Helmrich is ready to enjoy his return
07/09/06
They say you can't go home again, but Eric Helmrich hopes to prove them wrong.
"I'm really looking forward to going home again and catching up with my friends and hooking up with my coach," said Helmrich, one of the country's most decorated graduating high school senior after winning the USBC male Bowling Star of Tomorrow and Columbia 300 John Jowdy Scholarship awards.
He and mom Susan flew from Maryland, where the Helmrichs now live, to Miami on Wednesday to spend time with old friends in the Homestead area and also to give Eric a chance to practice in front of his coach of 10 years -- Miami's James Janoff.
Then on Monday, Eric Helmrich will join 1,457 of the best junior bowlers in the world in the United States Bowling Congress' Junior Gold Championship that will be contested at University Lanes in Davie, Tamarac Lanes and Boca Raton Lanes.
Qualifying squads at 8 a.m, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. are scheduled on tough Sport Bowling lane conditions Monday through Wednesday at all three centers. University Lanes will host the semifinals at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday and the finals at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday.
The contestants will be battling for eight male and eight female spots on Junior Team USA, which competes in tournaments around the world, and $80,000 in college scholarship money.
With 1,458 bowlers coming from all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Military bases, there is no way to pick a favorite.
Chris Bolosan from Newport News, Va., is the defending male champion but he admitted, "I'm not even thinking about winning, I just want to earn a spot on the Junior USA Team again."
Helmrich said, "I know there are a lot more talented bowlers then myself in the tournament, but I hope a couple lessons with my coach will help me be on top of my game. I just want to bowl well and have fun."
Robert Mustard, a 17-year-old from Carthage, N.Y., might be under the most pressure. Since becoming the first bowler in the 111-year history of organized bowling to roll two USBC sanctioned perfect 900 series, he has taken a lot of flack. Critics claim that rolling three games in a pre-bowl atmosphere is much easier than regular league bowling and the two 900 scores should not be recognized.
"I'm going in not thinking about the 900s, but I know other people around me will be thinking about that," Mustard said. "I'm just going to enjoy the experience."
Also hoping to bowl well will be 34 junior bowlers from Dade and Broward counties -- including Miamian David Beck who carries a 226 average, Coconut Creek's Matthew Ezrol with a 225 average and Miami's Andrew Koff with a 225 average.
USBC News
Republished courtesy of Miami Hearld (July 9, 2006)
They say you can't go home again, but Eric Helmrich hopes to prove them wrong. "I'm really looking forward to going home again and catching up with my friends and hooking up with my coach," said Helmrich, one of the country's most decorated graduating high school senior after winning the USBC male Bowling Star of Tomorrow and Columbia 300 John Jowdy Scholarship awards.
He and mom Susan flew from Maryland, where the Helmrichs now live, to Miami on Wednesday to spend time with old friends in the Homestead area and also to give Eric a chance to practice in front of his coach of 10 years -- Miami's James Janoff.
Then on Monday, Eric Helmrich will join 1,457 of the best junior bowlers in the world in the United States Bowling Congress' Junior Gold Championship that will be contested at University Lanes in Davie, Tamarac Lanes and Boca Raton Lanes.
Qualifying squads at 8 a.m, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. are scheduled on tough Sport Bowling lane conditions Monday through Wednesday at all three centers. University Lanes will host the semifinals at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday and the finals at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday.
The contestants will be battling for eight male and eight female spots on Junior Team USA, which competes in tournaments around the world, and $80,000 in college scholarship money.
With 1,458 bowlers coming from all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Military bases, there is no way to pick a favorite.
Chris Bolosan from Newport News, Va., is the defending male champion but he admitted, "I'm not even thinking about winning, I just want to earn a spot on the Junior USA Team again."
Helmrich said, "I know there are a lot more talented bowlers then myself in the tournament, but I hope a couple lessons with my coach will help me be on top of my game. I just want to bowl well and have fun."
Robert Mustard, a 17-year-old from Carthage, N.Y., might be under the most pressure. Since becoming the first bowler in the 111-year history of organized bowling to roll two USBC sanctioned perfect 900 series, he has taken a lot of flack. Critics claim that rolling three games in a pre-bowl atmosphere is much easier than regular league bowling and the two 900 scores should not be recognized.
"I'm going in not thinking about the 900s, but I know other people around me will be thinking about that," Mustard said. "I'm just going to enjoy the experience."
Also hoping to bowl well will be 34 junior bowlers from Dade and Broward counties -- including Miamian David Beck who carries a 226 average, Coconut Creek's Matthew Ezrol with a 225 average and Miami's Andrew Koff with a 225 average.