“When I started in high school, I was good, but not great,” Cook said. “By the time I was a senior, I was one of the best high school bowlers in the state.”
College bowling followed a similar progression as Cook paid his dues and worked his way into the Urbana University lineup, earning All-American accolades twice along the way.
“For me, it was about learning,” he said. “I am the same guy I was in high school but I’ve added so many different tools to my belt.”
Now, at 24, Cook is once again a small fish in a big pond — this time in the PBA ranks. And he has proven that he can swim with the big fish as Cook was recently recognized as the PBA Central Region Rookie of the Year. The PBA’s seven regional programs annually recognize a Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The awards are based on a point system that takes into account tournament finishes, earnings and average.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Cook said. “It’s definitely a tremendous personal accomplishment.”
Cook won his first PBA Regional title in April 2018 at the PBA Debbie & Leo Nunan Memorial Central Open in Grove City. He added four top-five tournament finishes and cashed in eight of the 12 regional events he competed in.
He posted a 210.75 average through 12 events and tallied 7,916 points, enough to earn rookie of the year and finish the season third overall among all PBA Central Region bowlers.
“There are a lot of great bowlers in the Central Region, so it’s a pretty decent proving ground,” Cook said.
Making the transition to the PBA requires more than a strong physical game.
“I think, at this level, it’s more about mental endurance,” Cook said. “You need to have a good head on your shoulders.”
From challenging lane conditions to endurance-testing formats and intense competition, PBA bowlers are put to the test at every tournament.
“Everyone who bowls out here is capable of winning, so it’s more the mental hurdles you have to learn to overcome,” he said.
With the 2019 PBA Regional season underway, Cook has his sights set on winning a few more titles. He would also like to add the Central Region Player of the Year title to his resume at some point. Cook will next compete in the PBA Hubbard Central Open in March.
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