ISLE PROFILE
Mom keeps 'Aiea bowler on a roll

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Audrey Miyasato, left, has been both mother and coach to son Ivan — one of eight junior bowlers chosen for a team that will represent the U.S. in international competition. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

But when she's also the coach, being right can turn a teenager into a champion.

Ivan Miyasato has learned everything he knows about bowling from his mother. "Take your time," "Don't rush," "Strikes are great, but spares are important." Those phrases run though his head every time he picks up his 15-pound ball.

"I try to block it out," he says with a laugh. "But you know she's always right."

Thanks to mom's coaching, the 19-year-old from 'Aiea bowled well enough in a recent tournament to be selected as one of only eight members of the Junior TEAM USA, a national junior bowling team that will represent the United States in international youth competition in 2003. This team is designed to be part of a feeder system for TEAM USA, the U.S. national amateur team.

With a 10th-place finish from among more than 1,000 junior bowlers at the USA Junior Gold National Bowling Championships last month in Florida, Miyasato earned an at-large invitation to join the team. (The top six finishers earned automatic berths to the team.)

In addition, he earned some scholarship cash just in time for his freshman year at Fresno State.

"He's honored (to be part of the team)," said mom Audrey Miyasato, a supervisor at family court and a certified Junior Olympic master instructor. "He didn't expect it."

Humble beginnings

But it shouldn't have come as a surprise.

Miyasato boasts a 210 average, sanctioned as high as 221 last year. He has consistently gotten better over the years, playing in leagues for 11 years and on 'Aiea High's varsity team for four years. At 'Aiea, his team won an unprecedented three consecutive O'ahu Interscholastic Association and state championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Miyasato has bowled a perfect game twice in tournaments, the most recent in January, with a gold ring to prove it. And he's earned more than $10,000 in scholarships from bowling in Mainland tournaments, in which he has finished in the top 10 every time.

But he wasn't always this good.

"I didn't see the potential at first," said Audrey Miyasato, who registered her son for bowling after seeing a notice for Subase Junior Bowlers at Pearl Harbor, where she was bowling. "He was just like any other beginner — in the gutter, missing everything."

Miyasato averaged 89 that year. But the next year, his average soared to 125. By his third year — at age 11 — he was averaging 150.

"I liked it more as I got better," Miyasato said. "I like the challenge."

It's obvious just watching him bowl to see how good he is. With a semi-roll ball that hugs the right rail, he effortlessly clears the pins or picks up a difficult split spare. The combination of his classic form and a fluid stroke make it look easy.

"I still get frustrated," Miyasato said. "Especially in tournaments. I have to try and not worry about people shooting higher scores."

"And concentrate on your game," his mother added.

But competition is what Miyasato loves about the game. He thrives on the challenge of picking up splits and making adjustments. The mental aspect of the game, which improves with maturity, is something he's still working on.

Quite but effective

"Even though you tell them about procedure, style, technique, it doesn't soak in until they're older," Audrey Miyasato said. "They realize it later. As they get older, it's about competition, and they want to do better."

Miyasato wants to win, but he doesn't have that fiery, frantic competitive drive. He proves himself with few words, and little fanfare. Just strikes and scores.

"He's laid-back," Audrey Miyasato said. "To me I think he could be a little more aggressive. ... But he (wins) quietly."

Miyasato doesn't know what he wants to major in at Fresno State, but he does know he'll be bowling. He wouldn't mind turning pro someday, but he's not thinking that far ahead.

"I love the challenge, the competition, meeting new people and traveling the world," he said.

For the first time in his life Miyasato will be bowling without his mom at his side. At Fresno State and on the road with Junior TEAM USA, he will compete on his own, with new coaches, new teammates, new advice.

But he will always remember everything mom ever told him.

After 11 years of hearing it, he can't help it.

"The coaching never ends," Miyasato said. His mother smiled.