Not your average bowler: Teen achieves champion status despite challenges
Updated: 5:37 AM EST Dec 18, 2020
HE USED THEM AS MOTIVATION TO GREATNESS. 17-YEAR-OLD JACOB FROM MODESTO IS A CHAMPION LEVEL BOWLER. AND HE HAS BOWLED SEVERA PERFECT 300 GAMES. WHILE ALSO REACHING THE NATIONALS FOR YEARS IN A ROW. JACOB WS LEGALLY BLIND AND DEAF. >> JACOB WAS BORN THAT WAY. HE WAS BORN HYPOXIC. DEL: BUT JACOB DOESN’T LET THOSE CARDS HE’S BEEN DEALT DETER HIM FROM DOING WHAT HE LOVES. WHY THE SPORT OF BOWLING AND HOW DID HE FALL IN LOVE WITH BOWLING? >> THAT IS ACTUALLY FROM MY BROTHER WHO HAS AUTISM. HE BASICALLY STARTED ME OFF A LONG TIME AGO AND THEN HE WALKED UP TO MOM AND DAD. YOU GUYS SHOULD TAKE HIM TO A BOWLING ALLEY. >> DESPITE HIS TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES, JACOB CHOOSES TO COMPETE AGAINST ABLE-BODIED BOULDERS. AND HE USUALLY FINISHES IN THE TOP FIVE LIKE HE DID THIS PAST WEEKEND IN ARIZONA. HE BOWLED HIS FIRST 800 SERIES JUST RIGHT BEFORE COVID HAPPENED. AND HE HAS BOLD SEVERAL 300 GAMES, PERFECT GAMES. I’VE BEEN BOWLING SINCE THE 80’S AND I CAN’T EVEN DO THAT. DE WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING WHEN YOU HAD THAT FIRST PERFECT GAME? I WAS PRETTY HAPPY. BEFORE THAT, — DEL: WITH THE HELP OF A PIN SPOTTER, JACOB IS ABLE TO PICK UP STAIRS. AND EVEN THOUGH HE BELONGS TO THE AMERICAN BLIND BOWLERS ASSOCIATION AND UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS, HIS AMBITIONS GO WAY BEYOND BOWLING. >> MY OTHER OPTION IS, MY PARENTS TOOK ME ON THE LAKE. PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING ON THE WATER. DE LIKE FISHING. JACOB GRADUATED FROM
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Not your average bowler: Teen achieves champion status despite challenges
Updated: 5:37 AM EST Dec 18, 2020
A 17-year-old from California is a champion-level bowler who has bowled several perfect 300 games — while also reaching the nationals four years in a row.Bu Jacob Goddam isn’t your average bowler. He’s legally blind and deaf.Hear his story in the video above.
A 17-year-old from California is a champion-level bowler who has bowled several perfect 300 games — while also reaching the nationals four years in a row.
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Bu Jacob Goddam isn’t your average bowler. He’s legally blind and deaf.
Hear his story in the video above.
