Junior Team USA's Andrew Koff

The fifth in an eight-part series profiling the players who will represent Junior Team USA at the 2010 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Youth Championships in Helsinki, Finland from July 24-Aug. 1.


Andrew Koff

Hometown: Miami
Born: Dec. 15, 1991
Height: 5-8
Throws: Right
Age Started Bowling: 6
High School: Gulliver Preparatory High School
Years on Junior Team USA (2): 2009, 2010


Accomplishments:
- Seven gold medals at the 2009 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas
- 2006-07 Florida High School State Championships individual champion and 2007-08 and 2008-09 runner-up
- 25th at 2008 PBA Denny’s U.S. Open
- 2009 USBC Youth Open Championships all-events winner
- 2nd in 2009 and 4th in 2008 at USBC Junior Gold Championships
- One PBA regional title

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you had been selected to compete in the World Youth Championships?

AK: “I was ecstatic! I believe that being invited to represent the United States at the World Youth Championships is the greatest honor that I have received as a bowler particularly because the 2010 Junior Team USA is one of the strongest ever. It’s a dream come true for me. Being able to compete against the best youth bowlers in the world has been my goal since I started competing in the Junior Gold tournament.  I consider this opportunity to be the culmination of my efforts in bowling.”

Q: Besides the competition, what are you looking forward to the most on this trip?

AK: “I am most interested in being able to experience a different style of opponent and culture. I look forward to being able to observe first-hand the different approach to bowling adopted by youth bowlers from other countries. In particular, I am looking forward to study the techniques used by the Malaysian bowlers. I want to understand how other countries approach the sport that I love. I also want to make new friends from whom I can continue to learn in the future.”

Q: If you were allowed only two bowling balls for competition, what would you use?

AK: “If I could only use two bowling balls for competition, I would use an Ebonite Gamebreaker and a Storm Hy-Road. The Ebonite Gamebreaker has been without doubt my most favorite bowling ball; it has been my go-to ball for the last few years. It rolls great on every pattern and the motion is just one that I love. The Storm Hy-Road would be my second choice ball because of its versatility and incredible ability to read the lanes when they are broken down a little thus allowing me to obtain high scores.”

Q: What are a couple of favorite songs in your iPod?

AK: Ghost N Stuff - Deadmau5; One - Swedish House Mafia; Some Chords - Deadmau5; Day N Nite - Kid Cudi; Warp 1977 - Bloody Beetroots

Q: What’s your favorite motivational quote?

AK: “I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” - Thomas Jefferson