Submitted by Tony Contini
Joely O’Grady of Rahway won the Diamond Singles at the United States Bowling Congress’s (USBC) Women’s Championships that took place on May 15, 2018 at the National Bowling Stadium (NBS) in Reno, Nevada.
O’Grady bounced back from a tough start in team and doubles at the NBS to take the Diamond Singles lead with a 754 series, and her teammate, Team USA member Julia Bond of Aurora, Illinois, made the most of her USBC Women’s Championships debut to claim the top spot in Diamond All-Events with 2,128.
O’Grady admitted her fifth Women’s Championships appearance didn’t start the way she hoped with sets of 533 in team and 513 in doubles, but a ball change and the support of her teammates and husband, Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Matt O’Grady, helped her quickly turn the page in singles.
The 28-year-old right-hander started singles with nine consecutive strikes on the way to a 275 game, and she continued strong with games of 246 and 233. Sharon Powers of Lakewood, Colorado, started the day in the Diamond Singles lead with 701.
“A ball change was really important for me,” said O’Grady, who helped Fairleigh Dickinson win the 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title. “It finally helped me see the lanes the right way, I saw the ball go through the pins the right way and my confidence went up from there. I expected more from myself in team and doubles, but luckily, I was with a group of girls that kept me motivated. They were really, really supportive when I needed them.”
The 2018 campaign already has been a banner year for the O’Gradys, as Matt won the PBA Tournament of Champions in February for his first career title, and they relish the opportunity to share in each other’s success.
“It’s really a team effort for Matt and I,” Joely said. “I cherish his wins just as much as he does, because we both put in the work at home and at the gym. We’re trying to do the right things for our bodies, and it’s been paying off. Every success we achieve individually, we really do enjoy as a team. If the score holds up, it would be awesome. Just the fact that I could put myself together again after those two sets gives me a lot of confidence moving forward, especially with the Queens coming up.”
For more information on the Women’s Championships, visit BOWL.com/WomensChamp or visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USBC conducts championship events nationwide including the largest participation sporting events in the world – the USBC Open and Women’s Championships – and professional events such as the USBC Masters and USBC Queens.
Founded in 1895, today USBC and its 2,000 state and local associations proudly serve more than a million members. USBC is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, working toward a future for the sport. The online home for USBC is BOWL.com.
Courtesy photo
(above) Joely O’Grady of Rahway, winner of the Diamond Singles at the US Bowling Congress’s Women’s Championships.
