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www.bowlingworld.com
- DECEMBER 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas – The North Pointe Junior Gold Champi-
onships presented by The Brands of Ebonite International has
experienced tremendous growth, especially with the addition of
the U15 division, and the expected progression has resulted in
several changes for the 2013 event in Detroit.
“
Youth bowlers across the country understand the great oppor-
tunity the North Pointe Junior Gold Championships offers and we
are seeing unprecedented growth,” said Chad Murphy, Interna-
tional Bowling Campus Managing Director of Youth Development.
“
A $250,000 scholarship pool, the chance to make Junior Team
USA, national titles up for grabs … and the U15 division has really
changed the dynamics. The division was an immediate success.”
More than 1,900 youth bowlers took part in the 2012 North
Pointe Junior Gold Championships, establishing a record for
number of participants, and the 2013 tournament is expected to
eclipse that mark. To handle the larger field, three additional
centers in the Detroit area will be utilized.
In 2013, the boys division of the North Pointe Junior Gold
Championships will compete at Sunnybrook Lanes and Sterling
Lanes, both in Sterling Heights, and at AMF Rose Bowl in Rose-
ville. The girls’ competition will take place at Astro Lanes in Madi-
son Heights, Bowl One Lanes in Troy, and 5 Star Lanes in Ster-
ling Heights.
The IBC staff and the IBC Youth Tournament Committee
worked closely with Metro Detroit USBC association manager and
USBC board member Mark Martin, Detroit Sports Commission
executive director Dave Beachnau and their staffs to determine
the additional centers.
The highly successful debut of the U15 division at North Pointe
Junior Gold Championships last year has prompted additional
changes.
First was the creation of a U15 development program for Junior
Team USA. Four of the top U15 bowlers at the North Pointe Jun-
ior Gold Championships who are age-eligible will have the oppor-
tunity to train at the International Training and Research Center
with Team USA coaches and then represent Team USA in the
U15 division of the Tournament of the Americas.
Another change will be an adjustment in the special prize fund
for high school students (grades 9-12). For 2013, the high school
prize fund will be divided for those in the U15 division and the U20
division.
Qualifying for the 2013 North Pointe Junior Gold Champion-
ships presented by The Brands of Ebonite International already is
underway. To learn more about the tournament and the Junior
Gold program, go to BOWL.com/JuniorGold.
Joseph L. Howe
(
left), 7, of Ladoga, Ind., had games of 120,
109,
and 205 on August 11 at All Star Bowl during the Luise
Lesser Memorial Jamboree Scholarship Tournament. Joseph,
who was averaging 90 at the time, also is an honor roll student.
He picked up corn out of the fields during the fall of 2011 and used
the money he earned to purchase his own Storm bowling ball,
which he used to win the tournament.
Sarah Sanes
(
right), 11, of Smyrna, Tenn., rolled a 610 series
with games of 247, 187 and 176
on Sept. 15 in the Junior/Senior
Fall League at Smyrna Bowling
Center. Sarah, who has been
bowling since she was 7, moved up early from the Bantam Prep
league and is the youngest bowler in the Junior/Senior League.
She also recently qualified for the 2013 North Pointe Junior Gold
Championships in Detroit.
Patrick Wallace
(
left), 16,
of Jupiter, Fla., had been get-
ting so close to bowling a
perfect game, that it was just a matter of time when it was going
to happen. On Oct. 28, 2012, in the U & Me Kid League at Jupi-
ter Lanes, he rolled a 300 game as part of a 758 series (300,
211, 247).
Patrick has been bowling since becoming a Pee Wee
bowler at age 4.
Devyn Patalina
(
right),
10,
of Las Vegas, started
bowling in the Junior Red
Rockers league, a beginner/
intermediate league at Red
Rock Bowling Center, last
fall. He also took part in his
first tournaments, taking
third at the Southern Nevada
USBC Masters tournament
and also took third in Doubles at the SNUSBCA Youth City Tour-
nament. In his league, he was the Most Improved Bowler and had the Boys High Scratch Game
(203).
He bowled in a summer league and had his first 500 series (534).
Ric McCormick
, 17,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, had a 300 game and 799 series (300, 258, and 241)
during his Thursday night Adult-Youth league at Colerain Bowl on June 28. It was Ric’s second
USBC certified perfect game. His first was bowled in a high school match in his freshman year with
scores of 300 and 224 for 524 series for two games. Ric currently averages 232 in his Saturday
morning Majors youth league.
Jared Taylor
(
left), 12, of Selkirk, N.Y., rolled a new high game
of 256 and had his first 600 series on October 13 at Del Lanes in
Delmar, N.Y., during his Del Lanes Junior Classic League. Jared
bowled 75 pins over his average. He also bowls on his school team
–
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.
Zachary Weidman
, 18,
of Indianapolis, was the Indiana High
School state champion for the 2011-2012 bowling season. He was
named Bowler of the Year by the Indy USBC association, high
school bowling and also named Male Bowler of the Year for the
2011-2012
season by the Indiana State Youth Association. He has
nine perfect games and three 800 series. He teamed with Nicholas
Corbin to win the Scratch Doubles title at the 2012 USBC Youth
Open Championships.
Tyler Michel
, 7,
and
Kiersten Mi-
chel
(
right), 6, of Chesapeake, Va.,
completed their first league bowling
season earlier this year. They were on
the same three-member team in the
2011-12
Pee-Wee Youth Bowling
League at AMF Western Branch Lanes
and took first place. Tyler finished the
league with High Average (114), High
Series (291) and High Game (178)
among the boys, while his sister Kier-
sten had the High Average (84), High
Series (222) and High Game (132) for the girls. Each also earned the most improved bowler award.
James Keegan Stockton
(
left), 13, of Clarksville, Tenn., bowled a
759
series on Sept. 8 at Pinnacle Bowling with games of 289, 235 and
235.
He has been bowling since age 3, and said his coach reminded
him to take his time and go when he felt ready. He started the first
game with nine strikes. It was his first 700 without handicap.
High Five Recognizes The Accomplishments Of USBC Youth bowlers
Patterned After USA Bowling Program, Strike Force Youth
Bowling And Saturday Minors A Success In Detroit And Ba-
ton Rouge
ARLINGTON, Texas - Strike Force Youth Bowling, the largest
youth bowling program in Metro Detroit and Saturday Minors in
Baton Rouge, La. are reporting great success with their newly
created competition for youth. Detroit's Elite Youth Travel Bowling
Club and Baton Rouge's Saturday Minors are both modeled after
the USA Bowling program, which is a more mainstream youth
sports model, using a unique format which sets themselves apart
from other similar programs.
"
We are excited to see the USA Bowling model picking up
steam through organizations such as Strike Force Youth Bowling
and Saturday Minors," said Chad Murphy, International Bowling
Campus Managing Director of Youth. "While it's not branded USA
Bowling, they have taken the most important elements of the
program to create something that works for them."
Detroit's program, in association with Community Bowling
Centers and BowlDetroit.com is unique in its administration, scor-
ing system, and cutting edge format. Scoring is different from
most other youth bowling programs in that teams only receive
points for games won (no "bonus" points for totals) and there are
no handicaps. The new program also used a system similar in
nature to the pro sport draft to create teams. The new Elite Youth
Travel Bowling Club travels to different bowling centers each
week where they receive a lesson given by the Strike Force Team
followed by three games of bowling competition.
To insure parental involvement in the program, a Competition
Committee composed of parents and athletes was established to
create synergy and credibility for the program. Bill Reynolds, a
longtime supporter of youth travel bowling in the Metro Detroit
area is the first Competition Director for this new concept.
"
Our mission is to bridge the gap between parent and athlete,
to enhance communication, and develop ideas for the betterment
of the club," said Roger Philipi, Community Bowling Centers
(
Mich.), Strike Force youth chairman. "In addition to providing a
great competitive experience for the youth, the program encour-
ages kids to move on after high school to participate in collegiate
bowling."
(
Continued on page 31)
Growth Sparks Changes To North Pointe Junior Gold Championships
New Youth Bowling Concepts Unveiled