It was an exciting week of bowling for area athletes at the Jr Gold Bowling National Championships held in Indianapolis.
Shobonier native and Vandalia Lady Vandal Macy Jones finished runner up in the country out of 326 girls competing in the U15 Division. In the televised TV finals, she tied in the national championships match with the #1 qualifier Larielle Tharps 226-226 which then setup a one throw sudden victory where Tharps threw a strike and Jones left 3 pins. Jones ranked 26th after the final day of qualifying and moved on to the Advancers round where she finished 13th to get into the Final Advancers. There she was 15th to get into the bracketed match play format where she upset top-ranked and dominant Bella Castillo in the opening round and made her wade through to the TV finals.
The U18 boys also was exciting for area bowlers and Silas Moats and Charlie Hunter both advanced through the qualifying rounds to the Advancers Round. Moats was 28th out of a whopping 1313 competitors. Hunter was 126th which moved both of them along. In the Advancers Round, Moats continued his solid play as he moved through to the Final Advancers round at 36th place while Hunters great tournament ended finishing 159th in the nation. Moats would finish up his outstanding tournament in 63rd place, not bad for the junior to be, playing in his first year at U16.
Also qualifying for the national tournament and competing was Rhett Runge who was 660, Rhett Detering 839, Ryan Detering 928 and Keaton Gullion 1168.
In the U18 Girls Division, Salem’s Elena VanHoutin also qualified to compete along with the 588 athlete field. She finished 544th.
Thanks to our sponsors that allowed me to be in Indianapolis covering the Jr Gold Tournament….Midwest Farm & Land Company, Edward Jones – Shawn Garrett, Dental Center of Nashville, Salem Bowl and Wilson & Wilson Monument Company.
