Hall of Fame
After a successful high school career Adam (A.J.) Johnson came to McKendree as a highly-touted recruit for the Bearcats’ bowling program. Over the next four years, A.J. showed the skill and talent that made him one of the top bowlers at the collegiate level and helped strengthen McKendree’s national notoriety.
A.J. burst onto the scene as a freshman with a 203.094 season average, which was second on the Bearcats’ squad. He then led McKendree in average each of his final three years with the program, beginning with a 208.436 mark as a sophomore in 2012-13.
The 2013-14 season memorable for A.J. on many fronts. First, he averaged a whopping 222.097 in traditional play for the year. In nine tournaments, A.J. recorded eight top-25 tournament finishes. That included six top-five showings and three tournament victories, which he recorded in succession to close the first semester. For his efforts, A.J. was named the National Bowler of the Year by both the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) and the International Bowling Media Association (IBMA). He became the first Bearcat bowler to win both awards.
Over his McKendree career A.J. registered a total of 15 top-five finishes in tournament play, including five victories. He led the Bearcats to three consecutive berths at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships. A.J. helped McKendree capture second place at the 2013 event. He earned a total of five All-America awards, including three from the NCBCA.
After leaving McKendree, A.J. has continued to add to his bowling accomplishments. At the time of his induction, he was a six-time member of Team USA. After capturing the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Midwest Region Player of the Year award in 2017, A.J. has moved on to become a recognizable face on the PBA Tour.
