Canberra bowler set for Australian debut at world champs
Belconnen bowler Nathan Shoesmith is set to make his Australian debut at the World Youth tenpin bowling championships in America next week.
Shoesmith earned selection after he bowled a perfect 300 to win the ACT championships, finished runner-up at the Australian Youth Cup and won a national title with the ACT youth team.
Despite his form, the 20-year-old said he was left stunned when his name was read out for the Australian team.
"I was speechless. I didn't know what to say and couldn't put words together to describe the feeling," Shoesmith said.
"The previous year I tried to go up for selection but missed out unfortunately, so getting the call this year made my world.
"I grew up playing soccer for a couple years, then went onto play rugby league for a year and didn't really like that so when I turned seven mum and dad introduced me to bowling.
"My parents have been bowling for I'd say 35 years now, so it's ben in their family for generations."
Shoesmith will line up alongside Victorian Jayden Panella and Queenslanders Matt Clague and Blayne Fletcher.
"It's a bit different when we're facing each other, but now that we're together [on the same team] our goal is to do our best and see what we come home with." Shoesmith said.
On the brink of his international debut, Shoesmith putting in the kilometres on the Hume Highway to train under legendary bowler Paul Delaney.
"Training has been a lot tougher, I have been travelling up to Sydney to see my personal coach more often than usual," Shoesmith said.
"It's been really helpful because many hours have been put in compared to normal."