Alabama Sports Festival Athlete of the Year


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Press Release (September 28, 2009)

SOURCE: Alabama Sports Festival

Alabama Sports Festival's 2009 Athlete of the Year

Montgomery, AL - Governor Bob Riley and Alabama Sports Festival Executive
Director Marc T. Riker are scheduled to recognize the Alabama Sports Festival’s
2009 Athlete of the Year Friday, October 23, 2009, at the State Capitol.
Matthew Brannan, a 19-year-old from Montgomery, led his team to a gold medal
by bowling a perfect game. Grabbing silver in the individual competition,
Matthew managed to take home two medals in the 2009 Alabama Sports Festival
State Games in Birmingham.

“This was my second year bowling in the Sports Festival, and it has been a great
experience both times. I placed second in Singles both years, and second in
Team event last year. I love the level of competition and the opportunity to meet
new people and bowlers. The Sports Festival is an awesome experience, and I
look forward to competing for many years to come,” said Brannan.

Matthew is no stranger to competition around the south. Not only is he the
reigning Master’s Points Champion in the Southern Scratch Junior Bowler’s
Association, Matthew was the All Events Scratch Champion in the Alabama State
Tournament held in Montgomery this year.

In 2010, Matthew will be moving from youth division into the adult league and
couldn’t have asked for a better ending to his youth run in 2009. “I wasn’t
planning to shoot a 300 game, but I was getting pumped up as our team kept
striking and pulling ahead. I thought it would be a great idea to seal the deal and
pop a perfect game to start the event. My teammates were behind me the whole
time, and when I threw the last ball, everyone went crazy! It was a great feeling,
and I’m glad I chose the Sports Festival to shoot my first sanctioned 300 game,”
said Brannan.

The Alabama Sports Festival, now in its 28th year, is a non-profit organization
that started at the request of the United States Olympic Committee and is part of
a nationwide network of state games programs. The ASF teaches the
importance of academics and good citizenship through statewide, Olympic-style
athletic competition.