'Dream' Team USA comes together for training camp

Team USA 2008 bios

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Arguably the greatest collection of bowling athletes to wear the same uniform have assembled this week for Team USA men's training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the Fort Carson bowling center.

Legends like Walter Ray Williams Jr., Parker Bohn III and Del Ballard Jr. Established tour stars in Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes and Patrick Allen. Young guns Sean Rash, Rhino Page, Derek Eoff, David O'Sullivan, Nathan Bohr and John Janawicz. Team USA veterans like Bill Hoffman and David Haynes.

Wearing the same color uniform, the 14-player squad is an impressive and imposing sight to see.

This is the first year professionals have been eligible to compete with Team USA in international competition, thanks to a change in World Tenpin Bowling Association legislation last August.

For Bohn, the chance to add "Team USA" to his extensive resume was an opportunity too good to pass up.

"This is truly awesome," said Bohn, who has 31 career Denny's PBA Tour titles. "I've been fortunate to accomplish a lot of things rolling a ball down the lane. However, it's not about the money at the moment. It's about the honor to represent your country. Knowing I have that chance, hopefully I do my part to fulfill it.

"And it truly is just my part, because we have an entire team out here - each individual adding a piece to the puzzle. The whole idea is to bring home to gold to the USA."

While adding the pros to Team USA raises the talent level, it also raises the knowledge base - allowing the younger players to pick up a thing or two from seasoned veterans in addition to the tutelage they receive from head coach Jeri Edwards and assistant coaches Gordon Vadakin, Ken Yokobosky and Rod Ross.

"They've bowled everything and seen everything," said Eoff, who is in his second year on Team USA after winning the USBC Team USA Trials in January. "Getting their perspective and being able to pick their brains is definitely beneficial.

"I grew up watching Walter, Parker and Del, so to be able to bowl with them, interact with them and learn from them is pretty special."

At the end of the week, the six men who will represent Team USA at the Men's World Championships in Thailand this August will be selected as well as representatives for the QubicaAMF World Cup, Tournament of the Americas and PABCON Champion of Champions tournament.