Four Huskers Qualify for National Teams at the USBC Team USA Trials

Las Vegas, Nev. – Current Huskers Julia Bond and Amanda Morgan and former Husker greats Liz Kuhlkin and Shannon Pluhowsky earned spots on various national teams at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials, held Tuesday through Sunday at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

 Bond, Kuhlkin and Pluhowsky qualified for Team USA for the 2018 season, while Morgan will represent the United States on Junior Team USA in 2018. Bond also finished second overall in the U.S. Amateur Stepladder Finals on Sunday. 

Bond, a senior on Nebraska's top-ranked bowling team, came in 10th place overall with 121 ranking points, but secured a third-place finish in her. 

Kuhlkin, a Husker from 2012-15, finished ninth overall with 119 ranking points.

Both Bond and Kuhlkin earned spots on the 2018 Team USA after being selected by the National Selection Committee based on their performances at the Team USA Trials this week. 

Shannon Pluhowsky, who was a member of the Nebraska bowling team from 2000-05, was also offered a spot due to her overall perforance at The Orleans.  

A sophomore on the Nebraska bowling team Morgan, earned a spot on the Junior Team USA based on her performance in Las Vegas.  

Competitors earned points based on their finishing positions in the five qualifying rounds. The top bowler of the block earned one ranking point, second place earned two points, etc., with the lowest total of ranking points after the five six-game blocks determining the 2017 USBC Team USA Trials champion. 

In the U.S. Amateur Stepladder Finals, Bond defeated Sarah Wille by a score of 232-191, but fell to Jordan Richard by a score of 289-201 in the final. Bond was crowned U.S. Amateur Champion at the same event in 2017.  

Gazmine Mason, who competed from 2013-17, and current Husker senior Kelly Belzeski also competed at the trials. 

 Match results and complete overall standings can be found at Bowl.com