Four bowlers earn Team USA spots at Summer Trials

ARLINGTON, Texas - Geoffrey Young of Denton, Texas, Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan., Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, and Kayla Johnson of Washington, Ill., earned automatic spots on Team USA 2014 on Sunday as the United States Bowling Congress Summer Team USA Trials came to a close.

Young led the men's field with a 15-game total of 3,418 (227.87 average), while Bohr was second with 3,415 at the International Training and Research Center. Dorin-Ballard dominated the women's division with 3,407, while Johnson was second with 3,193.

The top two players in each division after 15 games earned the automatic spots on Team USA in 2014. The remainder of the Team USA roster will be determined and announced at the 2014 USBC Team USA Trials in January.

Bohr and YoungIn the final frame, Young got just enough to stay ahead of Bohr to earn the victory to earn his first spot on Team USA.

"Making Team USA has been a goal for a very long time, and all the hard work and dedication has really paid off," said Young, a former standout at Wichita State who was a member of Junior Team USA in 2008 and 2009. "I was really nervous the first four frames of that last game, but I just got really focused and made better shots to get there."

For Bohr, who was also a standout at Wichita State, it marks a return to Team USA since his last stint on the team in 2008 and 2009.

"I think this is the first time I've made the team on my own merit instead of being selected, and that's a good feeling," said Bohr, who was also a member of Junior Team USA in 2000, 2001 and 2002. "The talent and knowledge you get as being a member of Team USA is something you can't get anywhere else."

CDB and JohnsonOn the women's side, USBC Hall of Famer Dorin-Ballard dominated the event from start to finish and earned a spot on Team USA for the fifth time and the first time since 2011.

"People thought I retired, but I really just took a couple years off," said Dorin-Ballard, who helped Team USA to the women's team gold medal at the World Championships in 2011. "This weekend was such a great event because of so many great, young bowlers who came to try out. It really inspires me and gives me hope for the future."

Johnson, a hard-throwing, high-rev right-hander, earned a spot on Team USA for the first time. She came up clutch in the final frame Friday, tossing a double to edge past Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky by just 10 pins.

"I don't even have words because it's everyone's dream to make Team USA," said Johnson, who was a standout collegiate bowler at Nebraska. "I'm super excited for the learning portion of Team USA. I can't wait for the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest coaches in the game."

The Summer Team USA Trials featured 31 men and 28 women competing for spots on Team USA. For more information on the Summer Team USA Trials, visit BOWL.com/SummerTrials.

USBC SUMMER TEAM USA TRIALS
At the International Training and Research Center, Arlington, Texas
Sunday's results

MEN
(15 games, top two earn spots on Team USA 2014)

1, Geoffrey Young, Denton, Texas, 3,418.
2, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,415.
3, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 3,370.
4, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 3,361.
5, Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 3,316.
6, Mike Fagan, Hurst, Texas, 3,314.
7, Anthony Pepe, East Elmhurst, N.Y., 3,287.
8, Kevin Andes, Wichita, Kan., 3,256.
9, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 3,201.
10, Vince Biondo III, Carpentersville, Ill., 3,188.
11, Paul Bober, Morton Grove, Ill., 3,180.
12, Chris Kliczinski, Pinckney, Mich., 3,170.
13, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 3,145.
14, Justin Mandell, Orlando, Fla., 3,067.
15, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 3,058.
16, Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., 3,053.
17, Nathan VanPutten, Houston, Texas, 3,035.
18, Devin Bidwell, Simi Valley , Calif., 3,031.
19, Xeno Garcia, Fort Worth, Texas, 3,018.
20, Chad Newman, Grapevine, Texas, 2,995.
21, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,973.
22, Gilbert Sanchez, Mulvane, Kan., 2,957.
23, Alan Chetister, Arlington, Texas, 2,950.
24, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 2,927.
25, Michael Newton, Arlington, Texas, 2,865.
26, Eric Martinez, San Antonio, Texas, 2,850.
27, Brent Bowers, Mulvane, Kan., 2,793.
28, Scott Dull, Cresson, Texas, 2,753.
29, Andrew Berry, Arvada, Colo., 2,740.
30, Antonio Garcia, Northglen, Colo., 2,718.
31, Michael Bailey, Allen, Texas, 1,725.

WOMEN
(15 games, top two earn spots on Team USA 2014

1, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 3,407.
2, Kayla Johnson, Washington, Ill., 3,193.
3, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 3,183.
4, Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 3,177.
5, Ashley Rucker, Bartlesville, Okla., 3,159.
6, Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas, 3,127.
7, Suzana Signaigo, Wichita, Kan., 3,066.
8, Megan Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,056.
9, Emily Eckhoff, Denver, Colo., 3,042.
10, Kristina Frahm, Salisbury, Md., 3,004.
11, Vanessa Vera, Coconut Creek, Fla., 3,002.
12, Brenda Padilla, Mansfield , Texas, 2,968.
13, Michelle Crews, Hoover, Ala., 2,936.
14, Ashly Galante, Palm Harbor, Fla., 2,933.
15, Rachael Gittings, Jonesboro, Ark., 2,915.
16, Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., 2,901.
17, Alexis Ijams, Wichita, Kan., 2,900.
18, Gabriella Mayfield, Lake Isabella, Calif., 2,871.
19, Grace Hall, Oklahoma City, Okla., 2,863.
20, Jackie Carbonetto, Blauvelt, N.Y., 2,861.
21, Kimi Davidson, Katy, Texas, 2,849.
22, Holly Harris, Wichita, Kan., 2,797.
23, Brandi Stephens, Stillwater, Okla., 2,779.
24, Melanie DeCarlo, Peru, Ill., 2,751.
25, Anna Groce, Kernersville, N.C., 2,744.
26, Emily Fravel, Houston, Texas, 2,727.
27, Mads McDuff, Katy, Texas, 2,721.
28, Kaitlin Quinn, Mulvane, Kan., 2,653.