ALLENTOWN, Pa. – He makes throwing strikes look easy.
“It’s a hobby just like fishing,” said Sam Johnson.
Johnson, an Allentown-native, loves to bowl.
“I never really took it seriously and then it was like little by little it was just like hey, I want to come back next week. I want to come back next week and that’s how it all started to pan out and 27 years later, here I am,” said Johnson.
Johnson has bowled in the Lehigh Valley that whole time. He is set to take the national stage at the United States Bowling Congress championship this Wednesday in Reno, Nevada after getting the news through someone he bowls with.
“She goes hey, would you be interested in going to Reno this year? And I’m like Reno, what’s in Reno? She was like only the biggest tournament around, like I don’t know if I’m good enough. She’s like nope, we already selected you. You’re the captain of a team,” said Johnson.
It has been on his mind ever since.
“It’s like all the buzz and excitement for me, it’s like the Super Bowl,” said Johnson.
He is no stranger to winning in the Lehigh Valley.
“My best friend, the last time we bowled together we won this at the Parkway back in 2017-18,” said Johnson.
A title he holds with his best friend, Justin.
“Unfortunately, he passed two years ago, but he was a great bowler. He was great at everything corn hole, darts. Justin, he’s the reason I kept going,” said Johnson.
He is now looking to bring a national title back to the Lehigh Valley.
“For me, obviously it’s an honor, but to me I think going to this tournament it’s a little more heartfelt cause I never thought I would be going to a national tournament,” said Johnson.