Jon Wllhlem Signs With Storm

JON WILHELM SIGNS WITH STORM                                      

  A local bowlers dream to represent one of the leading bowling ball manufactures in the world has become a reality for Grahamsville bowler and Certified United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Level 1 coach Jon Wilhelm.

                                                                

  The 33-year-old bowling enthusiasts officially became a member of the Storm Advisory Staff when he signed a contract with Storm on December 27 giving him the title of Bowler/Advisory Staff. 

  When asked what his duties with Storm will be, Wilhelm said, "I have to bowl and represent the company to the best of my ability." He added, "there will be some travel involved and when called upon will make appearances at trade-shows, bowling clinics, ball demonstrations and open houses."

  "I will also have the opportunity to post ball reviews on blog-sites, social media outlets as well as bowling websites," Jon noted.

  Although the new position with Storm is part-time Wilhelm acknowledged that he will also be doing ball demonstration videos which will be posted on sites including YouTube, Bowlingball.com, Ballreviews.com and other bowling media outlets. 

  An accomplished athlete and league bowler Wilhelm is a 1998 graduate of Ellenville High School and played baseball on the U.S.A. Junior Team in Puerto Rico in 1997 as a pitcher and outfielder. He attended SUNY Ulster on a baseball scholarship and currently bowls three nights a week (Monday Men's, Wednesday Men's and Friday Mixed) at Kiamesha Lanes.

  A member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) since 2007, Jon currently maintains an average of between 225 and 230 for the past three bowling seasons and has made plans to bowl in the PBA USBC Masters tournament in February at the Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ.

  Achievements on the lanes for Jon include two sanctioned 300's, two 800 series with his career high series being 848 that was bowled this past season. He has also won the league high average award twice, once in Ellenville in 2009 and Kiamesha in 2011.   

  Wilhelm acknowledges that he "has only thrown (bowled with) Storm manufactured products since 2007 and my bowling success and loyalty to the company over the years definitely has had an impact helping me get a position on their staff."

  "I was so happy when I got the call from Storm East Region Manager MIckey Luongo who told me I was being offered a contract to join the storm staff as it has been something I have been working for the past several years."

  A certified USBC Level-1 coach since 2009 Jon generally coaches the age group of bowlers from 10-21 and a lot of his time is spent with the Saturday Morning Youth leagues at Kiamesha Lanes. He is looking forward to pursuing higher coaching certifications in the future. 

  Professionally Wilhelm has bowled in 12 events including PBA regionals and the U.S. Open in 2008, 2009 and 2011. 

  Jon has been league bowling since 2001 and instead of using the conventional three-finger release he changed in mid 2006 to the two-finger release. He pointed out that when bowling at a much younger age he used the two-finger release so that he could hook the ball like the "big guys I saw on TV."

  A coaching achievement he is especially proud of includes success his 12-year-old son Jonathan Wilhelm Jr. is making as he maintains a 170 average in the Saturday Morning youth league at Kiamesha Lanes. Young Jonathon has also qualified for the third year in a row to compete in the New York Youth USBC Pepsi Championship where he was a finalist last year.

  Wilhelm's support and help over the years in achieving this new title of Bowler/Advisory Staff for Storm Bowling include his parents, his cousin Joe Fallon, Donald Durland, cousin Matt Fallon, Shane Connor, Richard Bradford, the Storm Bowling Staff and bowlers at Kiamesha Lanes. 

  Jon added, "and the best part is that this is only the beginning."

  Following the signing of his Storm contract Jon has received twitter comments of congratulations from three outstanding Storm PBA professional bowlers including Jason Belmonte, Rhino Page and Mike Fagan. Jon noted to Belmonte that he "can't wait to see you at the Masters in February," and Belmonte's comment was, "be sure to come and say hi and there is no better team to be on then Storm."

  Not married, Jon is presently in a relationship with his girlfriend Sarah Davison.

  His present full time employment is with the Galleria at Crystal Run in MIddletown where he is a maintenance mechanic and performs all the general repairs in plumbing, masonary, HVAC and carpentry.