Junior Team USA's Christine Bator
July 22, 2010
The final installment in an eight-part series profiling the eight 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.
Christine Bator
Hometown: Warren, Mich.
Born: Aug. 18, 1989
Height: 5-5
Throws: Right
Age Started Bowling: 7
High School: Fitzgerald High School
College: Macomb Community College
Years on Junior Team USA (3): 2008, 2009, 2010
Accomplishments:
- Five gold medals (singles, doubles, trios, team and all-events) and one silver medal (Masters) at 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships
- Two gold medals (trios and team) and three silver (singles, doubles and all-events) at 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships
- 2nd at 2008 USBC Junior Gold Championships
Q: What was your reaction when you found out you had been selected to compete in the World Youth Championships?
CB: “When I found out that I had been selected to bowl for the U.S. at the World Youth Championships, I was honored. We have such a great group of talented bowlers, and I am looking forward to spending some of the best moments of my life with them at such a prestigious event. I believe in our team 110 percent and I know that if we just keep our heads up high, make good shots, and go out there and do what we love to do then we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Q: Besides the competition, what are you looking forward to the most on this trip?
CB: “Besides bowling, I am so excited about the trip. If it was not for bowling I would never ever be able to visit some of the countries we have traveled to. I am excited to just see the country in general I know we will be spending so much time in a bowling alley so I just take lots of pictures and enjoy every minute of my vacation.”
Q: If you were allowed only two bowling balls for competition, what would you use?
CB: “If I could only bring two bowling balls with me to a tournament, I would bring something that rolls early with surface for the longer patterns and something that is very smooth that does not flare a lot for the shorter patterns.”
Q: What are a couple of favorite songs in your iPod?
CB: “Where do I even begin with favorite songs?? I would have to say right now I have been listening a lot to the soundtrack of the TV show Glee. They did mashup's of Journey, Madonna and a bunch more. I also like Nickleback. Songs are called Far Away and Never Gonna Be Alone.”
Q: What’s your favorite motivational quote?
CB: “There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” - Michael Jordan
Christine Bator
Hometown: Warren, Mich.
Born: Aug. 18, 1989
Height: 5-5
Throws: Right
Age Started Bowling: 7
High School: Fitzgerald High School
College: Macomb Community College
Years on Junior Team USA (3): 2008, 2009, 2010
Accomplishments:
- Five gold medals (singles, doubles, trios, team and all-events) and one silver medal (Masters) at 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships
- Two gold medals (trios and team) and three silver (singles, doubles and all-events) at 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships
- 2nd at 2008 USBC Junior Gold Championships
Q: What was your reaction when you found out you had been selected to compete in the World Youth Championships?
CB: “When I found out that I had been selected to bowl for the U.S. at the World Youth Championships, I was honored. We have such a great group of talented bowlers, and I am looking forward to spending some of the best moments of my life with them at such a prestigious event. I believe in our team 110 percent and I know that if we just keep our heads up high, make good shots, and go out there and do what we love to do then we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Q: Besides the competition, what are you looking forward to the most on this trip?
CB: “Besides bowling, I am so excited about the trip. If it was not for bowling I would never ever be able to visit some of the countries we have traveled to. I am excited to just see the country in general I know we will be spending so much time in a bowling alley so I just take lots of pictures and enjoy every minute of my vacation.”
Q: If you were allowed only two bowling balls for competition, what would you use?
CB: “If I could only bring two bowling balls with me to a tournament, I would bring something that rolls early with surface for the longer patterns and something that is very smooth that does not flare a lot for the shorter patterns.”
Q: What are a couple of favorite songs in your iPod?
CB: “Where do I even begin with favorite songs?? I would have to say right now I have been listening a lot to the soundtrack of the TV show Glee. They did mashup's of Journey, Madonna and a bunch more. I also like Nickleback. Songs are called Far Away and Never Gonna Be Alone.”
Q: What’s your favorite motivational quote?
CB: “There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” - Michael Jordan