By Jennifer Roback
For five days, bowlers from across the country have competed at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials in Las Vegas, Nevada, where one bowler found herself at the top of the list.
On January 7, Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, claimed the 2022 title after bowling 30 games across five different oil patterns and earned an automatic berth on Team USA, marking her 22nd consecutive year representing the United States.
"It's still crazy to think it has been 22 years, which is more than half my life," Pluhowsky told USBC. "I'm excited. It has been a while since I've won Trials, and this one is a little different and unique because you have to bowl well for five days on different patterns. That makes it harder to win. To go out and earn my spot this way is special. Getting picked to be on the team is awesome, but this is incredibly rewarding. I'm riding a high right now, and things are just going really good."
Chloe Skurzynski of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, also walked away with a title of her own and was crowned the nation's best non-professional after winning the U.S. National Amateur Bowling Championships which was contested simultaneously using the same qualifying scores.
Skyrzynski deafeated Danielle Jedlicki of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 184-179 in the final match to claim the title. She also finished fifth overall for the week and was the top seed for the stepladder.
"I've looked up to so many of these players since I started bowling, and I never pictured myself in a place where I'd be shoulder to shoulder with them and wearing this Team USA jacket," Skurzynski said. "I'm most looking forward to the experience of all the practicing and all the knowledge I know I'm going to gain bowling alongside the best bowlers in the world."
Among the other automatic qualifiers who will represent the United States includes Julia Bond, Shannon O'Keefe, and Bryanna Coté.
Based on this weeks performances, the National Selection Committee also picked Lauren Pate and Breanna Clemmer, who won gold in the doubles event at the 2021 PANAM Bowling Championship back in October, to join this year's team.
Danielle McEwan, Missy Parkin, Jordan Richard and Stefanie Johnson will round out the 2022 Team USA roster as they were chosen based on their resumes.