PROUDLY PUBLISHED BY NNNewsewsews All the bowling news that’s fit to print in the Bowling Capital of the World VOL. 2, NO. 2 OCTOBER 2017 U20 champions determined at 2017 Junior Gold Championships Local players Ryan Winters and Julia Huren named to Junior Team USA WICKLIFFE, Ohio - Wesley Low making small moves to the right, since ing family and friends on-site at Game Johnson, Alexis Neuer of Jr. of Palmdale, California, and Allie I didn’t want to do something crazy. I of Wickliffe to celebrate the perfor- Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Crystal Leiendecker of Wooster, Ohio, find ended up finding a good look on the mance with her. Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, and Julia themselves at different stages of their left lane and gave the shot on the right ”I was shaking a lot, but I felt like I Huren of Westland, Michigan, also youth bowling careers, but each are lane in the ninth a little air time to make kept everything under control,” made the girls team through qualify- ready for the next step after winning sure it got through the front part of the Leiendecker said. “It was fun, though, ing, while Leiendecker earned her spot the 20-and-under titles at the 2017 lane.” even with the nerves. Moving up to by making her way to the title match. Junior Gold Championships pre- Low recorded his first U20 title as U20, my goal was just to make the Leiendecker was part of the U15 sented by the Brands of Ebonite In- a 16-year-old at the 2013 event in cut, so to win in my first year really is Developmental Team in 2017, while ternational. Detroit. After several close calls, in- amazing. Being able to win in Ohio, Johnson, Neuer, Elliott and Huren will Low, 20, capped off his youth ca- cluding a runner-up finish in 2014, he with all of my supporters coming to make their Junior Team USA debuts reer with a second U20 boys title after finished his Junior Gold career by be- watch, was pretty amazing, too.” in 2018. defeating David Hooper of Greenville, coming the first player in the boys di- Six boys and six girls automatically The U20 division of the 2017 Jun- South Carolina, 394-357, at Game of vision to win two U20 titles. earned spots on Junior Team USA for ior Gold Championships featured Wickliffe. Leiendecker, a 16-year-old Leiendecker had been a consistent 2018 through their performances at 1,418 boys and 840 girls, who each right-hander who made her debut in performer in her previous two trips to Junior Gold this week. rolled 16 games across four bowling the U20 division this year, averaged Junior Gold in the U15 division, ad- Jeffery Mann of West Lafayette, In- centers, before the top 203 boys and 230 in her two-game total-pinfall vancing to the match-play portion of diana, Kristopher Yadao of Pearl City, top 120 girls moved on to a five-game match against Caitlyn Johnson of the event. In those two appearances, Hawaii, Pete Vergos of Apopka, advancers round. Lumberton, Texas, to claim the U20 however, she was unable to secure a Florida, Ryan Winters of Livonia, The top 64 boys and top 64 girls girls title, 460-379. win in the double-elimination format. Michigan, and Michael Martell of advanced to the final advancers Low jumped to a commanding lead Upon a return visit to match play in Brooklyn, New York, earned spots on round, with 26-game pinfall totals de- against Hooper after rolling strikes on her U20 debut, she had one goal in the boys team through qualifying, termining the top 16 to advance in five of his first seven deliveries, but mind. while Hooper also made the team by each division to double-elimination the left-hander had back-to-back 2-4- “I had not won a match the past two advancing to the championship round. match play, which also featured two- 7-10 splits in the ninth and 10th frames years, so that really was the main goal Mann, the 2016 U20 Junior Gold game matches with total pinfall deter- that cut his advantage to 34 pins after heading into match play,” Leiendecker champion, and Vergos each are mak- mining the winner. the first game, 202-168. said. “When I was able to do that, ing their second appearances on the The Junior Gold Championships Although Low still was making ad- things really started rolling, and I was team, while Yadao, Winters, Martell features the top youth bowlers in the justments in Game 2, he maintained able to stay calm and focus on what I and Hooper will represent Junior Team country seeking national titles in three his lead and sealed the title after re- was trying to achieve.” USA for the first time. divisions - 12-and-under, 15-and-un- cording a double in the eighth and In the title match, Leiendecker may “It’s an indescribable feeling, I der and 20-and-under - and spots on ninth frames on his way to a 192-189 have been nervous on the inside, but never imagined that I would get a Junior Team USA. The 2017 tourna- finish. she looked like a seasoned veteran chance at being on the team but it’s ment was held in seven Cleveland- ”I thought both of those shots were as she recorded a total of 16 strikes relieving that all the years of hard work area bowling centers, featured a pretty good, but that’s when I noticed on her way to scores of 224-178 and paid off,” Winters said. “I hope that I $320,000 scholarship fund, and more that the fronts were starting to hook,” 236-201 against Johnson. get a chance to represent our country than 3,500 entries, both tournament Low said. “Throwing a urethane ball Taking the title approximately 70 on the big stage but just being apart records. The 2018 event will be held with such a high surface, you expect miles from home also served as a of the team itself is enough. Being on in Dallas and the 2019 event will re- that to happen at some point. I began special moment for Leiendecker, hav- a tournament team would just be ic- turn to Detroit. ing on the cake and make it even more In this issue memorable than it already is.” Regular Columns Features Two-time Junior Gold champion From the Editor - page 2 Michelle Mullen’s tips - page 4 Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Personal Perspective - page 3 Jeff Richgels - page 8 Carolina, will represent Junior Team The Youth Angle - page 3 Phil Goodman - page 9 USA for the fifth consecutive year af- (Ann)ouncements - page 5 Bob Johnson - page 11 ter earning her spot through qualify- Honor Scores - page 10 ing. Page 2 Bowling Showcase News October 2017 Bowling Showcase News Published monthly by: The season is off and running Metro Detroit USBC From the Editor 28200 Southfield Rd. Is your league ready? Lathrup Village, MI 48076 Mark A. Martin (248) 443-2695 MDUSBC League officer salaries should be who pay their money. If there is any Web: www.mdusbc.com Association Manager specified in the league bylaws. If they question regarding the operation of the Mark Martin, Editor are not it is something that needs to jackpots the board of directors should John Vorpagel, President be addressed for next year. League get the answer and see to it that ev- George Bresinski, VP officer salaries should be based on erything is being run properly. Richard Banks either the number of teams or the The league board of directors has Ann Block number of bowlers. This way the of- a huge responsibility to make sure the Penny Breen ficers get compensated for increased league remains strong and maintain- Michael DeRousie number of teams and the league gets ing the league in the spirit that it was Debra Dickerson protected if there are less teams than intended by the membership. This is Libbi Fletcher expected. a key ingredient to that responsibility. Mark Hurttgam Generally league secretaries and Patricia Klix treasurers should be paid in the neigh- MEMBER HANDBOOK Ashley Krywy borhood of $20 to $30 per team or $3 Once your league is certified each Martha Marshall to $5 per bowler for the season. This member that has purchased their Tammy Quinn amount may change also if the bowl- membership in that league will receive Kurt Suokas ing center is doing the league sheets. a Member Handbook and a Bag Tag. Randy Tambourine If the bowling center is doing the The Member Handbook includes the With the season already several league sheets, league secretaries 2017-18 USBC Playing Rules. Look For those bowling a series 150 pins weeks in it’s time to attend to some should receive less. for your today. over average will get a keychain light items such as the prize list. The bottom line is that leagues and those 200 pins over average in a USBC Rule 117a specifies that the should try to keep their expenses to a MDUSBC AWARDS PROGRAM game will be awarded a watch. league prize committee shall submit minimum in order to maximize the re- MDUSBC has expanded the Each of the following will be recog- one or more prize lists for consider- turn to the bowlers. awards program for the 2017-18 sea- nized with a lapel pin: ation within five weeks after the start son to include recognition for mem- Triplicate series of the season.