The Hourglass Has Turned: Day One Begins at the WSOB

The Hourglass Has Turned: Day One Begins at the WSOB

The morning has officially begun here in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Bella Love and Lindsay are up in the room with Barbie, getting their minds and bodies ready for the first day of the PBA Jr. World Series of Bowling. The air is thick with focus, quiet preparation, and just the right amount of nerves. It’s the kind of morning that doesn’t need many words—just intention.

We have to be out the door by 8:00 a.m. to get to the bowling center for one hour of official practice on the Bill O’Neill short oil pattern. This isn’t just warm-up. It’s discovery. The kind of practice that reveals more questions than answers and asks each bowler to respond with curiosity, awareness, and grit.

The Bill O’Neill pattern is known for its demand—on both the lanes and the mind. It’s not about overpowering the oil. It’s about learning how to read it, adjust to it, and stay in control of your reaction when it surprises you. And it will surprise you.

This morning, Bella and Lindsay won’t be battling opponents. They’ll be battling for rhythm. For process. For trust in their own read of the lane. They’ll be figuring out how to stay centered when things don’t go as planned—and how to ride the momentum when they do.

I sent them a private message earlier. Just a simple reminder that I’m here for them if anything feels off—whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. Sometimes the best support isn’t advice—it’s presence. A soundboard. A reset button. A safe place to think out loud. Because, as I reminded them, “Whoever best describes the problem is the one most likely to solve it.”

I also shared a simple truth I believe about great bowlers:

1. Great bowlers are prepared—mentally and physically.

2. Great bowlers give their best effort—with respect for the game and themselves.

3. Great bowlers have fun—because joy creates flow.

Today marks the beginning of a four-day tournament, with up to twelve games ahead. Those of you following Bella’s journey—you’re not just watching bowling. You’re watching growth, resilience, and a kind of self-mastery that doesn’t show up in the score alone.

Lindsay’s journey matters here too. She and Bella are walking side by side into this tournament, and it’s a joy to watch how they support one another, challenge each other, and rise together.

As for me, I’m sitting outside the hotel right now, hot water in hand, waiting for the text that says, “You can come up.” Until then, I’ll stay out of the way and let the morning belong to them.

Because this is their time.

And the lanes are calling.