Pictured Above Is Bryanna Cote. Photo Courtesy Of PWBA Public Relations.
After Winning Her First Title Last Year, The Lexington Open. Bryanna Cote, Of Red Rock, Arizona. Is
Preparing Herself To Achieve Some Lofty Goals On The PWBA Women's Tour This Upcoming Year.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com. - Director Mesa Metro Association
Tucson - - - Can her third year on the PWBA Tour, be her best one yet?
That will be the question mark that Bryanna Cote of Red Rock, AZ., will begin to answer when the PWBA kicks off its 2017 tour schedule at the PWBA Sonoma County Open. The tournament is slated to be bowled at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, Ca., and will take place April 27-29.
"I have been out on the tour two years now, and I feel I have been successful bowling on the tour thus far. My first year on tour I was more consistent," she said, after bowling in the MMA Open on March 5 at AMF Mesa Lanes in Mesa. "The second year it had its share of ups and downs especially in the beginning, but making the TV show in Lexington and then going on to win the Lexington Open, made for a very successful ending."
During the 2013-14 season, Bryanna won the USBC Sport Bowling national high average award for females by posting a 215 average. And in 2009-10, she was also the USBC female high series award winner with an 861 series.
"I think I surprised myself on how well I have been able to handle bowling on tour," she said, of the grind. "It was a dream come true by winning the Lexington Open. Win or lose, I had the support of my family and friends who were on hand to watch the finals, and I had the support I needed."
In the Lexington Open finals, Bryanna defeated Shannon O' Keefe 192-180 in the semi-finals. And number one seed Kelly Kulick 228-178 in the title match. Bryanna also went 5-1-0 in match play.
"By defeating Kelly, who is one of the best female bowlers out on tour in the finals," she said. "Is the one thing that I will always remember."
Bryanna who attended Central Missouri State from 2004-08, was the first bowler in NCAA history to be named the NTCA Player of the Year four times. She was also named the NTCA Rookie of the Year following the 2004-05 season. And she was a four time NTCA First-Team All-American as well.
"When I bowled on TV in the Lexington Open, it was the second time that I had bowled on TV," she said, of the exposure. "It was easier for me bowling on TV while I was in college, because I had teammates right behind me. However, I knew what to expect bowling on TV the second time around."
Bryanna was a member of Junior Team USA in 2006-07. And has made Team USA four times. In 2011, and from 2015-17. International competition will take place later on this year.
"Its always a goal of mine to earn a spot on Team USA," she said, of bowling on the international stage. "And an honor and privilege to represent my country. I am going to bowl and represent my country to the best of my ability. The competition on the international stage is still high. Nothing has been announced yet as to what my Team USA schedule will be like."
On September 16, 2014 while bowling in the Ebonite Elite League at Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson. Bryanna rolled 35 strikes to tie the national scoring record for the highest series by a woman with a 879 set. She earned a spot in the USBC record books next to Katie Verbil of Wichita, KS., who rolled an 879 series in 2012. She broke the Arizona State women's record of 847. The previous record was held by former Team USA member Marcia Kloempken who rolled the series in 2000.
Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, NY., broke the record last year with an 890 series. Liz, too, had rolled 35 strikes in-a-row and had back-to-back 300 games. Will McPherson still holds the overall state scoring record with an 898 series. He broke this record at Brunswick Zone in Gilbert, AZ. Bryanna had rolled games of 300-279-300 en route to her 879 series.
"My scoring record was broken last year, and records are meant to be broken," said Bryanna, who used a Columbia 300 Eruption Pro Hybird to tie the record. The ball was drilled by her husband Randy, before the start of the league. "I congratulated Liz on breaking the record. One day I hope to be in a position to do it again."
Bryanna has been a staff member of Columbia 300 for seven years and is also a staff member for Turbo Grips and Apparel EFX.
"Having the support of Columbia 300 has been a tremendous help, and I could not be as successful as I have been without them," she says, of having an endorsement deal. "I plan on bowling at all 14 tour stops this year. My goals for this year is to make it to the top 32 in every round, then of course, each match play round and so forth. My preparation to bowl on tour this year has been better, and there is no reason why I can't achieve those goals."
Tucson Bowling News March 16, 2017