Braves bowlers had a special guest during the week

Photo by Alaina Burris

AJ Johnson, center

There are millions of professional athletes in the world, and it’s exciting to meet any one of them. That excitement is exactly what the bowling team got to experience this past week with Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) member AJ Johnson. 

Johnson joined the PBA in 2015. Prior to joining, he attended, and bowled for, McKendree University. He is currently on Team USA for the sixth time and has six winning titles to his name. In 2018, he was PBA Midwest Region Player of the Year. 

Even though Johnson has six titles, he has competed in 140 events across singles, doubles and team events. Out of those 140, he has only cashed out in 72 of them. 

“We play a sport where we can do everything right and still not get rewarded,” Johnson says. “There’s going to be individual success; that’s how our sport works.” 

Through all of his experiences, Johnson had a lot of advice to offer to the bowling team, but his advice doesn’t stop at bowling; there’s more than enough advice to go around to every team on campus to help improve success. 

“You don’t have to be best friends with everybody on the team to be a successful team,” Johnson says. “You want everyone to think that you all get along. You all work together because the better off you are as a group, the better you will do.” 

Not everyone is going to get along while off their playing field, and that’s OK. What matters is getting along and working together when you are a team. 

“Sit down with your team and figure out what things you did well and what things you need to work on,” Johnson says. “The quicker you can learn how to work together, the better you will be.” 

Figuring out how to work together is an important part of the team dynamic; in the words of Troy Bolton from “High School Musical”: “Win together. Lose together. We are a team.” 

The better teams can work together in practice and on their playing field will be what improves their performance, especially when playing against rival teams. It’s OK to win. It’s OK to lose. What matters is that everyone on the team has the ability to work together.