2016 Tournament of the Americas set to begin in Florida

ARLINGTON, Texas - The 2016 Lee Evans Bowling Tournament of the Americas gets underway Monday at Strikers Family Sportscenter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The event is being held for the 54th time and features categories for junior, adult, senior, super senior and youth bowlers ages 12-15. Each category includes two male and two female participants from each country.

The annual tournament traditionally showcases the best bowlers from more than a dozen North, South and Central American countries, along with representatives from the Caribbean.

Athletes compete in singles, doubles, mixed doubles and mixed team, while medals also are awarded for all-events and National All-Events, which includes combined all-events totals for all four team members.

The tournament officially kicked off with an opening ceremony Sunday afternoon, and competition will take place at Strikers Family Sportscenter from July 25-30.

Team USA and Junior Team USA will be well-represented and looking to improve on last year's performance that saw the United States claim 41 of a possible 45 gold medals.

In the Adult category, the Team USA contingent will be Josie Earnest of Nashville, Tennessee, Junior Team USA member Haley Richard of Tecumseh, Michigan, Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, and Junior Team USA member Thomas Peters of Belleville, Illinois.

The Junior Team USA members chosen to compete at the Tournament of the Americas are Sydney Brummett of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hollyann Johansen of Wichita, Kansas, Kenneth Ryan of Ocean, New Jersey, and Meeco Walker of East Cleveland, Ohio. The four bowlers will compete in the Junior A division, which is for competitors ages 16-19.

Also competing for the United States will be Katherine Corbin, Danielle Jedlicki, Jonathan Cummins and Tom Hankey Jr. in the Junior B category.

For more information on the 2016 Tournament of the Americas, visit www.BowlingAmericas.com.