Salinas, Johnson deliver gold and silver for Team USA at PANAM Champion of Champions
October 29, 2026
Team USA athletes AJ Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin (left), and Julian Salinas of Long Branch, New Jersey (center), pose with Team USA Assistant Coach Kelly Kulick on the podium at the Bowling Center of the Costa Rica Country Club in San Jose, Costa Rica. Salinas won Men's Singles gold at the 2026 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions on Wednesday, while Johnson walked away with silver.
FULL RESULTS
ARLINGTON, Texas – Julian Salinas and AJ Johnson gave Team USA a one-two finish in Men’s Singles at the 2026 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions in Costa Rica on Wednesday, with Salinas winning gold and Johnson taking silver.
After leading the way during Tuesday’s opening round, Salinas finished the job at the Bowling Center of the Costa Rica Country Club in San Jose, topping the 26-player field with a two-day, 16-game total of 3,799 (a 237.4 average).
Johnson claimed second with 3,711 (a 231.9 average), holding off Wascar Cavallo of the Dominican Republic by 32 pins for the silver medal. Cavallo secured the final spot on the podium with a bronze-medal total of 3,679.
Salinas, a 24-year-old righty two-hander from Long Branch, New Jersey, was stellar again on Wednesday, keeping all eight games above 200 en route to a 1,904 second-round total that included games of 234, 248, 225, 237, 207, 268, 268 and 217.
For Johnson, Wednesday brought a move up from third place and another strong scoring effort. The 34-year-old right-hander from Kenosha, Wisconsin, put together a Round 2 meark of 1,866 thanks to scores of 238, 259, 213, 236, 276, 255, 195 and 194.
The path to gold included some late drama as Johnson overtook Salinas for the overall lead with two games remaining before Salinas regained the top spot and secured the title by 88 pins.
While one might assume it would be difficult for teammates to have to battle one another for the top step on the podium, Salinas and Johnson wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“After the first few games, it pretty much became a two-man race for gold between me and AJ (Johnson),” Salinas said. “I was looking over and cheering for AJ, hoping he could strike just as much as I could. That’s how we wanted it to be at the end. We wanted the two of us to be one-two, and we were able to accomplish that.”
Johnson shared that point of view.
“During individual events, especially when there’s only two of us, the goal is always for it to come down to us, for Team USA to finish one-two,” Johnson said. “With what the lanes were doing and the look Julian (Salinas) had, I knew it was going to take a lot for me to hold him off those last two games. Outside of being absolutely perfect for the last 24 frames, there was nothing I could do. Still, the goal of taking the top two spots on the podium for Team USA was within reach, and we were able to make it happen.”
And because it happened, Salinas walked away with his first international singles medal, and gold to boot. After the awards ceremony, Salinas talked about what the accomplishment meant to him.
“This is the absolute greatest feeling,” Salinas said. “I’ve really been trying to put a lot of hard work and effort into practicing to figure out my game. Ever since getting out of college, it’s taken a long time to relearn what works for me and what I need to do to accomplish the goals I have. To win here is an incredible feeling, and it gives me even more confidence moving forward.”
While Johnson enjoys winning medals just as much, the special feeling he gets is derived simply from continuing to have the opportunity to represent his country on the lanes.
“I don’t ever take traveling and competing for Team USA for granted,” Johnson said. “I love competing for our country and wearing the red, white and blue. My time is a lot more limited now than it used to be, so the desire to reach the podium is even higher now than it was when I was younger. Still, whether you’re young, old or somewhere in between, every time you compete and win a medal for your country, it means something. It’s very special.”
Johnson and Salinas each finished with two medals in San Jose after teaming up to earn silver in Men’s Doubles on Monday.
Wednesday marked the final day of men’s competition at the 2026 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions as the last three days of this year’s tournament will be all about the women.
Women’s Doubles competition begins Thursday, with Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, and Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, teaming up for Team USA.
Elliott and Snodgrass will compete as individuals one day later as Round 1 of Women’s Singles will occur on Friday along with the Women’s Doubles medal presentations.
Saturday will be the final day of competition at this year’s Champion of Champions and will see Round 2 of Women’s Singles take place and that event’s medals conferred.
CLICK HERE for more information on Team USA.
FULL RESULTS
ARLINGTON, Texas – Julian Salinas and AJ Johnson gave Team USA a one-two finish in Men’s Singles at the 2026 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions in Costa Rica on Wednesday, with Salinas winning gold and Johnson taking silver.
After leading the way during Tuesday’s opening round, Salinas finished the job at the Bowling Center of the Costa Rica Country Club in San Jose, topping the 26-player field with a two-day, 16-game total of 3,799 (a 237.4 average).
Johnson claimed second with 3,711 (a 231.9 average), holding off Wascar Cavallo of the Dominican Republic by 32 pins for the silver medal. Cavallo secured the final spot on the podium with a bronze-medal total of 3,679.
Salinas, a 24-year-old righty two-hander from Long Branch, New Jersey, was stellar again on Wednesday, keeping all eight games above 200 en route to a 1,904 second-round total that included games of 234, 248, 225, 237, 207, 268, 268 and 217.
For Johnson, Wednesday brought a move up from third place and another strong scoring effort. The 34-year-old right-hander from Kenosha, Wisconsin, put together a Round 2 meark of 1,866 thanks to scores of 238, 259, 213, 236, 276, 255, 195 and 194.
The path to gold included some late drama as Johnson overtook Salinas for the overall lead with two games remaining before Salinas regained the top spot and secured the title by 88 pins.
While one might assume it would be difficult for teammates to have to battle one another for the top step on the podium, Salinas and Johnson wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“After the first few games, it pretty much became a two-man race for gold between me and AJ (Johnson),” Salinas said. “I was looking over and cheering for AJ, hoping he could strike just as much as I could. That’s how we wanted it to be at the end. We wanted the two of us to be one-two, and we were able to accomplish that.”
Johnson shared that point of view.
“During individual events, especially when there’s only two of us, the goal is always for it to come down to us, for Team USA to finish one-two,” Johnson said. “With what the lanes were doing and the look Julian (Salinas) had, I knew it was going to take a lot for me to hold him off those last two games. Outside of being absolutely perfect for the last 24 frames, there was nothing I could do. Still, the goal of taking the top two spots on the podium for Team USA was within reach, and we were able to make it happen.”
And because it happened, Salinas walked away with his first international singles medal, and gold to boot. After the awards ceremony, Salinas talked about what the accomplishment meant to him.
“This is the absolute greatest feeling,” Salinas said. “I’ve really been trying to put a lot of hard work and effort into practicing to figure out my game. Ever since getting out of college, it’s taken a long time to relearn what works for me and what I need to do to accomplish the goals I have. To win here is an incredible feeling, and it gives me even more confidence moving forward.”
While Johnson enjoys winning medals just as much, the special feeling he gets is derived simply from continuing to have the opportunity to represent his country on the lanes.
“I don’t ever take traveling and competing for Team USA for granted,” Johnson said. “I love competing for our country and wearing the red, white and blue. My time is a lot more limited now than it used to be, so the desire to reach the podium is even higher now than it was when I was younger. Still, whether you’re young, old or somewhere in between, every time you compete and win a medal for your country, it means something. It’s very special.”
Johnson and Salinas each finished with two medals in San Jose after teaming up to earn silver in Men’s Doubles on Monday.
Wednesday marked the final day of men’s competition at the 2026 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions as the last three days of this year’s tournament will be all about the women.
Women’s Doubles competition begins Thursday, with Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, and Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, teaming up for Team USA.
Elliott and Snodgrass will compete as individuals one day later as Round 1 of Women’s Singles will occur on Friday along with the Women’s Doubles medal presentations.
Saturday will be the final day of competition at this year’s Champion of Champions and will see Round 2 of Women’s Singles take place and that event’s medals conferred.
CLICK HERE for more information on Team USA.