USBC Sport Bowling coordinator Derek Eoff
talks about his early career and the switch to Sport

I have been bowling since the tender age of 3, joining my first league at 5. In high school that I realized I wanted to compete at a high level. From there I decided to go to the University of Nebraska and learn from one of the best coaches in America, Bill Straub. Before entering my freshman year of college, I tried out for the first USBC Junior Team USA. After doubling in the 10th frame of the 37th game I had officially made USBC Junior Team USA. Since it was in its first year, I had no idea what I had just accomplished, but knew it helped me prepare for collegiate competition.

I had some of the best times of my life bowling at Nebraska. I traveled around the country and met some really great people who are some of my best friends today. I had a very successful collegiate career, being named an All-American every year and a Bowling Writers Association of America candidate for Bowler of the Year my junior year.

During college - and to this day - I continue to bowl amateur megabuck tournaments, so I have had a lot of experience bowling on challenging lane conditions. When I first moved to Wisconsin to start working at USBC headquarters, I joined my first Sport Bowling League. I had bowled on Sport conditions before in college and various tournaments but never for week after week in a league. I struggled the first few weeks but once I finally got the right ball in my hands and started to play the right part of the lane, I quickly learned that it is possible to score well on Sport patterns if you attack the lanes properly. Last year I bowled in three different Sport leagues at three different centers and averaged 228, 225 and 217.

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