Junior Team USA members team up at USBC Youth Open Championships
07/15/07
In a year where there are no international youth events scheduled, some members of Junior Team USA decided to take advantage of the opportunity to compete together in the inaugural United States Bowling Congress Youth Open Championships on Saturday morning.
Eight players formed two teams in the event, which started Friday and continues through July 22 at AMF Thruway Lanes. Robert Morris University bowler Tim Pfeifer of Cranberry Township, Pa., said the tournament was a chance for the team to bowl together in a competitive environment.
"It fills a little bit of a void since we didn't have a chance to travel this year," said Pfeifer, who won the men's title at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships this year. "We had a great week at Junior Team USA training camp earlier this year. It feels good to get on the lanes and use some of the things we learned at camp and bowl together as a team."
As a collegiate bowler at the University of Central Florida, Brigette Harrelson, a first-time Junior Team USA member, said team bowling has become popular among bowlers at the high school and collegiate levels.
"I think this event gives young bowlers a taste of what they might experience when they get into high school or college," Harrelson said. "A tournament like this was due a long time ago. Everyone enjoys team tournaments."
More than 1,600 athletes are expected to compete in the nine-day tournament, modeled after the USBC Open and Women's Championships, both of which have been conducted since the early 1900s. Bowlers will take part in singles, doubles and four-player team competition which is open to all USBC Youth members.
"This tournament is a great idea and a long time coming," Pfeifer said. "The adults have had something to bowl like this for 100 years now and it always seemed like something the youth bowlers should have. It's a great start and in the future, I think this event is really going to become popular."
On the lanes, the Junior Team USA Boys finished with 2,480 and were led by Pfeifer with a 656 series. Josh Blanchard of Upland, Calif., added 651, Matt O'Grady of South Amboy, N.J., shot 648 and Kyle Bischoff of St. Cloud, Minn., contributed 525.
The Junior Team USA Girls shot 2,137 and were led by Bryanna Caldwell of Tucson, Ariz., with 549. Josie Earnest of Vandalia, Ill., fired 535, Samantha Linder of Winter Haven, Fla., shot 530 and Harrelson added 523.
The tournament is broken into four average divisions (129 and below, 130-159, 160-189 and 190 and above) and is based on actual pinfall. One out of every four entrants in team, doubles and singles will receive scholarships, while one in six will receive scholarships in all-events.
2007 USBC Youth Open
AMF Thruway Lanes in Buffalo N.Y., United States (July 13-21, 2007)
In a year where there are no international youth events scheduled, some members of Junior Team USA decided to take advantage of the opportunity to compete together in the inaugural United States Bowling Congress Youth Open Championships on Saturday morning.Eight players formed two teams in the event, which started Friday and continues through July 22 at AMF Thruway Lanes. Robert Morris University bowler Tim Pfeifer of Cranberry Township, Pa., said the tournament was a chance for the team to bowl together in a competitive environment.
"It fills a little bit of a void since we didn't have a chance to travel this year," said Pfeifer, who won the men's title at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships this year. "We had a great week at Junior Team USA training camp earlier this year. It feels good to get on the lanes and use some of the things we learned at camp and bowl together as a team."
As a collegiate bowler at the University of Central Florida, Brigette Harrelson, a first-time Junior Team USA member, said team bowling has become popular among bowlers at the high school and collegiate levels.
"I think this event gives young bowlers a taste of what they might experience when they get into high school or college," Harrelson said. "A tournament like this was due a long time ago. Everyone enjoys team tournaments."
More than 1,600 athletes are expected to compete in the nine-day tournament, modeled after the USBC Open and Women's Championships, both of which have been conducted since the early 1900s. Bowlers will take part in singles, doubles and four-player team competition which is open to all USBC Youth members.
"This tournament is a great idea and a long time coming," Pfeifer said. "The adults have had something to bowl like this for 100 years now and it always seemed like something the youth bowlers should have. It's a great start and in the future, I think this event is really going to become popular."
On the lanes, the Junior Team USA Boys finished with 2,480 and were led by Pfeifer with a 656 series. Josh Blanchard of Upland, Calif., added 651, Matt O'Grady of South Amboy, N.J., shot 648 and Kyle Bischoff of St. Cloud, Minn., contributed 525.
The Junior Team USA Girls shot 2,137 and were led by Bryanna Caldwell of Tucson, Ariz., with 549. Josie Earnest of Vandalia, Ill., fired 535, Samantha Linder of Winter Haven, Fla., shot 530 and Harrelson added 523.
The tournament is broken into four average divisions (129 and below, 130-159, 160-189 and 190 and above) and is based on actual pinfall. One out of every four entrants in team, doubles and singles will receive scholarships, while one in six will receive scholarships in all-events.