Team USA grabbed eight medals in doubles at the 48th Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas on Wednesday, taking gold in both Junior Men divisions at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The teams of Cassidy Schaub/Chris Bardol and Lucy Sandelin/Carol Teel also took gold in Adult Men and Senior Women divisions respectively.

A sluggish start left Schaub/Bardol in fourth place after three games, but the duo rebounded in the final set, firing combined scores of 472, 460 and 473 for a six-game total of 2611. They ultimately won the Adult Male division by more than 100 pins.

“It was great to see them fight back,” said Team USA Assistant Coach Bryan O’Keefe. “They were down after three games but they turned it around. They were really getting into it in those last three games. They were more vocal, they showed support for each other, and they bowled great.”

But the story of the afternoon was the score-fest performed by Michael Conn and Kyle King in the Junior A Men division, averaging 220 for the day on lane conditions that continued to test the skill and patience of the entire field. Two games in which they shot combined scores of over 500 (503 in game two, 512 in game six) contributed to the highest six-game total of the day at 2,635.

“Overall things went better for us today,” O’Keefe said. “We came in with a better game plan, but I am hesitant to say that we found something because the lanes are still very difficult.”

One thing they did find, though, was a secret weapon that they will surely resort to for the rest of the week.

“The guys had the power of the white belt today,” O’Keefe jokes. “All four wore the white belt and I told them it was worth at least eleven pins a game. I think they all believe me as of now.”

More medals will be awarded this afternoon after six games of mixed doubles action.