BRIGHAM CITY, Utah – Storm Products is excited to announce the Storm United States Bowling Ambassador Program (SUSBA). This program has been created for student athletes over the age of 18 that are currently attending a college or university in the United States and who desire to represent Storm on and off the lanes. Bowlers in trade programs who are still actively competing are also considered for this program.

The SUSBA Program is reserved for a small number of players who have been active and loyal to Storm through their youth careers, have received positive recommendations from their coaches, and were part of the Evolution Program as a youth athlete.

In addition, these players share their passion for bowling with the bowling community and have been involved heavily in the sport while also completing community service projects.

The SUSBA members will meet virtually to share ideas and work together to help grow the game of bowling for people of all ages and abilities. The intent is for the SUSBA TEAM to continue to share their love of bowling in hopes of creating initiatives to encourage new bowlers to start competing in the game. In addition, these players who have been passionate at the youth level will help us continue to create new initiatives that might encourage young adults to either continue competing or start bowling more frequently.

The athletes named to the SUSBA Team are Maribeth Baker, Alyssa Ballard, Andru Blaney, Brooklyn Gagnon, Lara Kurt, Julian Salinas, Harley Shene, Madi Phillips, and Ashtyn Woods. In addition, each year we will name a young adult lead of the program to work with the team at Storm Products Inc. and connect with the members of the program. In 2024, Brooklyn Gagnon has been selected as the SUSBA Lead.

MEET THE ATHLETES:

MARIBETH BAKER

• College Bowling Hawk Classic First Place All-Tournament Team
• College Rookie Of The Week X 4
• College Bowler Of The Week
• Part of First 300 Baker Game in Duquense Bowling Team History
• 2-Time Storm Youth Championship (SYC) Titles
• 23-Time SYC Medalist
• Don Swartz Sportsmanship Award
• Teen Masters Kegel Cup Team Champion
• 4-Time High School SOL Singles Champion
• 2-Time Pennsylvania District Pepsi Champion
• 1-Time Pennsylvania State Pepsi Champion
• 2-Time MAJBT Champion
• 2-Time Storm US National Champion
• 7-Time Pennsylvania Junior Bowler's (PJBT) Bowl For Life Athlete of the Month
• 300 games (3)
• EYT Champion
• USA Bowl Regional Champion
• Feature In Bowlers Journal
• Don Swartz Sportsmanship Award
• Organized Strike Derby for Ballard vs. The Big “C” raising $900
• Make-A-Wish Evolution Program Campaign raising more than $750

“I am excited to move from the Team Evolution to the new SUSBA Team. Team Storm has already given me so many opportunities to support my bowling as well as youth bowling that I would not have had the opportunity to have otherwise. I love to work on social media projects and to create more awareness for the sport in my spare time. I look forward to continuing my work with Storm and to see where the future of bowling takes me.”

ALYSSA BALLARD

• Part of 2023 NCAA National Championship Champion Team, Vanderbilt
• Third-team All-American
• NTCA Central All-Region
• SBL Newcomer of the Year
• SBL Bowler and Newcomer of the Month (November)
• SBL Newcomer of the Month (January)
• Southland Bowling League Newcomer of the Month (February)
• Ladyjack Class all-tournament team, placed first individually
• Hawk Classic all-tournament team
• Part of sixth 300 Baker game in program history during the first day of the 2022 Ladyjack Classic
• Placed ninth at the Dezy Strong Classic with a 204.2 average
• 2023 Cityview Youth Open Champion
• PBA King of the Lanes Champion with Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
• Junior Team USA Member (2022)
• Volunteer and help fundraise for Ballard vs. The Big “C” Foundation
• North Central Texas United States Bowling Congress Female Youth Bowler of the Year

“Being a member of Team Storm through the SUSBA Program means the world to me. To know that the company has faith in me to represent them is simply amazing.”

ANDRU BLANEY

• 2023 Junior Team USA Member
• 2023 PBA Jr National Finalist
• 2022 6th Place Qualifying Junior Gold
• 2022 Storm Youth Championship (SYC) Coastal Classic Champion
• 2x's NCAUSBCA Youth Invitational Champion

“It means a lot to me to join Team Storm through the SUSBA Program as they are the best team you could ever be part of. Storm has been the company I have loved since I started bowling and it means a lot to be able to be part of the team.”

BROOKLYN GAGNON

• 2019 Junior Gold Championships, 28th place
• 2021 SWIBC IV All-Tournament Team, 4th place
• 2022 Teen Masters Championships, 3rd place
• 2023 National Team Games All-Tournament Team, 3rd place
• 2023 Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament Team, 4th place
• 2021 Dexter High School All-American
• 2021 USBC Youth Ambassador of the Year
• 2021 South Dakota Star of Tomorrow
• 2022, 2023 NCBCA Scholar Athlete Award Winner
• Volunteers with South Dakota
• Volunteers with American Red Cross
• Founder/Leader of BVG (Bowling Volunteer Group)

“I’m so proud to be part of a company that advocates for bowling in a different light and actively works to involve bowlers of all ages. I’m always working to learn new things and connect with bowlers at all levels.”

LARA KURT

• Back-to-Back NAIA National Champion (2022, 2023)
• NAIA National Championship Tournament MVP
• NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team
• Bee of the Week
• Paul Poetter Female Athlete of the Year
• Two-Time All-Tournament Team Selection
• Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) All-Conference First Team
• SSAC Co-Player of the Year
• SSAC Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team
• Second-Team NAIA All-American
• Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete
• Junior Team USA Member
• Volunteers with Striking Against Breast Cancer Foundation

“To join the Team Storm family has been a dream come true since I’ve started bowling from a young age, and I contribute many of my successes to Storm Products with the equipment that the Storm team takes time to perfect, which is why I am honored to be representing such a prestigious brand!”

JULIAN SALINAS

• Second-Team NAIA All-American
• Bee of the Week
• 3-Time All-Tournament Team Selection
• Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Men's Bowler of the Year
• SSAC All-Conference First Team
• SSAC Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team
• First-Team NAIA All-American
• Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete
• Paul Poetter Male Athlete of the Year
• 2019 Teen Masters Champion, (runner-up in 2020).
• 2022-2024 Junior Team USA Member.
• 2022 IBF Worlds Team Silver Medal.
• 2023 PAN-AM Youth Championships winning Gold in Doubles, Trios, & Team.
• 2023 Junior Gold Championships Runner-Up.
• 2 PBA Regional Titles
• Volunteers with Striking Against Breast Cancer Foundation

“I have pretty much only used Storm products since the beginning of my bowling career at 8 years old. Team Storm has always seemed like more of a family company to me, and an organization that is always looking out for one another. I’m honored to join the SUSBA Team.”

HARLEY SHENE

• PBA Junior Regional Champion
• U12 USA National Championship Team Champion
• U15 Youth Open Team Champion
• 3 Youth Bowlers Tour (YBT) Titles
• 300 (1)
• Volunteers with Salvation Army and Special Olympic
• Sponsor of the Storm Youth Championships with mom, Christine Shene, to give back to youth bowlers.

“To join Team Storm means the world to me as I have dreamed about joining ever since I started bowling. Storm is a prestigious company, so I'm very honored to be a part of it.”

MADI PHILLIPS

• PBA Junior Regional Champion
• 2021 Jr Gold Matchplay
• 6-Time Southwest Gold Champion
• 2-Time Youth Scratch Masters Tour Champion
• 2020 Missouri Youth Female Bowler of the Year
• High Game: 300
• High Series: 780
• 4.67 High School GPA
• National American Choral Directors Association Choir
• 2x Missouri All State Choir
• Volunteers with local youth bowling leagues and tournaments

“Joining Team Storm has been a huge goal of mine for many years, and for it to become a reality is such a surreal experience and reassures that hard work always pays off! I love the products and people on Team Storm and can't wait to help grow the sport of bowling with some amazing teammates!”

ASHTYN WOODS

• 3-time Junior Team USA member
• PBA Junior West Champion
• SYC Medalist
• 3-time Youth Bowlers Tour Champion
• 2018 U12 Junior Gold Championships: 8th
• 2022 U18 Junior Gold Championships: 16th
• 2023 U18 Junior Gold Championships: 12th
• High Game: 300
• High Series: 803

“It means the world to me to join Team Storm! To have an amazing company on my back supporting me for what I love it something I've always dreamed of having!”