The Elite Youth Tour team members have a piece of my heart.

Our trip to Rochester last weekend was the first time that the EYT team has traveled together. It’s also the first time we had a chance to really spend quality time together. When we’re putting on these events in the Chicago area, we unfortunately don’t have a lot of time to just hang out with each other. But this weekend – before and after putting on the EYT Rochester event – we had time for meals, drives, and hangs. We even had a chance to visit Niagara Falls (Canada side) and right before we left we did an Escape Room!

This team is SO fun.

When we were at our last meal together in Rochester before flying home, I asked everyone what their highlight was of the weekend. Some said Niagara Falls. Some others said meeting new EYT bowlers in New York. And when it was my turn, the answer was easy. My highlight was them. All of those other things they said were great too, but my top highlight was learning more about each of them and growing closer to them. It felt amazing to spend time with them, to get to know them better, to hear their stories and to share laughs.

For a moment, as I shared this, it got a bit emotional at the table. I teared up, and a few of them teared up along with me. These are my people. And, the amount of gratitude I feel for them truly brings me to tears.

The truth is that I have always loved my team but last weekend I saw another side of them – and how truly special they are. It takes a certain type of person to be part of the EYT team. Each of their lights shines so bright, and the Elite Youth Tour would not be this incredible without them. They truly are a gift to youth bowling.

To find my people like that – people who want to make a difference and have impact, and who always have a good spirit about them, and who are just such hard workers –  feels beyond amazing. I love being with them. They have good ideas. They’re never afraid to speak up. They’re always working in kindness. They all put out the same amazing energy. And I never have to worry about them not doing the right thing. I always know that I can trust them to do their thing – and that both they and EYT will shine as a result.

I also know that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish a successful EYT road stop without this team.  Last weekend, they really stepped up to the next level to take EYT on the road for the first time. And, they pulled it off without a hitch. By the end of the weekend, I felt so much gratitude for these people that I wanted to make sure that they knew how much they meant to me.

Judging by all the other happy tears around the table, I think they got that.

The EYT Rochester attendees really seemed to love our energy too. They took a chance with us and were especially welcoming. Those who showed up had a lot of choices of tournaments that weekend. But they chose us. Trust in a brand isn’t a given. We have to build their trust because they don’t know us there yet. Sometimes it takes going in there, proving yourself and showing your colors. I think we accomplished that last weekend. 

There were also many people texting people at other events telling them they shouldn’t have missed this. And I know that if every one of those people says that to just a few people, the next EYT is going to be so much bigger and better when we come back.

A lot of people also came up and said thank you.

One mom came up to me at the end and commented that she was pleasantly surprised by how different the vibe was – for a tournament. She explained that she loved that it was fun and relaxed while still being serious and competitive. In fact, she specifically said, “it’s not stuffy.” And I’m like, YES! You get it. That’s exactly it. That’s why whenever I’m talking to everyone on the mic, I talk to them like they are friends. Yes, we are creating champions and the talent level is so high at our events. BUT we are also very intentional about maintaining a lightheartedness at the same time. This is the EYT brand.

EYT proves that you can be both competitive and enjoyable. It’s not just about the competition at the cost of everything else. We want our events to be a fun, enjoyable place to be. It’s about the feeling and energy of the event. In fact, that’s an important aspect of how we want to stand out and set ourselves apart. And that’s the energy everyone of the EYT team members help create. So, I’m so glad that mom saw that about us.

There’s one person I also need to thank for helping us bring the EYT vibes to Rochester last weekend. 

It all came about as a result of a conversation with Kelvin Parker at last year’s US Open. As the proprietor of ABC Gates Bowl, he said to me last year, “What will it take to get the EYT here?” I responded, “I just need some help getting me and my staff here.” He provided that help and more. He is a big proponent of youth bowling and was able to make this first New York EYT happen.

So, thank you Kelvin.

And thank you Team EYT.

And thank you Rochester, New York.