AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021.
Pictured Is Matt Cannizzaro.
Winning An Essay Contest, Created A Path For Matt Cannizzaro To Become A Successful Voice For Bowling.
Among His Duties For The USBC, Is Keeping Us Informed On What Is Happening At The Open Championships.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Las Vegas, NV. - - - There comes a time in our childhood that tells us what our career paths will be in our adult working lifetimes. And, for USBC Public Relations Manager Matt Cannizzaro, he knew early on what he wanted to do for a living.
"I won an essay contest when I was in the third grade," he said, during a break from his duties at the Open Championships in Las Vegas, on Thursday June 17. "I wanted to be a bowler and write about the sport of bowling at the same time. I was very fortunate to find this opportunity."
His journey to the USBC Headquarters in Arlington, TX.,, began in January of 2001, when he became a general and high school sports reporter for the Gainsville Sun, in Gainsville, Fl. Prior to that, he graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a BA Degree in journalism. He minored in Health Science Education.
"There are some great voices that cover the game of bowling. But this event happens to be mine," he said, of his role with the USBC. He started working the OC in 2005, along side Lucas Wiseman. Wiseman then departed, and he has been leading the PR efforts at the OC ever since. "It means a lot to me to be a resource for bowlers to go to. The personal stories are my favorite ones to tell. And everyone has a personal story to tell.
"There could be 400 300 games rolled at this event during the course of the tournament," he added. "But how you tell the story differently 400 times, tells the story of what you can't see on the leader board."
Each year, Matt travels to the host city for the Open Championships and provides daily coverage (BOWL.com, press releases, social media) and media relations for the duration of the event. Aaron Smith handles the public relations efforts for him at the Women's Open Championships. The Women's Open Championships were held in Reno, NV. this year.
"Every story my staff and I tell, I hope the story is told well," he said, of the conversations that go on between himself and other staff members. "I won't send the story out, until it is told well. It is a total team effort from the initial idea of doing the story, to posting the final edit on our social media plat forms."
Growing up in Florida, he chose the sport of bowling to get into because it was the perfect year-round activity for him. He is also thankful for the time he spent with the Gainsville Sun.
"Working at the Gainsville Sun, was a great educational experience for me," he said, of his four years there. "The newspaper set the tone for helping me in my journalism career. They were great: teachers, leaders, and managers. And most importantly, these folks showed me the ropes."
While the tournaments are not going on, Matt works at USBC Headquarters (part of the International Bowling Campus) in Arlington, Texas, where he covers other events and helps share general bowling news. The Open Championship in comparison to other years, is a short one at 79 days in 2021. It will run 127 days in 2022. The most consecutive days the tournament has run, was 154 in 2009.
"Every single day is opening day for us," he said, of working at a tournament site on a daily basis during the course of its run. "We have a big team here, and I am Quarterbacking our efforts."
He is pretty good on the lanes as well.
On November 19,1995, Matt rolled his first perfect game, as a youth bowler and 800 series (828). In 1997 he was inducted into the Broward County Youth Bowling Hall Of Fame.
Then a couple of years later....
"On March 16,1999 (according to Bowl.com), I rolled my first 300 as an adult bowler," he said, of his first perfect game as an adult. "This was extra special for me, because it was done in our campus bowling center (The Reitz Union Game Room). And it was done during the course of a big tournament."