On the Lanes with Frank Wilkinson
April 23, 2016
By Jessica Gilgor
USBC Communications
In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.
This week, we heard from USBC President, Frank Wilkinson, who was elected into office in May 2015, becoming the youngest president in USBC history. He previously served two terms as vice-president under Andrew Cain.
Beyond just competing, Wilkinson, 29, has been active in the bowling community since he was 11 years old. He also gets to see the proprietor side of things as the owner of Rab's Country Lanes in Staten Island, New York.
Read more about his career, and get to know some of the other USBC Board members by clicking here.
In eight previous Open Championships appearances, Wilkinson has found consistency in his minor events, averaging 190.2 in doubles and 190.1 in singles. With 181.4 in team, his overall average is 187.2. His best all-events total is 2,017, rolled in his debut at the 2008 event in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This year, he shot 610 in doubles, 530 in team and 526 in singles for a 1,666 all-events total.
Now, Wilkinson answers 12 questions about bowling and the Open Championships
HOMETOWN: Staten Island, N.Y.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: 9
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: No favoritism here!
ONE all-time favorite host city: There's no place like visiting Reno!
TWO best Open Championships memories: My first appearance in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2008). I left Bowl Expo in Orlando, Florida, shipped my luggage home and met our teams in Albuquerque. So far, it's been my best outing. I finished 117th in all-events - beginner's luck I guess!
My all-time favorite memory is truly the experience of bowling with friends and family, while meeting new folks from all over the country and making new memories in each city we visit.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. Have fun and laugh a bit. 2. Take your time. 3. Don't try too hard, relax and execute.
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Ha! We had the liberty of bowling all three events in one evening. Lesson learned and not recommended.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: The only opportunity I missed was the chance of bowling with my father. Other than that, all I need is my friends.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Six? Who carries that many? I traveled light this time around.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Have ball, will travel. There are great cities we'd love to visit. Traveling east is always nice.
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: You're lucky I know the names of the balls in my arsenal now.
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Bill Lillard and Sylvester Thiel, talk about admiration!
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: My father, Rab Wilkinson.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: That moment when the scores change color you start to think, "Is it over yet?"
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Still bowling!
USBC Communications
In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.
This week, we heard from USBC President, Frank Wilkinson, who was elected into office in May 2015, becoming the youngest president in USBC history. He previously served two terms as vice-president under Andrew Cain.
Beyond just competing, Wilkinson, 29, has been active in the bowling community since he was 11 years old. He also gets to see the proprietor side of things as the owner of Rab's Country Lanes in Staten Island, New York.
Read more about his career, and get to know some of the other USBC Board members by clicking here.
In eight previous Open Championships appearances, Wilkinson has found consistency in his minor events, averaging 190.2 in doubles and 190.1 in singles. With 181.4 in team, his overall average is 187.2. His best all-events total is 2,017, rolled in his debut at the 2008 event in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This year, he shot 610 in doubles, 530 in team and 526 in singles for a 1,666 all-events total.
Now, Wilkinson answers 12 questions about bowling and the Open Championships
HOMETOWN: Staten Island, N.Y.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: 9
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: No favoritism here!
ONE all-time favorite host city: There's no place like visiting Reno!
TWO best Open Championships memories: My first appearance in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2008). I left Bowl Expo in Orlando, Florida, shipped my luggage home and met our teams in Albuquerque. So far, it's been my best outing. I finished 117th in all-events - beginner's luck I guess!
My all-time favorite memory is truly the experience of bowling with friends and family, while meeting new folks from all over the country and making new memories in each city we visit.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. Have fun and laugh a bit. 2. Take your time. 3. Don't try too hard, relax and execute.
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Ha! We had the liberty of bowling all three events in one evening. Lesson learned and not recommended.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: The only opportunity I missed was the chance of bowling with my father. Other than that, all I need is my friends.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Six? Who carries that many? I traveled light this time around.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Have ball, will travel. There are great cities we'd love to visit. Traveling east is always nice.
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: You're lucky I know the names of the balls in my arsenal now.
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Bill Lillard and Sylvester Thiel, talk about admiration!
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: My father, Rab Wilkinson.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: That moment when the scores change color you start to think, "Is it over yet?"
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Still bowling!