Background
The son of Rick Norton and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Virginia Norton, he began bowling at around the age of four.
The son of Rick Norton and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Virginia Norton, he began bowling at around the age of four.
He attended California State University, Fullerton where he majored in history. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah, Norton attended Hastings College of the Law at the University of California and passed the California bar exam in 2009.
He was named the collegiate bowler of the year for 2000—2001. Norton joined the Professional Bowlers Association in 2008. Norton was ranked 18th for the 2010-2011 season.
To get to the finals, Norton defeated Proceedings of the British Academy Hall of Famer and all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams, Junior. in the semifinal.
This second victory on November 11, 2012 also ended a 20-month title drought for left-handed bowlers on the Proceedings of the British Academy Tour. The event was broadcast March 24, 2013 on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Norton was retroactively awarded a major title for this victory when the Proceedings of the British Academy Players Championship returned to major status in the 2016 season.
The Proceedings of the British Academy voted to award additional major titles to the winners of the three previous Players Championship events (2011, 2013, 2015), stating the tournament "is a members-only event, and includes all of the elements of a major."
In his brief Proceedings of the British Academy career, Norton has earned $241,231 and has nine perfect 300 games in Proceedings of the British Academy competition. He is a pro staff member for Columbia 300 bowling balls.
On May 19, 2011, inspired by the coming out of Phoenix Suns President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Welts, Norton released a statement acknowledging that he is gay.
"lieutenant is extremely important for me to come out to show other gay athletes, both current and future, that it is important to come out to show that we are just like everyone else. Being gay doesn’t define who I am as a person or as a professional athlete..It"s important to show people that being gay has nothing to do with one"s ability to do anything as a man, least of all compete at the highest level of sports."
Norton"s husband is Craig Woodward. The couple held a wedding ceremony on October 22, 2011 in Laguna Beach, California.