Junior Team USA, U15 Team enjoy success at 2019 Tournament of the Americas
August 03, 2019
Results
ARLINGTON, Texas - Two weeks after winning a second consecutive 15-and-under title at the Junior Gold Championships presented by the Brands of Ebonite International, Annalise OBryant of Ball Ground, Georgia, was back to her winning ways, this time turning in a six-medal performance at the 2019 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in South Florida.
OBryant was part of an eight-player contingent representing the United States this week at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, Florida, and her success included four gold medals (doubles, mixed doubles, team and National All-Events) and two silver medals (singles and all-events) in the Junior B division, which featured competitors age 16 and under.
Joining OBryant at the event were fellow U15 Developmental Team members Jaelle Hamman, Silas Lira and Deo Benard. All four players medaled in every event this week - singles, doubles, mixed doubles, team, all-events and National All-Events. National All-Events included the combined pinfall for all four team members over 32 games.
"Since I was invited to compete in the tournament last year, I knew what to expect and what I was going to do, but I really didn't feel like I was at my best this week physically or mentally," Annalise said. "But, being there this time with the other team members and (Junior Team USA assistant) coach Andy (Diercks) was really helpful. They helped hold me up and made the experience very memorable."
Hamman and Lira each will leave Florida with five gold medals and one silver medal, while Benard claimed four gold medals and two silver medals.
The United States also was well-represented in the Junior A category (U20), led by three-time Junior Team USA member Tommie McNeal, who collected five gold medals (singles, doubles, team, all-events and National All-Events) and one silver medal (mixed doubles).
McNeal was joined in Florida by Justin O'Shaughnessy, Addie Herzberg and Taylor Davis. Herzberg also claimed six medals, while O'Shaughnessy earned five and Davis won four.
All competitors were tested on two oil patterns this week at the 57th edition of the Tournament of the Americas - a 35-foot short pattern and 45-foot long pattern.
"The first day was a little rough for me, but I was able to turn things around with help from coach Andy and my teammates," McNeal said. "By the team event at the end of the week, we just went out there and did what Junior Team USA does best, which is work together. This is something I've always dreamed about. Just making the team was special, but being selected to travel was an incredible opportunity. It meant a lot to make my teammates, coaches and country proud."
The 2019 Tournament of the Americas included adult, senior and super senior categories, but USBC did not be send representatives for those divisions. Five countries were represented at this year's tournament - Aruba, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States.
Along with bowling, the competitors got to enjoy a week of camaraderie and taking in all South Florida had to offer, including a couple days at the beach, an airboat ride and time as the famous Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the country.
"Besides bowling, we got to do a lot of cool things, and being with my teammates made it so much fun," Annalise said. "It was impossible not to laugh while spending time with them, and that time together off the lanes made the experience even more memorable."
ARLINGTON, Texas - Two weeks after winning a second consecutive 15-and-under title at the Junior Gold Championships presented by the Brands of Ebonite International, Annalise OBryant of Ball Ground, Georgia, was back to her winning ways, this time turning in a six-medal performance at the 2019 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in South Florida.
OBryant was part of an eight-player contingent representing the United States this week at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, Florida, and her success included four gold medals (doubles, mixed doubles, team and National All-Events) and two silver medals (singles and all-events) in the Junior B division, which featured competitors age 16 and under.
Joining OBryant at the event were fellow U15 Developmental Team members Jaelle Hamman, Silas Lira and Deo Benard. All four players medaled in every event this week - singles, doubles, mixed doubles, team, all-events and National All-Events. National All-Events included the combined pinfall for all four team members over 32 games.
"Since I was invited to compete in the tournament last year, I knew what to expect and what I was going to do, but I really didn't feel like I was at my best this week physically or mentally," Annalise said. "But, being there this time with the other team members and (Junior Team USA assistant) coach Andy (Diercks) was really helpful. They helped hold me up and made the experience very memorable."
Hamman and Lira each will leave Florida with five gold medals and one silver medal, while Benard claimed four gold medals and two silver medals.
The United States also was well-represented in the Junior A category (U20), led by three-time Junior Team USA member Tommie McNeal, who collected five gold medals (singles, doubles, team, all-events and National All-Events) and one silver medal (mixed doubles).
McNeal was joined in Florida by Justin O'Shaughnessy, Addie Herzberg and Taylor Davis. Herzberg also claimed six medals, while O'Shaughnessy earned five and Davis won four.
All competitors were tested on two oil patterns this week at the 57th edition of the Tournament of the Americas - a 35-foot short pattern and 45-foot long pattern.
"The first day was a little rough for me, but I was able to turn things around with help from coach Andy and my teammates," McNeal said. "By the team event at the end of the week, we just went out there and did what Junior Team USA does best, which is work together. This is something I've always dreamed about. Just making the team was special, but being selected to travel was an incredible opportunity. It meant a lot to make my teammates, coaches and country proud."
The 2019 Tournament of the Americas included adult, senior and super senior categories, but USBC did not be send representatives for those divisions. Five countries were represented at this year's tournament - Aruba, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States.
Along with bowling, the competitors got to enjoy a week of camaraderie and taking in all South Florida had to offer, including a couple days at the beach, an airboat ride and time as the famous Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the country.
"Besides bowling, we got to do a lot of cool things, and being with my teammates made it so much fun," Annalise said. "It was impossible not to laugh while spending time with them, and that time together off the lanes made the experience even more memorable."