Archive for May, 2009
Clinic in Lakewood, CO May 30, 2009
May 31st
Wayne Sellick from Denver, CO contacted me months ago to come into Denver to hold a clinic. The plan was to come in a few days earlier than my Team USA training camp in Colorado Springs and hold the clinic then. The plan worked out great as I flew into Colorado Springs on May 29th, met up with my sister, Kassy and brother in law, Scott for dinner that night, and had a fun night catching up with my favorite 6 year old, Blaize.
At 6am, on May 30th Kassy was oh so nice enough to drive me 1.5 hours away to Lakewood, CO where I would conduct 2 bowling clinics. The first one started at 9am, the second at 1pm. Both were 3 hours long. I spoke to each group for an hour and a half in a classroom setting talking to them about where you can go with bowling, and the life’s lessons I have learned through bowling.
The last two hours were spent coaching on lanes. It was a pleasure meeting and getting to know all the great bowlers that attended the clinic. Thanks for coming out! And, for those interested in having me in their bowling center, let me know!
On a side note, while the clinic was going on, my niece, Blaize was listening to what I was teaching and learned the four step approach for the first time! It was pretty neat to see her taking 4 steps to the foul line and following through like a champ. She was so excited to shoot 100! As was I.
Professional Amateur?
May 27th
Hello and welcome to Chapter 1 of Inquisitive Facebook Questions!
I will pick and choose a few questions from my facebook responses to give you more insight into my world of bowling.
Question #1 from: Jeff Davenport sent on May 27 at 10:32am
How did you feel when you first made it to the Pros? Was it everything you thought it would be?
Answer: Since the time I graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2003, I have been bowling full time. I was making a living bowling but still wasn’t considered a “professional bowler.” Interesting, isn’t it? At that time I would call myself a “professional amateur bowler.” A bit contradicting but I wasn’t technically a professional, and I also wasn’t technically an amateur because I accepted prize monies. (gladly)
Everything became much more clear in 2008 when I became an “official” professional bowler. I bought my PBA card. (because I had to in order to bowl the Women’s Series) The reason I held off so long becoming an “official” professional bowler was because I couldn’t be on Team USA and also be considered a professional. I didn’t want to give up travelling the world, competing for my country with the best team in the world.
In 2007 there was an international vote that allowed professional bowlers to become a part of their national team. Sidenote: In order to even be considered an Olympic Sport, the Olympic Committee mandates that your national team (in any sport) is comprised of professional athletes as well as amateurs.
This was a smart decision by the world of bowling. Even though it’s still a long shot, we are just that much closer to becoming an Olympic Sport. One barrier down, many more to go.
Because I was allowed to become an “official” professional bowler, AND be on Team USA, it was a no-brainer. I purchased my official PBA membership. I grinned when I got my official PBA card because it was representative of what I had been doing the previous 8 years. I had been bowling professional, now I just didn’t have to go through that confusing explanation as to why I was an amateur.
Still, getting that PBA membership in the mail was a nice feeling. I remember all those Pro Ams I bowled when I was a little girl and all those professional bowlers that inspired me to want to become a good bowler. Now, I officially was a professional bowler and I could not wait to be able to inspire other young bowlers, just as I had been inspired.
The first time I slapped on that PBA patch on my left arm I thought 2 things. #1. They totally need to make this patch smaller as it took up my entire arm and barely fit on the sleeve of my shirt. and #2. This is it. The highest rank of my sport.
I didn’t take wearing that PBA patch lightly. Even though a lot stayed the same, a lot changed. All of a sudden I was representing a totally new organization. I take that seriously. I am aware that people are watching me at all times. I’m aware that I’m not only representing myself, but I’m also representing the PBA. And that, my friends.. is an honor.
