Recap: 2016 Junior Gold Championships
The 2016 Junior Gold Championships have just wrapped up, and WOW… what an experience! For those that we not able to attend, here’s a summary of what went on during this year’s Junior Gold:
The send-off
Before traveling to Indianapolis, we arranged for a local sports news station to interview several of the competing bowlers and take video of their group practice. The news segment aired on the day before registration / practice sessions.
The pre-tournament festivities
Before the Junior Gold events officially started, several of the bowlers participated in a “Pro-Am” with dozens of professional bowlers, getting autographs and pictures taken while demonstrating their skills. A couple bowlers participated in the Youth Open Championship tournament and did well, and we also had participation in an Adult/Youth Baker-style tournament. Saturday (7/16) consisted of registration and two practice sessions, along with the opportunity to meet with collegiate coaches and professional bowlers at the trade show. Sunday (7/17) included two more practice sessions, the trade show and the “Opening Ceremonies” event at the local baseball stadium.
The Tournament
Starting Monday, our bowlers competed against elite bowlers from across the country. Everyone bowled 4 games a day for 4 straight days, on sport shot oil patterns that were not announced, and at different times throughout each day. 2 of our bowlers made the first cut (where only 1 in 7 bowlers advance), earning SMART scholarship funds. Those bowlers making the first cut had the opportunity (from that point on) to be on one of the BowlTV live stream broadcasts, allowing the world to peek in and see the competition.
John Nunn (from Nassau Bowling Center) finished in 13th place out of 201 boys in the Under-12 division, and anyone watching the live streaming broadcast on Thursday night witnessed him throw a “five bagger” in his 210 game. Marisol Dodson (from Jax Lanes Grove Park and the FCUSBC Travel League) made two cuts and finished in 58th place out of 792 girls in the Under-20 division. Unfortunately, we did not have any of our area bowlers advance to the heads-up bracket portion of the tournament. Florida bowlers in general did well, taking home one of the division championships.
Beyond the main tournament
The first-ever USA Bowling National Championship took place during the second half of the week, with regional champions competing in Baker-style team matches. While we did not have a team in this tournament, we came VERY close; the Jacksonville U12 All-Stars barely lost in the Coastal South Regional back in January to “Team Georgia”, which that team dominated the brackets round and is in the televised final match (airing in August).
After wrapping up tournament play, some bowlers took the opportunity to do some sightseeing while others entered into the Storm Survivor Tournament — competing to earn their entry into the 2017 Junior Gold tournament (held in Cleveland, OH). We’re sure all of them (and family members in attendance) are looking forward to getting caught up on sleep, but won’t soon forget the experience of competing on the national stage. We look forward to having more youth bowlers represent the First Coast USBC in Cleveland next July!
The First Coast USBC awards entries into the National Junior Gold Championship tournament each year to its youth members. Entries are awarded at association-sponsored tournaments (City, Scholarship, & JJBT) and through the Travel League (a Junior Gold Prep league).