🎳 “Mr. Bowler” Braxton Tolliver: From Birthday Lanes to Big Dreams

In Episode 107 of the Chop Shop Show, Daryl “EZDZ” Newton, Greg “AKA Ruff” Doss, and Reverend Waldo welcome rising bowling prodigy Braxton Tolliver, aka “Mr. Bowler.” This episode dives deep into Braxton’s journey from discovering bowling at his 10th birthday party to competing in national tournaments and earning scholarship money through the sport. A refreshing change from typical sports talk, Braxton’s story highlights how passion, dedication, and skill can carve a unique athletic path—even in a less conventional sport like bowling.

 

Braxton explains how his curiosity led him to approach a bowler who could hook the ball, which sparked a love for the game. With support from his mom and mentorship from coach Danny, he steadily developed from recreational bowling to sport shot competition. Now a high school junior, Braxton bowls competitively on challenging oil patterns and has rolled a perfect 300 game. He discusses equipment strategy (yes, he owns over a dozen balls), lane adjustments, and the psychological focus it takes to bowl at a high level.

 

The Chop Shop crew explores the competitive side of bowling, tournament etiquette, and the misconceptions people have about the sport. Braxton shares how he handles doubters, manages his practice schedule, and balances a calm mindset during tournaments. The hosts also touch on barriers to bowling being recognized as a school sport, scholarship opportunities, and how young athletes like Braxton can inspire others to follow their own “lane”—even when it’s not the mainstream path.

 

The episode wraps with light-hearted moments, including a misadventure involving pizza and tournament nerves, showing Braxton’s humility and sense of humor. From technique to motivation, this conversation is a blueprint for young athletes and parents exploring alternative sports routes with scholarship potential.

 

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome

01:20 – Braxton’s First Bowling Memory

02:57 – Discovering Passion & Getting His First Ball

05:00 – Bowling as a Sport vs. Recreation

07:00 – Preparing for Sport Shot Tournaments

09:00 – High School Bowling & Peer Reactions

12:00 – Bowling Scholarships & Future Goals

14:00 – Coaching, Training, and Improvement

18:00 – Gear Breakdown: Balls, Bags & Shoes

25:00 – Staying Focused During Tournaments

28:00 – Bowling Mishaps & Tournament Humor

31:00 – Strategy, Celebrations & Staying Competitive

34:00 – Staying Authentic & Avoiding Validation Traps

35:50 – Closing Words of Encouragement

 

YouTube Tags (max 500 characters)

Braxton Tolliver, bowling prodigy, youth sports, Chop Shop Show, bowling scholarship, competitive bowling, sport shot, bowling tournaments, PBA, junior gold league, two-hand bowling, oil patterns, bowling technique, alternative sports, high school athlete, bowling gear, bowling coach, bowling mindset, perfect game, 300 score, Black youth athletes, bowling strategy