PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The newest signee for Ron Damron’s national champion bowling team is a Georgian.

Danielle Mead of Grovetown, Ga., has signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Pikeville where she will continue her education and participate in women’s bowling.

Mead, whose father is in the military, has lived across the country in places such as Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina, Hawaii, Texas and New York. A veteran of seven years of competitive gymnastics, she began bowling at 14 after watching her brother compete in the Junior Gold Championships.

This year will be her third time competing in the same event.

In the last year, she finished second in the City Championships and had the highest average among girls in the Augusta Youth Association. She has an average of 172, with a high game of 265 and series of 646.

Mead plans to double-major in secondary education/math and business administration emphasizing sport management. Her goal is to teach while saving for her dream job of opening her own gymnastics academy.