Janawicz, Falk on top at Team USA Trials

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HENDERSON, Nev. -
Amanda Falk of Tucson, Ariz., maintained her first-round lead, while past Team USA member John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., took over the men's top spot Wednesday after two rounds at the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials.

Falk, who competes collegiately at Central Missouri, leads the women's field with 3,992 for 18 games, an average of 221.7. Janawicz has an 18-game total of 4,190, an average of 232.7, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas.

The left-handed Falk opened the tournament with a nine-game block of 2,024 and followed it up with 1,968 on Wednesday. She leads Junior Team USA member Jennifer Boisselle of Brandon, Fla., by just eight pins. Past Team USA member Brenda Edwards of Mansfield, Texas, is third, 10 pins off the lead.

"I just want to stay focused and stay calm the rest of the way," Falk said. "I didn't want to have a big drop off after the first day, so I'm happy with my performance today."

Janawicz, a Team USA member in 2007 and 2008, had the highest nine-game block of the day with 2,157 to earn a $500 bonus as the men's day leader.

Professional Bowlers Association exempt player Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., is second, 28 pins back. First-round leader Craig Hanson of Orlando, Fla., dropped to third, 160 pins off the lead.

"I struggled a lot on the short pattern last year, and this year I came in with a different game plan," said Janawicz, who finished eighth at last year's Team USA Trials. "I used two different urethane balls and as the lanes began to break down, I just took some hand out of the ball and tried to keep it in play."

Emily Maier of Wichita, Kan., had the tournament's second perfect game and sits in fourth place overall, 151 pins off the lead. Josh McBride, also of Wichita, shot 300 in Tuesday's opening round.

Competition continues Thursday with the third 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.
Wednesday's Results
(Top 5; 18 games)

MEN

1, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 4,190. 2, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 4,162. 3, Craig Hanson, Orlando, Fla., 4,030. 4, Rickie Banister, Peyton, Colo., 4,008. 5, Bill Pfister, Columbia, Md., 3,988.

WOMEN

1, Amanda Falk, Tucson, Ariz., 3,992. 2, Jennifer Boisselle, Brandon, Fla., 3,984. 3, Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 3,982. 4, Emily Maier, Wichita, Kan., 3,841. 5, Tennelle Milligan, Arlington, Texas, 3,828.