General | July 15, 2024 | 10:02

Andrew Anderson and E.J. Tackett, two of the top stars on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour and members of the MOTIV bowling staff out of Muskegon, had fond and similar experiences competing in the USBC Junior Gold Championships as teenagers.
 
Both were on hand Saturday at the Novi Suburban Collection Showplace Trade Show.
 
Tackett, who will be 32 next month; and Anderson, 29, spent hours signing autographs and taking pictures with adoring fans.
 
Ninety colleges and universities were on hand along with bowling ball and apparel representatives. Thousands of fans and youth bowlers attended the event, talking to college representatives and the PBA pros.
 
  "This is my first year as head coach at Baker University (Kan.),'' said Casey Suchor, who is just 22 and bowled at Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "I'm replacing Cheryl Kelsar. This gives me the chance to meet the young bowlers and tell them about our program.''                                                      
 
 The tournament runs through next Saturday when six age-group champions will be crowned.
 
"My experience was pretty good back in the day,'' said Tackett, winner of 23 PBA titles. "It was different. They didn't have so many divisions. Everyone bowled against everyone. Whether you were 12 or 20. So it's different. It does give kids the opportunity to bowl against kids in their age group and get on TV. It's a good experience.
 
"I personally liked the old set up better because I bowled for the first time when I was 12 and I was bowling against all the college kids. It really was a good gauge for me to know how good I was. I knew I needed to go home and practice. It was an eye-opening thing. I think, personally, the kids don't get that, but they do have a better opportunity at a younger age to win. You have to learn how to win, but you also have to learn how to lose. I liked being able to bowl against everyone.''
 
Anderson, the current MVP of the PBA bowling league, agreed.
 
"I had girls and boys on my pair back then,'' said Anderson. "It has changed a lot since I bowled. It was always the most looked forward to event of the year. The pressure is high. It may be the biggest event in the country and maybe even the world. For me it was high pressure packed event. They made it so cool where we could meet with professionals like we're doing today. Now I get to relive that. I remember what it was like for me.''
 
Ryan Campbell, 13, of Clinton, South Carolina, dealt with pressure last year and emerged as the Under-12 boys champion at the Indianapolis event.
 
He's back to try to capture the Under-15 boys' division.
 
"The experience was really cool,'' said Campbell. "There were a lot of bowlers here, a lot of youth bowlers. It was a tough tournament. It was tough patterns, tough everything, tough conditions. I was able to pull it off.
 
"I adjusted to the lane conditions. I brought about 12 balls. Whatever it takes. The goal is to just make the first cut. After that it's succeeding. My mindset last year was just to make spares, find lines quickly and just have a good attitude. It takes lot of mental game; more mental than physical. Your mental games effects how you bowl.''
 
Campbell's goal is to bowl in college and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) out of Savannah, Ga., has attracted his attention. They were on hand Saturday.
 
"I like their school, educational wise, and their bowling team is pretty good,'' said Campbell.
 
"I hope to eventually make it to the PBA, I took pictures with (Anderson and Tackett) last year. It was pretty cool.''

More on 2024 USBC Junior Gold Championships: 

Future stars of bowling: Detroit hosts prestigious Junior Gold Championships

Rochelle Ferris Ready to Roll in Junior Gold Championships Debut