Dorin-Ballard and Team USA women gear up for 2009 WTBA Women's World Championships
07/22/09
Team USA member Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (pictured left) of Keller, Texas, has enjoyed a successful career on the lanes, and her dominance at every level on the way to the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame has been the direct result of dedication and hard work.
As Dorin-Ballard prepares to lead Team USA into the upcoming 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships, she is relying on the same practice regimen that helped her claim 20 Professional Women's Bowling Association titles.
"In an event like this, there are five other people depending on you, along with the rest of the United States, so you want to make sure you're at your best," said Dorin-Ballard, who is a member of Team USA for the second consecutive year. "The format and perspective are a little bit different, but I'm treating this just like every other tournament over the last 18 years."
The WTBA World Women's Championships will be held at Cashman Center, the same venue that has played host to the 2009 USBC Open Championships, which will conclude its 154-day run this week.
Dorin-Ballard will be joined on the lanes by fellow USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson, former PWBA standouts Kim Terrell-Kearney (above right) and Liz Johnson and Team USA veterans Lynda Barnes (left) and Stefanie Nation (right). The group has worked tirelessly together during the past few months, both in person and by phone or e-mail, to make sure they are as prepared as they can possibly be.
"There were nine possible patterns, so we bowled on two each day until the final two patterns were determined," Dorin-Ballard said. "It was nice to finally find out what we're going to be bowling on, and now we'll have two solid weeks of practice before heading into Las Vegas."
Since Terrell-Kearney, Barnes and Nation also live in the Dallas area, they have joined Dorin-Ballard regularly for practice sessions. The routine includes three days of intense practice each week, one night of league and competitive tournaments on the weekends. Dorin-Ballard also has been walking and doing additional cardio to help her stamina.
Johnson (left), who lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Macpherson, (right) who resides in Henderson, Nev., have been bowling on the same patterns and sharing information about what they've been throwing and how they've been playing the lanes.
"We worked on our physical games at Team USA camp, and in the time since, we've just been drilling different equipment and bowling on the patterns as much as we can," said Dorin-Ballard, who has an extra set of eyes in her husband, PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr. "And by practicing together, we've also been able to work on breaking the lanes down together and gathering other information."
The Team USA women and bowlers from 44 other countries will compete in Singles, Doubles, Trios, Team, All Events and Masters competition during the World Women's Championships, which will run from July 27 until Aug. 2. They will be bowling on a short pattern (WTBA Stockholm, 34 feet) and a medium pattern (WTBA Athens, 40 feet).
"The best thing about our team is that we all know each other and each other's games from competing with and against each other over the years," said Dorin-Ballard, whose Team USA debut included one gold and four silver medals at the 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships.
"As a newcomer to Team USA last year, I felt very welcomed by the players who had been on the team before, and it was an easy transition. We all just feel really comfortable together."
Although most of her success has been individual, Dorin-Ballard does have a few team triumphs on her resume, including three team titles and a doubles win at the USBC Women's Championships and two collegiate national titles with West Texas State.
"The biggest thing you fall right back into is the communication aspect of team bowling, which means constantly talking about what is happening," Dorin-Ballard said. "We're all there for each other, and everyone is geared toward the 'we,' not the 'I,' which is so refreshing to see."
The World Women's Championships opening ceremonies will be held on Monday, July 27, and competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28.
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United States
Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev., United States (July 24-Aug. 3, 2009)
Team USA member Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (pictured left) of Keller, Texas, has enjoyed a successful career on the lanes, and her dominance at every level on the way to the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame has been the direct result of dedication and hard work. As Dorin-Ballard prepares to lead Team USA into the upcoming 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships, she is relying on the same practice regimen that helped her claim 20 Professional Women's Bowling Association titles.
"In an event like this, there are five other people depending on you, along with the rest of the United States, so you want to make sure you're at your best," said Dorin-Ballard, who is a member of Team USA for the second consecutive year. "The format and perspective are a little bit different, but I'm treating this just like every other tournament over the last 18 years."
The WTBA World Women's Championships will be held at Cashman Center, the same venue that has played host to the 2009 USBC Open Championships, which will conclude its 154-day run this week. Dorin-Ballard will be joined on the lanes by fellow USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson, former PWBA standouts Kim Terrell-Kearney (above right) and Liz Johnson and Team USA veterans Lynda Barnes (left) and Stefanie Nation (right). The group has worked tirelessly together during the past few months, both in person and by phone or e-mail, to make sure they are as prepared as they can possibly be.
"There were nine possible patterns, so we bowled on two each day until the final two patterns were determined," Dorin-Ballard said. "It was nice to finally find out what we're going to be bowling on, and now we'll have two solid weeks of practice before heading into Las Vegas."
Since Terrell-Kearney, Barnes and Nation also live in the Dallas area, they have joined Dorin-Ballard regularly for practice sessions. The routine includes three days of intense practice each week, one night of league and competitive tournaments on the weekends. Dorin-Ballard also has been walking and doing additional cardio to help her stamina.
Johnson (left), who lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Macpherson, (right) who resides in Henderson, Nev., have been bowling on the same patterns and sharing information about what they've been throwing and how they've been playing the lanes. "We worked on our physical games at Team USA camp, and in the time since, we've just been drilling different equipment and bowling on the patterns as much as we can," said Dorin-Ballard, who has an extra set of eyes in her husband, PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr. "And by practicing together, we've also been able to work on breaking the lanes down together and gathering other information."
The Team USA women and bowlers from 44 other countries will compete in Singles, Doubles, Trios, Team, All Events and Masters competition during the World Women's Championships, which will run from July 27 until Aug. 2. They will be bowling on a short pattern (WTBA Stockholm, 34 feet) and a medium pattern (WTBA Athens, 40 feet).
"The best thing about our team is that we all know each other and each other's games from competing with and against each other over the years," said Dorin-Ballard, whose Team USA debut included one gold and four silver medals at the 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships.
"As a newcomer to Team USA last year, I felt very welcomed by the players who had been on the team before, and it was an easy transition. We all just feel really comfortable together."
Although most of her success has been individual, Dorin-Ballard does have a few team triumphs on her resume, including three team titles and a doubles win at the USBC Women's Championships and two collegiate national titles with West Texas State.
"The biggest thing you fall right back into is the communication aspect of team bowling, which means constantly talking about what is happening," Dorin-Ballard said. "We're all there for each other, and everyone is geared toward the 'we,' not the 'I,' which is so refreshing to see."
The World Women's Championships opening ceremonies will be held on Monday, July 27, and competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28.
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