Just last month, I told a story of a little girl named Hope. I titled the post, “Hope & Inspiration.” Little did I know at the time that only a few weeks later, the inspiration part of that story would keep growing, and to an entirely new level.  

I get emotional every time I think about it. I did all week long, driving around during the Queens week, I literally caught myself with tears rolling down my cheeks. I’m not overly emotional. But last week has just been so symbolic. And so full circle.

I wrote in the previous article that seeing Hope win the NCAA Championships 10 years after meeting at Queens was a “full circle moment.” I clearly didn’t know what was coming…because it is this week that has been the true full-circle moment in that story, and in my career.

Last week Hope Gramly was the Number 5 seed in the 2022 Queens Finals, and I was there cheering her on at the live TV finals. Just like I said I would be. Exactly 10 years after I inspired her with my 2012 Queens win in Texas there she was in front of me going for her first title.

All of this got me thinking…what if the universe knew? What if the universe put us on the same pro-am pair 10 years ago so that we could meet and become friends? What if the universe set her up to connect with me back then? What if the universe put her behind me every single frame of the Queen’s with her little notebook so that she could track my success and know what it takes? What if I won in front of her so that I could show her that her dreams do come true? What if the universe knew that 10 years from my Queens win she would be ready to make the finals on the Queens show? And what if all along the universe was setting her up to keep that inspiration going? 

Cue the tears.

When you’re in the moment, you don’t realize your power or that your purpose is bigger than the title. You aren’t able to see that what you are doing may be about something more than just you. Or that title. Seeing Hope in the finals this week at Queen made me think about that. It made where I was 10 years ago make sense. Suddenly I saw the reason for everything. It saw the reason I couldn’t see until now. 

I realized that 10 years ago when I won my biggest career title, it wasn’t about the title. It was about that impact and influence and ability to reach someone like Hope. Sometimes in the moment you’re like, what is this all for? I think you just feel like you work so hard in your career for that TITLE. And, winning titles are cool. But now it’s so clear to me that this is what it was all for all along. But it doesn’t hit you until something powerful like last week happens.

This has been such a powerful moment in my career. I think that’s why I have all these emotions thinking about it, even just writing about it right now. 

Now Hope is part of the inspiration. She was bowling in the finals at Queens and somewhere some little girl was watching her on TV. And maybe that little girl will grow up to be on the Queens show in the future. Also there was a young little girl getting inspired on the bleachers next to me. Jersey was watching just like little Hope was in 2012. Hope is continuing a powerful movement of inspiration. Thinking about it really takes my breath away.

Before the finals last week, I told her win or lose she’d already won. Just making it to the finals was such a win, and she’s already inspiring so many people because she’s not even a pro yet. She is still in college. Yet, she made the top 5 out of 208. The number of amazing bowlers she had to beat to get there is incredible. Right now, she’s just warming up. She’s only just thinking about starting her pro career after getting her Masters in college and she’s already rising to the top of the game. She’s already inspiring so many young girls to follow their dream. Imagine where she’s headed in her bowling career! 

Hope told me that she wanted to go pro because of me. Because of ME. When I think back to my career and all the times I was on the #1 podium winning for my country, and winning on TV.. it doesn’t seem as important as the idea that I made someone want to pursue bowling on such a high level. 

When she made the finals, I told her I’d be there behind her cheering her on, just like she was there behind me all those years ago. And I was. Normally I would watch the show on TV and root for my friends from home. But I showed up for her. I wanted to be behind her every shot, just like she was behind me.

I found footage of the show from 10 years ago, and I was looking for her to see where she was sitting. And I found her. She was literally right behind me. I posted it to my Instagram so more people could see her back then to appreciate the full-circle moment. 

The story of “Hope & Inspiration” is just getting started. I can’t wait to see how it continues. I also can’t wait to watch her take on the world as an official pro after she’s done college. This is just Chapter II of her story.. I have a feeling that there’s going to be so much more to this book.