High scores highlight Day 4 of Team USA Trials as Johnson, Bond lead
January 07, 2025
Results Page
RENO, Nev – Only one day remains at Team USA Trials in Reno, Nevada, held at the National Bowling Stadium, to determine who will don the red, white and blue in international competition in 2025 after Monday’s fourth day of competition.
The men’s field saw plenty of high scores and totals, with none higher than AJ Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who led for a second time this week with a six-game total of 1,480 and had three games above 278 during his set. Four 300 games were also thrown Monday evening.
Andrew Anderson of Chesterfield, Michigan; Connor Breaman of Greer, South Carolina; Josh Hammons of Topeka, Kansas; and Josh Kennedy of Blaine, Minnesota, all achieved perfection during the fourth round of competition.
Behind Johnson in the daily standings was Brandon Bohn of Jackson, New Jersey, with 1,450 in second and Braden Mallasch of Waupaca, Wisconsin, who finished a pin behind Bohn with 1,449 for third. Anthony Hornick of Davidson, North Carolina (1,444), and Riley Speer of Beech Grove, Indiana (1,441), finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kennedy, who is competing in fifth Team USA Trials and ended Day 4 in seventh, came close to a perfect game last year and was able to finish the job on Monday.
“Last year I had a 299 game on the first day,” said Kennedy. “I learned from my mistake last year and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet, I’m still processing everything.”
In his previous four outings, Kennedy’s high finish was in 2022 where he placed 47th out of 159 bowlers, and he explained the biggest improvement for himself throughout the years.
“I’ve learned that I’m more capable of doing more than I thought. My mental game has gotten a lot stronger since I first started, which has been one of my bigger issues in the sport.”
With one day remaining in Reno, Kennedy is in good position to have a new high finish as he sits in 21st overall and 12th in the U.S. Amateur division. Throughout this week, Kennedy has told himself to trust the process as he tries to make a run for a spot on the team.
“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” said Kennedy. “Obviously 30 games is a long week so it’s just one shot at a time, stay 100 percent committed to everything and trusting your instincts.”
In the overall standings, Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas, holds the top spot with 52 ranking points after having a steady week to this point, with half of his points coming today with a 25th place finish. C.J. Petrin of Edmond, Oklahoma, is second with 95 points, while Jake Peters of Henderson, Nevada, and DeeRonn Booker of Albuquerque, New Mexico, are tied for third with 102 points. Brandon Bonta of Wichita, Kansas, and Christian Liquori of Merritt Island, Florida, are tied for fifth at 103 points.
Earlier Monday morning, Julia Bond of Lincoln, Nebraska, led the women’s field averaging over 239. Bond started the day strong with a 259 and stayed steady, firing games of 239, 245, 238, 219 and 237 for a six-game total of 1,435.
Bond, who competes on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour, remained so consistent on the day’s 41-foot oil pattern by being able to use the same ball and make small adjustments as the block went on, letting herself stay comfortable in an event that hasn’t always gone her way.
“I don’t want to say I’ve struggled (in past Team Trials), but I feel like I’ve fallen a little bit short,” said Bond. “It’s nice to have a performance like this to put myself back up there.”
Second and third place on the day were Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida (1,384), and Arianna Araujo of Palos Park, Illinois (1,383). Annalise OBryant of Ball Ground, Georgia (1,364), and Katelyn Abigania of San Diego (1,350) rounded out Monday’s top five.
Bond credits what she has previously learned for her success on the lanes today after finishing in the 15-30 range the first three days of the event.
“It’s just the experience,” explained Bond. “I’ve been doing Team Trials for a while now and being patient with myself and knowing that I have to grind out what I can and let the scores shake out.”
Bond herself says that she has been a bowler who tends to bowl better towards the end of an event or a season, as shown this past year on the PWBA Tour.
“Somewhere during the season I have this epiphany where it’s like, ‘Dude, calm down. You’ve been here before and you know what to expect, you don’t need to do more that what you already are.’ I think seeing that at the end of the tour season kind of flipped a switch and keeping that mentality in the offseason up to this point, I feel like I’m still in that mindset.”
Bond has her focus already set for the final day of competition as she fights for an automatic spot.
“Each day is almost like a new tournament so I continue to learn each day, there’s still a lot of work to do tomorrow ,” said Bond.
In the overall standings, Elliott leads with 25 ranking points while Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, holds second place with 42 points. Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois (47 points), and Chloe Lemke of Nacogdoches, Texas (48 points), hold third and fourth place, with Bond and Avery Domaguin of San Diego in a tie for fifth at 72 points.
Competition for the fifth and final day of Team USA Trials starts at 8 a.m. Eastern when the women take the lanes before the men at 5 p.m. Eastern. After the men complete their squad, the top three men and top three women in the U.S. Amateur division advance to the stepladder finals to determine the U.S. Amateur champion. Following the end of Day 4, Petrin, Bonta and Liquori hold the top three spots in the men’s field, while Brandolino, Lemke and Domaguin are top three on the women’s side.
For more information on Team USA, visit BOWL.com/team-usa.
RENO, Nev – Only one day remains at Team USA Trials in Reno, Nevada, held at the National Bowling Stadium, to determine who will don the red, white and blue in international competition in 2025 after Monday’s fourth day of competition.
The men’s field saw plenty of high scores and totals, with none higher than AJ Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who led for a second time this week with a six-game total of 1,480 and had three games above 278 during his set. Four 300 games were also thrown Monday evening.
Andrew Anderson of Chesterfield, Michigan; Connor Breaman of Greer, South Carolina; Josh Hammons of Topeka, Kansas; and Josh Kennedy of Blaine, Minnesota, all achieved perfection during the fourth round of competition.
Behind Johnson in the daily standings was Brandon Bohn of Jackson, New Jersey, with 1,450 in second and Braden Mallasch of Waupaca, Wisconsin, who finished a pin behind Bohn with 1,449 for third. Anthony Hornick of Davidson, North Carolina (1,444), and Riley Speer of Beech Grove, Indiana (1,441), finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kennedy, who is competing in fifth Team USA Trials and ended Day 4 in seventh, came close to a perfect game last year and was able to finish the job on Monday.
“Last year I had a 299 game on the first day,” said Kennedy. “I learned from my mistake last year and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet, I’m still processing everything.”
In his previous four outings, Kennedy’s high finish was in 2022 where he placed 47th out of 159 bowlers, and he explained the biggest improvement for himself throughout the years.
“I’ve learned that I’m more capable of doing more than I thought. My mental game has gotten a lot stronger since I first started, which has been one of my bigger issues in the sport.”
With one day remaining in Reno, Kennedy is in good position to have a new high finish as he sits in 21st overall and 12th in the U.S. Amateur division. Throughout this week, Kennedy has told himself to trust the process as he tries to make a run for a spot on the team.
“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” said Kennedy. “Obviously 30 games is a long week so it’s just one shot at a time, stay 100 percent committed to everything and trusting your instincts.”
In the overall standings, Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas, holds the top spot with 52 ranking points after having a steady week to this point, with half of his points coming today with a 25th place finish. C.J. Petrin of Edmond, Oklahoma, is second with 95 points, while Jake Peters of Henderson, Nevada, and DeeRonn Booker of Albuquerque, New Mexico, are tied for third with 102 points. Brandon Bonta of Wichita, Kansas, and Christian Liquori of Merritt Island, Florida, are tied for fifth at 103 points.
Earlier Monday morning, Julia Bond of Lincoln, Nebraska, led the women’s field averaging over 239. Bond started the day strong with a 259 and stayed steady, firing games of 239, 245, 238, 219 and 237 for a six-game total of 1,435.
Bond, who competes on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour, remained so consistent on the day’s 41-foot oil pattern by being able to use the same ball and make small adjustments as the block went on, letting herself stay comfortable in an event that hasn’t always gone her way.
“I don’t want to say I’ve struggled (in past Team Trials), but I feel like I’ve fallen a little bit short,” said Bond. “It’s nice to have a performance like this to put myself back up there.”
Second and third place on the day were Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida (1,384), and Arianna Araujo of Palos Park, Illinois (1,383). Annalise OBryant of Ball Ground, Georgia (1,364), and Katelyn Abigania of San Diego (1,350) rounded out Monday’s top five.
Bond credits what she has previously learned for her success on the lanes today after finishing in the 15-30 range the first three days of the event.
“It’s just the experience,” explained Bond. “I’ve been doing Team Trials for a while now and being patient with myself and knowing that I have to grind out what I can and let the scores shake out.”
Bond herself says that she has been a bowler who tends to bowl better towards the end of an event or a season, as shown this past year on the PWBA Tour.
“Somewhere during the season I have this epiphany where it’s like, ‘Dude, calm down. You’ve been here before and you know what to expect, you don’t need to do more that what you already are.’ I think seeing that at the end of the tour season kind of flipped a switch and keeping that mentality in the offseason up to this point, I feel like I’m still in that mindset.”
Bond has her focus already set for the final day of competition as she fights for an automatic spot.
“Each day is almost like a new tournament so I continue to learn each day, there’s still a lot of work to do tomorrow ,” said Bond.
In the overall standings, Elliott leads with 25 ranking points while Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, holds second place with 42 points. Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois (47 points), and Chloe Lemke of Nacogdoches, Texas (48 points), hold third and fourth place, with Bond and Avery Domaguin of San Diego in a tie for fifth at 72 points.
Competition for the fifth and final day of Team USA Trials starts at 8 a.m. Eastern when the women take the lanes before the men at 5 p.m. Eastern. After the men complete their squad, the top three men and top three women in the U.S. Amateur division advance to the stepladder finals to determine the U.S. Amateur champion. Following the end of Day 4, Petrin, Bonta and Liquori hold the top three spots in the men’s field, while Brandolino, Lemke and Domaguin are top three on the women’s side.
For more information on Team USA, visit BOWL.com/team-usa.