Gotchall experiences role reversal at PABCON Championships
September 14, 2016
CALI, Colombia - Over the past five months, Rob Gotchall's step count from walking the concourses of bowling centers across the United States would make any Fitbit enthusiast envious.
He often has been spotted with grease pencil in hand, laying out bowling balls or wading through various paddocks searching for the right equipment to outsmart the latest oil pattern. The 38-year-old right-hander likely has applied gallons of X-tra Skin and countless globs of super glue.
However, most of those chores had nothing to do with adding to his own trophy case. It all simply is part of his job description as a ball company representative on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour, one of the many responsibilities of his day job as a marketing manager.
If you look closely enough while watching a PWBA telecast on CBS Sports Network, you might be able to spot him giving advice to one of the players or nervously pacing in the shadows.
This week, though, Gotchall gladly has given up control of the pro shop tools and Abralon pads to represent Team USA at the Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Some may wonder how Gotchall stays on top of his game while he's busy helping many others. How does he stay sharp and motivated to be the performer his teammates need him to be, especially this week at Bolera Departamental for Team USA's biggest event of 2016?
"I take advantage of weekends when I'm home and evenings after work, along with having some balls on the (PWBA) truck, so I can practice on the road when time allows," said Gotchall, who won four medals, including two golds, in his Team USA debut at the 2014 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in Florida. "I also had almost two weeks at home before the recent (Smithfield) PWBA Tour Championship in Virginia, and I was able to get some practice in on the long patterns, since I knew that's what we'd be seeing here."
For some bowling fans, it may seem unusual to see Gotchall with bowling shoes on, but those who have been around the sport long enough know he long has been a top contender on the lanes, winning events such as the Mini-Eliminator (2008) or famed Bud Light Challenge (2015). He also won a prestigious Regular Team title at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in 2015.
Gotchall may not be a household name like the teammates joining him this week in Colombia - Professional Bowlers Association stars Sean Rash, Ronnie Russell, John Szczerbinski and Marshall Kent and collegiate standout AJ Chapman - but, that's more because of the path he chose in the sport.
"Bowling is one of the few sports you can do and make money but still have a normal job, too," Gotchall said. "I've always been pretty focused on planning for, and having, a career, but I know I also can go out and compete when I want to. I love the sport and the business, and I'm able to enjoy all aspects of bowling in this capacity. I want to make an impact in the industry and as a competitor on the lanes."
As a fellow PWBA Tour ball rep and full-time collegiate coach, Bryan O'Keefe understands the challenges of multiple roles, but he confirms the time spent behind the lanes watching others, learning about equipment and ball motion and seeing transition from a different perspective, actually can help bowlers be more well-rounded and to make faster decisions while competing.
"I think you have to look at the game from two different perspectives, the physical aspect and then everything else, and the more you do either, the sharper you'll be," said O'Keefe, a USBC Gold coach and the head bowling coach at McKendree University. "At the same time, you have to find the right balance, so one doesn't suffer. Sometimes, it's hard to find time to throw enough balls down the lane, and it then becomes about quality over quantity. Rob really has done a great job balancing everything, and he's still one of the top players in the country."
In a similar twist, O'Keefe is joined behind the scenes this week by PBA Tour champion Chris Barnes, who is a member of Team USA and easily could've been chosen to compete at the 2016 PABCON Adult Championships.
Instead, Barnes is at the event representing the United States in a new role as an assistant coach, where his rapport and familiarity with the players and his proven track record as a competitor, have the team members excited about their chances of collecting some medals and qualifying for the 2017 combined World Championships in Kuwait.
"Chris has become an icon of the game, and it's nice to be able to tap into his brain out here," Gotchall said. "It's one thing to understand the fundamentals and lanes and balls, but to also be on the bowling side of it and understand what's happening out there or in certain situations, really is a great tool. Being able to see things from both sides provides a great perspective."
The 2016 Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships runs through Sept. 23, with the men bowling this week and the women taking the lanes beginning Monday.
He often has been spotted with grease pencil in hand, laying out bowling balls or wading through various paddocks searching for the right equipment to outsmart the latest oil pattern. The 38-year-old right-hander likely has applied gallons of X-tra Skin and countless globs of super glue.
However, most of those chores had nothing to do with adding to his own trophy case. It all simply is part of his job description as a ball company representative on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour, one of the many responsibilities of his day job as a marketing manager.
If you look closely enough while watching a PWBA telecast on CBS Sports Network, you might be able to spot him giving advice to one of the players or nervously pacing in the shadows.
This week, though, Gotchall gladly has given up control of the pro shop tools and Abralon pads to represent Team USA at the Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Some may wonder how Gotchall stays on top of his game while he's busy helping many others. How does he stay sharp and motivated to be the performer his teammates need him to be, especially this week at Bolera Departamental for Team USA's biggest event of 2016?
"I take advantage of weekends when I'm home and evenings after work, along with having some balls on the (PWBA) truck, so I can practice on the road when time allows," said Gotchall, who won four medals, including two golds, in his Team USA debut at the 2014 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in Florida. "I also had almost two weeks at home before the recent (Smithfield) PWBA Tour Championship in Virginia, and I was able to get some practice in on the long patterns, since I knew that's what we'd be seeing here."
For some bowling fans, it may seem unusual to see Gotchall with bowling shoes on, but those who have been around the sport long enough know he long has been a top contender on the lanes, winning events such as the Mini-Eliminator (2008) or famed Bud Light Challenge (2015). He also won a prestigious Regular Team title at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in 2015.Gotchall may not be a household name like the teammates joining him this week in Colombia - Professional Bowlers Association stars Sean Rash, Ronnie Russell, John Szczerbinski and Marshall Kent and collegiate standout AJ Chapman - but, that's more because of the path he chose in the sport.
"Bowling is one of the few sports you can do and make money but still have a normal job, too," Gotchall said. "I've always been pretty focused on planning for, and having, a career, but I know I also can go out and compete when I want to. I love the sport and the business, and I'm able to enjoy all aspects of bowling in this capacity. I want to make an impact in the industry and as a competitor on the lanes."
As a fellow PWBA Tour ball rep and full-time collegiate coach, Bryan O'Keefe understands the challenges of multiple roles, but he confirms the time spent behind the lanes watching others, learning about equipment and ball motion and seeing transition from a different perspective, actually can help bowlers be more well-rounded and to make faster decisions while competing.
"I think you have to look at the game from two different perspectives, the physical aspect and then everything else, and the more you do either, the sharper you'll be," said O'Keefe, a USBC Gold coach and the head bowling coach at McKendree University. "At the same time, you have to find the right balance, so one doesn't suffer. Sometimes, it's hard to find time to throw enough balls down the lane, and it then becomes about quality over quantity. Rob really has done a great job balancing everything, and he's still one of the top players in the country."
In a similar twist, O'Keefe is joined behind the scenes this week by PBA Tour champion Chris Barnes, who is a member of Team USA and easily could've been chosen to compete at the 2016 PABCON Adult Championships.
Instead, Barnes is at the event representing the United States in a new role as an assistant coach, where his rapport and familiarity with the players and his proven track record as a competitor, have the team members excited about their chances of collecting some medals and qualifying for the 2017 combined World Championships in Kuwait.
"Chris has become an icon of the game, and it's nice to be able to tap into his brain out here," Gotchall said. "It's one thing to understand the fundamentals and lanes and balls, but to also be on the bowling side of it and understand what's happening out there or in certain situations, really is a great tool. Being able to see things from both sides provides a great perspective."
The 2016 Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships runs through Sept. 23, with the men bowling this week and the women taking the lanes beginning Monday.