Turbo Signs PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson

2016 is looking like a very good year for Turbo Bowling Accessories; made even better by the signing of two of the brightest stars on the new Professional Women's Bowling Tour, PWBA Champions Liz Johnson and Elysia Current. Johnson, the 2015 PWBA Player of the Year and current Women's U.S. Open Champion, joins the list of more than 30 great women bowlers on the Turbo Staff. "I am very excited about joining the Turbo team," said Johnson.  "They have a great history and I am very honored to be a part of the 'family.' Thanks to Lori Mraz and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard for all their help. I am looking forward to representing Turbo on the 2016 Tour and around the world." The U.S. Open was Johnson's 4th major title to go along with her 10 standard pro titles. She started her pro career as the 1996 PWBA Rookie of the Year, and she was named Player of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America (now IBMA) in 2005 and 2007. As an amateur, Johnson was named the Alberta Crowe Star of Tomorrow, and she was an All American and MVP during her college years at Morehead State University. She is an 11 year member of Team USA and a member of the team that recently won the 2015 World Bowling Women's Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Elysia Current, the Head Bowling Coach at Delaware State University, launched her professional career in 2015 by winning the first tournament of the new PWBA Tour, the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open. Prior to that sensational start, she finished second in the 2011 USBC Queens, and she was an All American at both Wichita State University and Fairleigh Dickinson University in her college years. She was named College Bowler of the Year by the IBMA in 2004. "Liz is a proven leader, and no doubt one of the greatest female champions of this generation," said Turbo President Lori Mraz. "Her dedication to the sport both on and off the lanes is admirable. Elysia brings us a direct connection to both the professional and college ranks, and she is a great example and inspiration for future generations. We look forward to working with both of these great ladies in our Turbo Driven to Bowl Clinics and many other areas." Turbo remains steadfast in its commitment to Women's Professional Bowling as proven by many years of sponsorship of the Women's US Open, prior sponsorship of the PWBA and LPBT Tours and confirmed Registered Product Partnership with the New PBA Tour. Other PWBA National Player Staff members include Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Danielle McEwan, Diandra Asbaty, Leanne Barrette-Hulsenberg, Lindsay Boomershine, Anne Marie Duggan, Sandra Gongora, Clara Guererro, Brittni Hamilton, Kayla Johnson, Megan Kelly, Marsha Klompken, Shannon Pluhowsky, Lucy Sandelin, Mary Wells, Kristina Wendell, and Diana Zavjalova.

Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo 2016

In only five short years, the Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo has become bowling's undisputed best college recruiting event. 

In 2016, the 6th edition of this prestigious event will be held at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 12-14.  And since Western Bowl has 80 lanes and plenty of meeting space, the number of spots available has been expanded to its largest field yet of 204 student bowlers.

Turbo Regional Sales Manager and Pro Staff Coordinator Carolyn Dorin-Ballard will again serve as Event Director. "I am confident we will fill the event again this year," said Dorin-Ballard. "Last year, (with 168 spots available) we had 44 kids on a waiting list.  We've been getting calls the past few months already from parents eager to sign up for this year's event. It's exciting, and it shows that what we're doing is making a difference."

General Manager Jim Doty is looking forward to hosting the 2016 Collegiate Expo. "Royal Pin and Western Bowl is honored to be chosen to host this awesome event," he said. "The Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo is, in my opinion, the best event in the country to help our young adult bowlers improve their game and by doing so helps to continue the 'Sport of Bowling'."

Dorin-Ballard and Turbo President Lori Mraz are going all out this year to make sure that every student athlete in attendance gets all of the attention they deserve both in the classroom seminars and during on-the-lane instruction.  From USBC Gold and Silver certified instructors, PBA Tour Champions, Team USA veterans, PWBA contenders, Collegiate All-Americans and industry experts, the collective team of coaching representatives is impressive.  Turbo coaches returning this year in addition to Dorin-Ballard are Diandra Asbaty, Lindsay Boomershine Jeff Carter, Jason Couch, Tim Mack, Shannon Pluhowsky, Bill Spigner, Jordan Vanover, and world respected Sports psychologist Dr. Dean Hinitz.

Because of expanded student registration, new coaches Josh Blanchard, Hank Boomershine, Tom Carter, Ryan Ciminelli, Ron Hatfield, Ronnie Russell and Dave Wodka have been added. 

Another improvement this year includes limited one-hour classroom seminars so students will get more time to put what they learn into practice on the lanes. "We have learned over the years that students want to bowl and bowl," said Dorin-Ballard, "So we're making sure that we schedule the seminars and on-lane segments so that students get the much wanted on-lane time with coaches but also reasonable break periods that are important for them to perform physically and mentally throughout the entire day."

No event of this magnitude would be possible without sponsors, and Turbo is proud of the sponsor partnerships developed over the past six years.  Returning in 2016, and with enhanced sponsorship, "Columbia and Hammer are stepping up again in 2016 sponsoring our photo booth and registration bags," said Mraz. "Logo Infusion will once again be the sponsor of the Audition Tournament and provide an event jersey to all student bowlers. Our partnership with Bowlers Journal will again allow every student to receive a one year paid subscription to the magazine. Storm will be sponsoring our Round Table for Collegiate Coaches; and will coordinate a presentation on Building a Team Arsenal with other ball companies while Kegel will sponsor and host our College Coaches Dinner on Wednesday evening.  We couldn't be more pleased with the enthusiastic support of all of our sponsors."

Complete event information including daily schedules and on-line registration can be found at www.turbogrips.com.   Space is limited.  This event will SELL OUT!  So register early!  Save $30 during Early-Bird Registration Now - April 30th.   Additional questions, please call Turbo directly at 800-530-9878, Monday-Friday, 8:30a-5p Eastern or e-mail Event Administrator, Megan Bernhardt, mbernhardt@turbogrips.com.

Lipton Iced Tea To Sponsor Bowling's Men's, Women's and Senior US OPEN

Lipton Iced Tea is the official title sponsor of bowling's U.S. Open tournament for 2013. For the second year in row, the bowling industry has teamed up with the brand's ready-to-drink portfolio for a principal sponsorship deal to lead the industry's preeminent bowling tournament. The 2013 U.S. Open will be held in Columbus, OH, beginning July 20, and will combine the Men's, Women's and Senior Women's tournaments.

The sponsorship deal with Lipton Iced Tea marks the first time a title sponsor has ever been named for bowling's U.S. Open. The multi-layered sponsorship program includes an integrated mix of branding, experiential and digital/social media that will target bowling fans and enthusiasts throughout the U.S. as well as robust on-site activations at each of the host centers and at the Open final.

"We're so pleased to once again partner with PepsiCo and welcome back Lipton Iced Tea as the title sponsor of bowling's U.S. Open. In addition to being an iconic brand, Lipton Iced Tea is a fantastic product that is a favorite of pro bowlers as well as our fans and enthusiasts," said Steve Johnson, executive director of The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA). "Lipton leads a great class of sponsors that have already signed on for this year's Open, a testament to the strength of the event."

To support this first-of-a-kind groundbreaking event, additional sponsors committed to date include: Jani-King, Storm Bowling Products, Ebonite, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, Columbia 300, Roto Grip, Turbo, Dexter, and Bowling Music Network.

The Men's and Women's U.S. Open competition will take place simultaneously, beginning Saturday, July 20, at three host centers - Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl, Columbus Western Bowl and Holiday Lanes. The event will conclude with the top four men and top four women bowlers earning a spot in the finals, on Saturday, July 27, at Columbus Western Bowl. The U.S. Open Finals will be telecast live in a two-hour event on ESPN at noon EST that Saturday, where the winner of the Men's and the winner of the Women's U.S. Open will be crowned.

For additional information about bowling's U.S. Open event in 2013, fans can log on to www.BowlingsUSOpen.com.