off the lead.
"I'm in an ideal position because it's always good to be the frontrunner," said Janawicz, a member of Team USA in 2007 and 2008. "You never want to get yourself in a position where you have to shoot a big number to make Team USA. I've still got some really good players behind me, so I have to keep pressing forward."
Matthew Tuckfield of Miami threw the tournament's third perfect game Thursday on the longest of the four lane conditions. Tuckfield sits in 27th place with 5,758. Josh McBride of Wichita and Maier also have 300 games this week.
Competition concludes Friday with the last of four nine-game blocks. The top three men and top three women finishers after 36 games will earn automatic spots on Team USA, while the National Selection Committee will pick two additional men and two additional women to join the team.
The top two male and top two female competitors who are 20 years old or younger before Jan. 1, 2010 will earn automatic spots on Junior Team USA 2010. The National Selection Committee will select two additional boys and two additional girls to join the team. The National Selection Committee will select from players who either competed in the Team USA Trials or who advanced to the match-play portion of the USBC Junior Gold Championships, which were held in July in Indianapolis.
2010 USBC TEAM USA TRIALS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Thursday's Results
(Top 5; 27 games)
MEN
1, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 6,237. 2, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6,185. 3, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 6,038. 4, Craig Hanson, Orlando, Fla., 5,954. 5, Cassidy Schaub, Polk, Ohio, 5,949.
WOMEN
1, Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 5,937. 2, Emily Maier, Wichita, Kan., 5,903. 3, Amanda Falk, Tucson, Ariz., 5,855. 4, Kendra Gaines, Orlando, Fla., 5,826. 5, Jennifer Boisselle, Brandon, Fla., 5,810.