Elliott, Jordan lead the way during Day 3 of Team USA Trials
January 06, 2025
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RENO, Nev. – Team USA Trials at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, is just over halfway done, but there is still plenty of time for those to make a run at representing the United States in international competition.
On the women’s side, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, led Day 3 of Team USA Trials averaging a shade over 225 on the day’s 45-foot oil pattern. Elliott used a consistent effort, shooting games of 232, 194, 234, 232, 218 and 242 to vault into the lead after the final game.
“I really just stayed focused on executing great shots,” said Elliott. “Today was about being consistent and controlling the pocket to leave makeable spares, giving the opportunity to carry the pins, which I was ultimately able to do.”
Eliana Occhino of Fulton, New York, placed second on the day with 1,329 and Dannielle Henderson of Jacksonville, Alabama was third at 1,269. Chloe Lemke of Nacogdoches, Texas (1,268), and Maia Struble of Anchorage, Alaska (1,283), close out the women’s top five.
Elliott, who was the 2024 U.S. Amateur champion, is not eligible for amateur status after making the jump to the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour in May. She was named the 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year after the season ended and was selected to go to the 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships, held at the stadium, in August.
For her, making the team last year was a dream come true to represent the county and she has belief that she will make the team for the second straight year, especially after two top-2 finishes in three days of competition.
“It’s an honor to wear U.S. on your back and being able to represent the country you love,” Elliott said. “It’d be really cool to leave this venue with another Team USA jacket because it truly just means that you are one of the elite players.”
Elliott is currently second in overall ranking points with 23, just behind Day 2 leader Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, who has 18 points after an 11th-place finish on Sunday. Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, is third with 24 points and Lemke fourth with 42 points. Just outside the top four is Avery Domaguin of San Diego with 55 points.
Later in the afternoon on the men’s side, the high scores kept coming, as Landin Jordan of Sycamore, Illinois, led the men with a six-game total of 1,411. The Junior Team USA member had games of 259, 174, 252, 225, 258 and 243 as made a new personal high finish at Team USA Trials.
“This was my first time leading a block at this event, my previous high finish for a block was eighth place,” said Jordan, who ended in 33rd and 18th the first two days of this year’s event.
Not far behind Jordan in second was Connor Fleming of Fort Worth, Texas, who ended the day with 1,401. Defending Team USA Trials champion Darren Tang of Las Vegas was third on the day with 1,392. Braden Mallasch of Waupaca, Wisconsin, and C.J. Petrin of Edmond, Oklahoma, tied for fourth with 1,351.
Before the block began, Jordan felt pretty confident on how he would do on the 45-foot pattern, so much so he was willing to put a dinner on the line.
“I woke up this morning and felt pretty good…as my mom and I were coming up the escalator, I told her that if I lead the block, we going to Ruth’s Chris for dinner tonight.”
After his steak dinner, it’s going to be right back to work for Jordon on Monday afternoon, however.
“I just got to keep grinding,” Jordan explained. “Each day is a new day and I want to continue to stay around the top 10 or top 20 and hopefully put myself in a good spot for Day 5.”
Jordan’s performance today puts him in fifth place in the overall standings with 52 ranking points. Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas, leads overall with 27 points, while Petrin is second with 29 points. Nickolas Freiberg of Sparks, Nevada, is third at 44 points with Tang close behind with 46 points.
Luke Switalski of Oak Forest, Illinois, also ended his day on a high note, shooting the event’s second 300 game, joining Dylan Jablonski who had his perfect game on Saturday in Game 5.
Brandolino, Lemke and Domaguin hold the top three spots in the U.S. Amateur division on the women’s side, while Petrin, Jordan and Nick Dudeck of Manhattan, Illinois, are top three for the men.
Competition continues Monday with Day 4 of Team USA Trials, as the women head to the lanes first at 11 a.m. Eastern before the men bowl at 5 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on Team USA, visit BOWL.com/team-usa.
RENO, Nev. – Team USA Trials at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, is just over halfway done, but there is still plenty of time for those to make a run at representing the United States in international competition.
On the women’s side, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, led Day 3 of Team USA Trials averaging a shade over 225 on the day’s 45-foot oil pattern. Elliott used a consistent effort, shooting games of 232, 194, 234, 232, 218 and 242 to vault into the lead after the final game.
“I really just stayed focused on executing great shots,” said Elliott. “Today was about being consistent and controlling the pocket to leave makeable spares, giving the opportunity to carry the pins, which I was ultimately able to do.”
Eliana Occhino of Fulton, New York, placed second on the day with 1,329 and Dannielle Henderson of Jacksonville, Alabama was third at 1,269. Chloe Lemke of Nacogdoches, Texas (1,268), and Maia Struble of Anchorage, Alaska (1,283), close out the women’s top five.
Elliott, who was the 2024 U.S. Amateur champion, is not eligible for amateur status after making the jump to the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour in May. She was named the 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year after the season ended and was selected to go to the 2024 PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships, held at the stadium, in August.
For her, making the team last year was a dream come true to represent the county and she has belief that she will make the team for the second straight year, especially after two top-2 finishes in three days of competition.
“It’s an honor to wear U.S. on your back and being able to represent the country you love,” Elliott said. “It’d be really cool to leave this venue with another Team USA jacket because it truly just means that you are one of the elite players.”
Elliott is currently second in overall ranking points with 23, just behind Day 2 leader Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, who has 18 points after an 11th-place finish on Sunday. Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, is third with 24 points and Lemke fourth with 42 points. Just outside the top four is Avery Domaguin of San Diego with 55 points.
Later in the afternoon on the men’s side, the high scores kept coming, as Landin Jordan of Sycamore, Illinois, led the men with a six-game total of 1,411. The Junior Team USA member had games of 259, 174, 252, 225, 258 and 243 as made a new personal high finish at Team USA Trials.
“This was my first time leading a block at this event, my previous high finish for a block was eighth place,” said Jordan, who ended in 33rd and 18th the first two days of this year’s event.
Not far behind Jordan in second was Connor Fleming of Fort Worth, Texas, who ended the day with 1,401. Defending Team USA Trials champion Darren Tang of Las Vegas was third on the day with 1,392. Braden Mallasch of Waupaca, Wisconsin, and C.J. Petrin of Edmond, Oklahoma, tied for fourth with 1,351.
Before the block began, Jordan felt pretty confident on how he would do on the 45-foot pattern, so much so he was willing to put a dinner on the line.
“I woke up this morning and felt pretty good…as my mom and I were coming up the escalator, I told her that if I lead the block, we going to Ruth’s Chris for dinner tonight.”
After his steak dinner, it’s going to be right back to work for Jordon on Monday afternoon, however.
“I just got to keep grinding,” Jordan explained. “Each day is a new day and I want to continue to stay around the top 10 or top 20 and hopefully put myself in a good spot for Day 5.”
Jordan’s performance today puts him in fifth place in the overall standings with 52 ranking points. Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas, leads overall with 27 points, while Petrin is second with 29 points. Nickolas Freiberg of Sparks, Nevada, is third at 44 points with Tang close behind with 46 points.
Luke Switalski of Oak Forest, Illinois, also ended his day on a high note, shooting the event’s second 300 game, joining Dylan Jablonski who had his perfect game on Saturday in Game 5.
Brandolino, Lemke and Domaguin hold the top three spots in the U.S. Amateur division on the women’s side, while Petrin, Jordan and Nick Dudeck of Manhattan, Illinois, are top three for the men.
Competition continues Monday with Day 4 of Team USA Trials, as the women head to the lanes first at 11 a.m. Eastern before the men bowl at 5 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on Team USA, visit BOWL.com/team-usa.