Team USA finishes strong at 2024 PANAM Bowling Championships
August 25, 2024
Tournament Page
RENO, Nev. – The 20 athletes representing Team USA at the 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships have concluded their time on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, collecting a total of 26 medals across five days of competition.
The group added 11 medals to the count Saturday as the team event concluded and medalists were determined in all-events across the 24 games of the week. Seven of the medals were gold, bringing Team USA’s total to 15 in Reno. The program also collected seven silvers and four bronzes.
The tournament got underway Monday and featured Adult (Elite), Senior (age 50 and over) and Super Senior (age 60 and over) classifications for both men and women. Competition included singles, doubles, mixed doubles (Super Senior only), trios (Elite and Senior only) and team disciplines.
On Saturday, Team USA recorded three wins in team (Elite Men, Senior Men, Senior Women) and four in all-events.
The Elite men’s squad averaged more than 235 as a unit in team, setting a new team record at the PANAM Bowling Championships to earn the gold medal with a 7,052 total. The winning crew featured Packy Hanrahan, AJ Johnson, Jake Peters, Spencer Robarge, Julian Salinas and Darren Tang.
Johnson and Tang, along with Senior Team USA member John Janawicz, previously posted the team record at the 2019 event in Lima, Peru, with 6,929.
Canada took home the silver medal in Reno with 6,967, and Mexico collected the bronze medal with 6,777.
Team USA trailed Canada by 53 pins heading into the final three games, but the group posted 1,173 in its first game Saturday to take over the top spot. They followed with 1,226 to build the lead to nearly 170 pins heading into the final game.
The pace for the United States slowed down in the last game, though, as the Canadian team started to put together strikes and challenge for the win. Ultimately, Team USA was able to stay ahead of the charge to finish with 1,095. Canada posted 1,179 in the final game.
Over six games Friday and Saturday, Robarge led the way with a 1,478 total. Hanrahan had 1,448, Tang posted 1,444 and Peters rolled 1,375. Salinas put up 655 toward the team total Friday, and Johnson added 652 on Saturday.
Hanrahan and Robarge entered Saturday’s block separated by just 21 pins for the top spot in all-events in the men’s Elite category, and Hanrahan held an eight-pin advantage over his teammate going into the final game.
The pair previously captured the gold medal in doubles Wednesday and added Salinas to the mix for silver in trios Thursday. Hanrahan started the week with gold in singles.
Robarge closed his final game first with 236, while Hanrahan, bowling in the anchor position, was working on a spare and needed a strike on his first delivery for the chance to take the gold on his own.
The two-handed southpaw left a 7 pin, however, meaning a spare and strike on his fill ball would put him at 228 and result in a tie after 24 games at 5,738. Hanrahan covered the spare and rolled the necessary strike to match Robarge to share another gold for Team USA.
The winning tally also set a record at the PANAM Championships. Johnson posted 5,690 to win all-events in 2019.
“Our coach came down after I spared and said, ‘By the way, if you strike here, you can tie for all-events,’” Hanrahan said. “I thought that’d be really cool, having two of our guys on the podium next to each other. It was a really special moment, especially getting to share it with Spencer.”
“To win all-events with Packy is insane,” Robarge said. “We were so close and just going back and forth. I thought he was going to get the strike to shut me out, and when the messenger didn’t hit, I looked at him and told him to make the spare and please strike. I didn’t want it by myself. I wanted both of us to have it, and he went up and did exactly what he needed to do.”
Mexico’s Ricardo Lecuona took home the bronze medal in all-events with 5,627, while Peters finished fourth with 5,606.
Hanrahan made his Team USA debut this week in Reno and medaled in each event. He took in a lot during the experience and appreciated the way his teammates continued to fight throughout the event, especially during the final game of team.
“It’s my first time with the team and being able to hang out with these guys and compete with them instead of against them, so I’ve been learning about them and this team and finding out what this program is all about,” Hanrahan said. “I had moments this week I’ll never forget. To do it with these guys supporting you every step of the way is the best part.
“Everyone was able to lock back in, especially when that last pair got hard. We hoped to put some pressure on Canada, but coming down the stretch, all those guys were striking and applied the pressure right back to us. We were a little behind to start the day, then way ahead, and with two frames to go, it felt like we were dead even. Everyone supported each other with every shot, and we just kept reminding each other of the key things we had been focusing on all week to make sure we were throwing our best shots to get the job done.”
Robarge was making his debut on the adult team this week after four years on Junior Team USA and credited his teammates in helping him perform his best.
“This has probably been one of the best weeks of bowling in my life,” Robarge said. “When we got here, we all knew each other a little bit – I know Packy and Julian pretty well, but I didn’t really know AJ, Darren and Jake all that well. They welcomed me in with open arms and made me really feel like a valued member of this team and that freed my swing up so much. To win the gold with them, I can’t put it into words. It’s what you dream of when you put USA on your back.”
Johnson is the veteran of the men’s Elite squad this week as a 10-time member of Team USA. He was impressed with how the group worked together to get the job done to close the team event.
“Packy and Spencer were bowling really well this week – it showed in their scores and how they bowled together and what they were able to do,” Johnson said. “For Darren, Jake and I today, and Julian yesterday, we had to manage the pocket and throw a couple three baggers and get as much score as we could because we knew those guys were going to keep striking.
“That last pair was so tricky on the right side, because I feel there was nothing but urethane thrown on that pair. We had to try and manage it. There were a couple errors in the middle of that game, but it was important that we didn’t lose control during the last game. It felt like because the scores were so high this week that it was easy to spin out of control if you weren’t seeing the pair all that well or if your ball wasn’t striking when you were hitting the pocket consistently. We all worked really well together. Some of us have worked together a few times, and some of us hadn’t worked together at all. For us to come together for a week and put everything together the way we needed to down the stretch and have trust in each other was a huge thing.”
The women’s team for the Senior division completed their sweep for the week in Reno, claiming gold in all five events.
The group featured Dana Ausec, Kathy Ledford and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers Liz Johnson and Jodi Woessner. They cruised to the team gold by more than 300 pins with a 5,020 total. Mexico collected silver with 4,701, and Puerto Rico took home bronze with 4,522.
Johnson (5,086), Woessner (4,963) and Ausec (4,831) also finished in the top three spots in all-events, while Ledford was fifth (4,648).
Team USA set the pace early in the team event, rolling scores of 885, 874 and 820 on Friday to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the field. They built on their advantage Saturday to complete the task.
Johnson led the way with 1,281 in team and was followed by Ausec (1,273), Woessner (1,270) and Ledford (1,196).
“We had a really great game plan, and (Team USA assistant coach) Andy (Diercks) had a great game plan individually for all of us,” Ledford said. “We spoke on every shot and were very quick to make our moves.”
Woessner started the week with the win in singles, while Johnson earned the silver medal. Team USA claimed the top two spots in doubles (Ausec and Johnson – gold, Ledford and Woessner – silver), and the team of Ausec, Johnson of Woessner collected the gold in trios.
Ledford made her debut with Team USA this week at the National Bowling Stadium, and she was grateful for the chance to represent her country alongside her teammates as she closed the week beside them at the top of the podium.
“I had a pretty awesome group of girls to rely on, and having Liz Johnson as your anchor is probably the best feeling in the world,” Ledford said. “This whole week was a really wonderful experience. I learned a ton, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to represent.
“It was absolutely phenomenal and a dream come true of mine. I always wanted to be part of an Olympic-like event. To be gifted to not only bowl with my teammates, but also work with these great coaches, was a great opportunity.”
The men’s team in the Senior category also closed the week with gold in team, as Janawicz recorded the top score in all-events.
Janawicz was joined on Team USA by Tom Adcock, Steve Badovinac and Dan Knowlton at the National Bowling Stadium, and the group posted a 5,246 total to win gold by 401 pins. Mexico secured silver with 4,845, and Brazil took home bronze with 4,765.
In all-events, Janawicz put together an impressive 5,444 total to also separate himself from the field by more than 280 pins. Mexico teammates Mario Quintero (5,161) and Francisco Peralta (5,151) earned silver and bronze, respectively, while Knowlton (5,076) and Adcock (5,068) followed in fourth and fifth.
Team USA rallied to take over the lead in team during the final game Friday, posting 946. They continued strong Saturday, finishing with 898, 949 and 857 as Janawicz fired games of 267, 279 and 220 for 766.
Janawicz had 1,427 in team and was followed by Badovinac (1,316), Knowlton (1,300) and Adcock (1,203).
After averaging just over 212 in singles and doubles, Janawicz was able to dial everything in and average more than 240 for his final 12 games of the week.
“The first couple days, I feel like I had a somewhat clear picture – close but not close – and had to kind of see if there were trends of things of what I needed to do,” said Janawicz, a USBC Hall of Famer. “I fine-tuned ball speed and roll more than anything, and the part of the lane I needed to be in. In the last couple days, I started to figure out what I needed to do. Watching and talking with my teammates and seeing what they were doing also helped me see where I needed to be for my game.”
The teamwork and communication was key in helping the group get settled in during Game 3 on Friday. The momentum continued Saturday as they averaged more than 225 to claim the gold medal.
“I think we just got off to a slow start,” Janawicz said. “We weren’t quite clicking the first couple games, but it started to get a little bit better. With good communication, we were able to get each other lined up and it definitely worked out in Game 3. We used some of the things we learned to get there a lot faster today, and fortunately, we had a good look right away on the first pair. It was a great feeling to help contribute and help the team get a couple gold medals.”
The men’s senior squad also swept the medals in singles (Knowlton – gold, Adcock – silver, Janawicz – bronze) and recorded the victory in trios with Adcock, Janawicz and Knowlton. Adcock and Knowlton also earned bronze in doubles.
Badovinac collected his first medal of the week in the team event, and he’ll now add it to the five he secured at the 2018 PANAM Bowling Senior Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
That week, he won gold in doubles, trios and team and earned silver in all-events and bronze in Masters. He connected the two experiences through the people he’s been able to meet through his journey on and off the lanes.
“Being a military brat and having traveled the world and seen different cultures, the biggest thing for me is that in 2018, I was able to meet so many of these people and experience so many of them again,” Badovinac said. “To experience that and give them recognition for great performances and create great international connections and friendships is really special.
“To carry it over with a gold medal for Team USA – there’s nothing more important than representing your country. I cried on the podium, and I knew I would. It just means so much to me being an Army brat and knowing what my dad did for our country. Being able to hear our national anthem, there’s not a better song on the planet. I’m so grateful for the honor and so happy to be part of the team to get the job done.”
The connection with his teammates in Reno also was very meaningful for Badovinac, and he prided himself on being there for them.
“I think the best part is learning to get to know one another,” Badovinac said. “Over the last few years bowling other events, I’ve gotten to know Tom and Dan. Getting to be around JJ and watch him on the PBA50 Tour and talk to him and learn about him as a human was a great experience.
“The lanes were tricky, and it’s an evolution. You keep figuring out more each day and try to be better each day. I think it’s easier to build on that, and when you’re not bowling well, the key is to be a great teammate. In trios, I didn’t get to bowl, but I’ve been in the same position where I was able to bowl and someone else didn’t. I’ve been on both sides and know the importance of being a great teammate. Overall, I think the coaches were great and the chemistry was phenomenal. It’s really fun to get to know people that have the same passion for the sport.”
Mexico won the gold medal in the women’s Elite team event, averaging nearly 220 as a group to finish with a 6,586 total.
Iliana Lomeli led Mexico’s performance with a 1,347 total, and she was joined by Sandra Gongora (1,342), Paola Limon (1,339), Lilia Robles (1,322) and Tannya Lopez (1,236). Mexico’s sixth member at the 2024 event was Maria Cornejo.
Colombia averaged more than 223 on Saturday to move into second place with 6,485 to edge the United States (6,479) for the silver medal by six pins.
Lauren Russo led Team USA’s performance, rolling 765 on Saturday to finish team with 1,363. Jillian Martin had 1,348, Shannon Pluhowsky posted 1,330 and Breanna Clemmer finished with 1,213. Crystal Elliott gave the team 663 on Friday, and Hope Gramly added 562 on Saturday.
Costa Rica’s Elena Weinstok won her second gold of the 2024 event in all-events, averaging more than 229 to finish with a 5,508 total. She also was victorious in singles at the National Bowling Stadium.
Pluhowsky earned the silver medal with 5,440, and Aruba’s Kamilah Dammers fired 287 in her final game to secure the bronze medal with 5,320.
Martin was fifth at 5,246, and Russo was sixth with 5,236.
The women’s Elite squad captured the gold medal in trios for Team USA, as Martin, Pluhowsky and Russo rolled a record score to collect the win Thursday, and Clemmer and Elliott paired up for silver in doubles Wednesday.
Although the group just missed the silver medal in team Saturday, they are walking away from the 2024 event knowing they can build on the things they learned in Reno.
“That’s not exactly how we wanted it to end,” Pluhowsky said. “Everyone could look back and say if I would have done this, we would have got silver. But, I think we did well this week. Our zone is getting stronger every year, and we’ll keep working to get better for next time.
“A lot of us don’t bowl together too often – we bowl against each other all the time. So, I think we learned a lot about what each person likes to hear, what they like to see, what they feel and how they see transition. I think everyone played well off each other this week, and we’ll be stronger for the next time.”
This week’s coaching staff featured Team USA head coach Bryan O’Keefe and assistants Andy Diercks and Bob Learn Jr.
O’Keefe noted the unique experience of having four teams at a single location, along with many of the opportunities to learn throughout the program’s time in Reno.
“This was the first time I’ve had four different teams, which made for long but fun days,” O’Keefe said. “We watched people put on the red, white and blue for the first time, and others who have worn it countless times. It always feels great to represent the country, all the USBC members and everyone associated with the program. It feels awesome to come away with as many medals as we did. It’s always a learning process, and the PANAM Championships is a great place for people to gain some experience if they get called upon for a world event down the road. Andy and Bob are some of the best in the business, and I’m glad they were able to come out and support us.”
Team USA did not field a team for the Super Senior classification. The gold medal in the mixed team event for the Super Senior field went to Mexico’s Veronica Berumen, Maria Ruiz, Mario Garcia and Rafael Gomez with a 4,553 total.
Ruiz also claimed the women’s all-events title with a 4,363 total. Colombia’s David Romero won the men’s all-events gold with 4,773.
The 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships featured 19 countries from within the Western Hemisphere.
The next event on the schedule for Team USA will take place in October at the PANAM Champion of Champions in Lima, Peru. The tournament is slated for Oct. 5-10, and the traveling team for the United States includes Elliott, Bryanna Coté, Matt Russo and Chris Via.
RENO, Nev. – The 20 athletes representing Team USA at the 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships have concluded their time on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, collecting a total of 26 medals across five days of competition.
The group added 11 medals to the count Saturday as the team event concluded and medalists were determined in all-events across the 24 games of the week. Seven of the medals were gold, bringing Team USA’s total to 15 in Reno. The program also collected seven silvers and four bronzes.
The tournament got underway Monday and featured Adult (Elite), Senior (age 50 and over) and Super Senior (age 60 and over) classifications for both men and women. Competition included singles, doubles, mixed doubles (Super Senior only), trios (Elite and Senior only) and team disciplines.
On Saturday, Team USA recorded three wins in team (Elite Men, Senior Men, Senior Women) and four in all-events.
The Elite men’s squad averaged more than 235 as a unit in team, setting a new team record at the PANAM Bowling Championships to earn the gold medal with a 7,052 total. The winning crew featured Packy Hanrahan, AJ Johnson, Jake Peters, Spencer Robarge, Julian Salinas and Darren Tang.
Johnson and Tang, along with Senior Team USA member John Janawicz, previously posted the team record at the 2019 event in Lima, Peru, with 6,929.
Canada took home the silver medal in Reno with 6,967, and Mexico collected the bronze medal with 6,777.
Team USA trailed Canada by 53 pins heading into the final three games, but the group posted 1,173 in its first game Saturday to take over the top spot. They followed with 1,226 to build the lead to nearly 170 pins heading into the final game.
The pace for the United States slowed down in the last game, though, as the Canadian team started to put together strikes and challenge for the win. Ultimately, Team USA was able to stay ahead of the charge to finish with 1,095. Canada posted 1,179 in the final game.
Over six games Friday and Saturday, Robarge led the way with a 1,478 total. Hanrahan had 1,448, Tang posted 1,444 and Peters rolled 1,375. Salinas put up 655 toward the team total Friday, and Johnson added 652 on Saturday.
Hanrahan and Robarge entered Saturday’s block separated by just 21 pins for the top spot in all-events in the men’s Elite category, and Hanrahan held an eight-pin advantage over his teammate going into the final game.
The pair previously captured the gold medal in doubles Wednesday and added Salinas to the mix for silver in trios Thursday. Hanrahan started the week with gold in singles.
Robarge closed his final game first with 236, while Hanrahan, bowling in the anchor position, was working on a spare and needed a strike on his first delivery for the chance to take the gold on his own.
The two-handed southpaw left a 7 pin, however, meaning a spare and strike on his fill ball would put him at 228 and result in a tie after 24 games at 5,738. Hanrahan covered the spare and rolled the necessary strike to match Robarge to share another gold for Team USA.
The winning tally also set a record at the PANAM Championships. Johnson posted 5,690 to win all-events in 2019.
“Our coach came down after I spared and said, ‘By the way, if you strike here, you can tie for all-events,’” Hanrahan said. “I thought that’d be really cool, having two of our guys on the podium next to each other. It was a really special moment, especially getting to share it with Spencer.”
“To win all-events with Packy is insane,” Robarge said. “We were so close and just going back and forth. I thought he was going to get the strike to shut me out, and when the messenger didn’t hit, I looked at him and told him to make the spare and please strike. I didn’t want it by myself. I wanted both of us to have it, and he went up and did exactly what he needed to do.”
Mexico’s Ricardo Lecuona took home the bronze medal in all-events with 5,627, while Peters finished fourth with 5,606.
Hanrahan made his Team USA debut this week in Reno and medaled in each event. He took in a lot during the experience and appreciated the way his teammates continued to fight throughout the event, especially during the final game of team.
“It’s my first time with the team and being able to hang out with these guys and compete with them instead of against them, so I’ve been learning about them and this team and finding out what this program is all about,” Hanrahan said. “I had moments this week I’ll never forget. To do it with these guys supporting you every step of the way is the best part.
“Everyone was able to lock back in, especially when that last pair got hard. We hoped to put some pressure on Canada, but coming down the stretch, all those guys were striking and applied the pressure right back to us. We were a little behind to start the day, then way ahead, and with two frames to go, it felt like we were dead even. Everyone supported each other with every shot, and we just kept reminding each other of the key things we had been focusing on all week to make sure we were throwing our best shots to get the job done.”
Robarge was making his debut on the adult team this week after four years on Junior Team USA and credited his teammates in helping him perform his best.
“This has probably been one of the best weeks of bowling in my life,” Robarge said. “When we got here, we all knew each other a little bit – I know Packy and Julian pretty well, but I didn’t really know AJ, Darren and Jake all that well. They welcomed me in with open arms and made me really feel like a valued member of this team and that freed my swing up so much. To win the gold with them, I can’t put it into words. It’s what you dream of when you put USA on your back.”
Johnson is the veteran of the men’s Elite squad this week as a 10-time member of Team USA. He was impressed with how the group worked together to get the job done to close the team event.
“Packy and Spencer were bowling really well this week – it showed in their scores and how they bowled together and what they were able to do,” Johnson said. “For Darren, Jake and I today, and Julian yesterday, we had to manage the pocket and throw a couple three baggers and get as much score as we could because we knew those guys were going to keep striking.
“That last pair was so tricky on the right side, because I feel there was nothing but urethane thrown on that pair. We had to try and manage it. There were a couple errors in the middle of that game, but it was important that we didn’t lose control during the last game. It felt like because the scores were so high this week that it was easy to spin out of control if you weren’t seeing the pair all that well or if your ball wasn’t striking when you were hitting the pocket consistently. We all worked really well together. Some of us have worked together a few times, and some of us hadn’t worked together at all. For us to come together for a week and put everything together the way we needed to down the stretch and have trust in each other was a huge thing.”
The women’s team for the Senior division completed their sweep for the week in Reno, claiming gold in all five events.
The group featured Dana Ausec, Kathy Ledford and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers Liz Johnson and Jodi Woessner. They cruised to the team gold by more than 300 pins with a 5,020 total. Mexico collected silver with 4,701, and Puerto Rico took home bronze with 4,522.
Johnson (5,086), Woessner (4,963) and Ausec (4,831) also finished in the top three spots in all-events, while Ledford was fifth (4,648).
Team USA set the pace early in the team event, rolling scores of 885, 874 and 820 on Friday to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the field. They built on their advantage Saturday to complete the task.
Johnson led the way with 1,281 in team and was followed by Ausec (1,273), Woessner (1,270) and Ledford (1,196).
“We had a really great game plan, and (Team USA assistant coach) Andy (Diercks) had a great game plan individually for all of us,” Ledford said. “We spoke on every shot and were very quick to make our moves.”
Woessner started the week with the win in singles, while Johnson earned the silver medal. Team USA claimed the top two spots in doubles (Ausec and Johnson – gold, Ledford and Woessner – silver), and the team of Ausec, Johnson of Woessner collected the gold in trios.
Ledford made her debut with Team USA this week at the National Bowling Stadium, and she was grateful for the chance to represent her country alongside her teammates as she closed the week beside them at the top of the podium.
“I had a pretty awesome group of girls to rely on, and having Liz Johnson as your anchor is probably the best feeling in the world,” Ledford said. “This whole week was a really wonderful experience. I learned a ton, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to represent.
“It was absolutely phenomenal and a dream come true of mine. I always wanted to be part of an Olympic-like event. To be gifted to not only bowl with my teammates, but also work with these great coaches, was a great opportunity.”
The men’s team in the Senior category also closed the week with gold in team, as Janawicz recorded the top score in all-events.
Janawicz was joined on Team USA by Tom Adcock, Steve Badovinac and Dan Knowlton at the National Bowling Stadium, and the group posted a 5,246 total to win gold by 401 pins. Mexico secured silver with 4,845, and Brazil took home bronze with 4,765.
In all-events, Janawicz put together an impressive 5,444 total to also separate himself from the field by more than 280 pins. Mexico teammates Mario Quintero (5,161) and Francisco Peralta (5,151) earned silver and bronze, respectively, while Knowlton (5,076) and Adcock (5,068) followed in fourth and fifth.
Team USA rallied to take over the lead in team during the final game Friday, posting 946. They continued strong Saturday, finishing with 898, 949 and 857 as Janawicz fired games of 267, 279 and 220 for 766.
Janawicz had 1,427 in team and was followed by Badovinac (1,316), Knowlton (1,300) and Adcock (1,203).
After averaging just over 212 in singles and doubles, Janawicz was able to dial everything in and average more than 240 for his final 12 games of the week.
“The first couple days, I feel like I had a somewhat clear picture – close but not close – and had to kind of see if there were trends of things of what I needed to do,” said Janawicz, a USBC Hall of Famer. “I fine-tuned ball speed and roll more than anything, and the part of the lane I needed to be in. In the last couple days, I started to figure out what I needed to do. Watching and talking with my teammates and seeing what they were doing also helped me see where I needed to be for my game.”
The teamwork and communication was key in helping the group get settled in during Game 3 on Friday. The momentum continued Saturday as they averaged more than 225 to claim the gold medal.
“I think we just got off to a slow start,” Janawicz said. “We weren’t quite clicking the first couple games, but it started to get a little bit better. With good communication, we were able to get each other lined up and it definitely worked out in Game 3. We used some of the things we learned to get there a lot faster today, and fortunately, we had a good look right away on the first pair. It was a great feeling to help contribute and help the team get a couple gold medals.”
The men’s senior squad also swept the medals in singles (Knowlton – gold, Adcock – silver, Janawicz – bronze) and recorded the victory in trios with Adcock, Janawicz and Knowlton. Adcock and Knowlton also earned bronze in doubles.
Badovinac collected his first medal of the week in the team event, and he’ll now add it to the five he secured at the 2018 PANAM Bowling Senior Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
That week, he won gold in doubles, trios and team and earned silver in all-events and bronze in Masters. He connected the two experiences through the people he’s been able to meet through his journey on and off the lanes.
“Being a military brat and having traveled the world and seen different cultures, the biggest thing for me is that in 2018, I was able to meet so many of these people and experience so many of them again,” Badovinac said. “To experience that and give them recognition for great performances and create great international connections and friendships is really special.
“To carry it over with a gold medal for Team USA – there’s nothing more important than representing your country. I cried on the podium, and I knew I would. It just means so much to me being an Army brat and knowing what my dad did for our country. Being able to hear our national anthem, there’s not a better song on the planet. I’m so grateful for the honor and so happy to be part of the team to get the job done.”
The connection with his teammates in Reno also was very meaningful for Badovinac, and he prided himself on being there for them.
“I think the best part is learning to get to know one another,” Badovinac said. “Over the last few years bowling other events, I’ve gotten to know Tom and Dan. Getting to be around JJ and watch him on the PBA50 Tour and talk to him and learn about him as a human was a great experience.
“The lanes were tricky, and it’s an evolution. You keep figuring out more each day and try to be better each day. I think it’s easier to build on that, and when you’re not bowling well, the key is to be a great teammate. In trios, I didn’t get to bowl, but I’ve been in the same position where I was able to bowl and someone else didn’t. I’ve been on both sides and know the importance of being a great teammate. Overall, I think the coaches were great and the chemistry was phenomenal. It’s really fun to get to know people that have the same passion for the sport.”
Mexico won the gold medal in the women’s Elite team event, averaging nearly 220 as a group to finish with a 6,586 total.
Iliana Lomeli led Mexico’s performance with a 1,347 total, and she was joined by Sandra Gongora (1,342), Paola Limon (1,339), Lilia Robles (1,322) and Tannya Lopez (1,236). Mexico’s sixth member at the 2024 event was Maria Cornejo.
Colombia averaged more than 223 on Saturday to move into second place with 6,485 to edge the United States (6,479) for the silver medal by six pins.
Lauren Russo led Team USA’s performance, rolling 765 on Saturday to finish team with 1,363. Jillian Martin had 1,348, Shannon Pluhowsky posted 1,330 and Breanna Clemmer finished with 1,213. Crystal Elliott gave the team 663 on Friday, and Hope Gramly added 562 on Saturday.
Costa Rica’s Elena Weinstok won her second gold of the 2024 event in all-events, averaging more than 229 to finish with a 5,508 total. She also was victorious in singles at the National Bowling Stadium.
Pluhowsky earned the silver medal with 5,440, and Aruba’s Kamilah Dammers fired 287 in her final game to secure the bronze medal with 5,320.
Martin was fifth at 5,246, and Russo was sixth with 5,236.
The women’s Elite squad captured the gold medal in trios for Team USA, as Martin, Pluhowsky and Russo rolled a record score to collect the win Thursday, and Clemmer and Elliott paired up for silver in doubles Wednesday.
Although the group just missed the silver medal in team Saturday, they are walking away from the 2024 event knowing they can build on the things they learned in Reno.
“That’s not exactly how we wanted it to end,” Pluhowsky said. “Everyone could look back and say if I would have done this, we would have got silver. But, I think we did well this week. Our zone is getting stronger every year, and we’ll keep working to get better for next time.
“A lot of us don’t bowl together too often – we bowl against each other all the time. So, I think we learned a lot about what each person likes to hear, what they like to see, what they feel and how they see transition. I think everyone played well off each other this week, and we’ll be stronger for the next time.”
This week’s coaching staff featured Team USA head coach Bryan O’Keefe and assistants Andy Diercks and Bob Learn Jr.
O’Keefe noted the unique experience of having four teams at a single location, along with many of the opportunities to learn throughout the program’s time in Reno.
“This was the first time I’ve had four different teams, which made for long but fun days,” O’Keefe said. “We watched people put on the red, white and blue for the first time, and others who have worn it countless times. It always feels great to represent the country, all the USBC members and everyone associated with the program. It feels awesome to come away with as many medals as we did. It’s always a learning process, and the PANAM Championships is a great place for people to gain some experience if they get called upon for a world event down the road. Andy and Bob are some of the best in the business, and I’m glad they were able to come out and support us.”
Team USA did not field a team for the Super Senior classification. The gold medal in the mixed team event for the Super Senior field went to Mexico’s Veronica Berumen, Maria Ruiz, Mario Garcia and Rafael Gomez with a 4,553 total.
Ruiz also claimed the women’s all-events title with a 4,363 total. Colombia’s David Romero won the men’s all-events gold with 4,773.
The 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships featured 19 countries from within the Western Hemisphere.
The next event on the schedule for Team USA will take place in October at the PANAM Champion of Champions in Lima, Peru. The tournament is slated for Oct. 5-10, and the traveling team for the United States includes Elliott, Bryanna Coté, Matt Russo and Chris Via.