The Junior Gold Bowling Nationals are being held in Minneapolis as the best bowlers in the country compete. The first of 4 qualifying rounds was held yesterday at various bowling alleys in the area.
The top 101 will advance in the U16 boys division after all the qualifying rounds are complete. After the first day above the cutline are Tobias Kirchner of Waterloo 34th, Blake Lane of Columbia 76th and Salem’s Nicholi Marhanka who is 98th currently after a first day 4-game block shooting 811 for a 202.75 average. Also competing, Salem’s Kellen Nix who is 119 after shooting 801 which included a 288 game. Teammate Carter Shanafelt is 134th after his 796 day. Brenden Phillips of Breese is 248th. Aviston’s Zachary Ritter is 665th. Also competing, Tyler Babcock of O’Fallon 134, Dalton Wheeler of Harrisburg 231, Ryan Lotz of O’Fallon 234, Khalil Sutton of Metropolis 322, Alex Loughary of Waterloo 361, Hudson Dulle of Bartelso 404, Cooper Bradley of Harrisburg 416, Sam Beck of Waterloo 452, Colton Mckee of Carbondale 470, Kolby Eugea of Cahokia 603, Brayden Drevicki of Smithton 619, Jackson Robbins of Mascoutah 620, Brody Zotz of New Baden 659, Drew Millen of O’Fallon 671.
The top 46 advance from the U16 girls with Kellen Stephens of Collinsville currently 5th just 29 shots off the lead with Jillian Dwiggins of Alton 7th. Taylor Rose of Columbia is 196, Peyton Darnstaedt of Belleville 257, Kelsia Hampton of Fairview Heights 265, Teiryn Andrews of Opdyke is 308.
In U18 boys, Cameron Shufelt of Waterloo is 104th as the top 131 will advance after qualifying. Salem’s Dylan Kuhns has some work to do currently 277th after his opening day 752 4-game block for a 188 average. Mt Vernon’s Travin Elliott is 382. Also competing, Sam Breitwiser of Waterloo 252, Ethan Zirkelbach of Marion 310, Raymond Andrews of Opdyke 367, Thomas Whitmore of Mascoutah 382, Aaron Hughes of Jerseyville 428.
In U18 Girls, 52 advance to the Advancer Round at the end of the week. Vandalia’s Macy Jones is currently 75th averaging 180.25 for a 721 block. Miranda Duff of Smithton is right behind her in 78th. Also competing, Abigail Parry of Taylorville 63rd, Briley Dent of Bonnie 98th, Isabella Skipper of Belleville 119.
In 14u Boys, Mt Vernon’s Jaesun Mann had a great first day as he is in 2nd place overall shooting a 4 game block of 817 for a 204.25 average and is just 19 pins behind 1st place. Also from Mt Vernon, Charles Rutherford is in 182nd place averaging 154. The top 55 in the Division will advance after 4 qualifying rounds.
In 14u Girls, Aviston’s Reese Renth sits in 4th place, 45 pins from the top spot with the top 26 advancing after qualifying rounds this week. Alexis Bellemey, also of Aviston, is 8th, Riley Poggie of Mascoutah is 21st. Other area bowlers competing are Mollie Jo Mcgraw of Mt Vernon who is 125th and Hadleigh Johnson of Bonnie in 166th. Sophia Walter of Belleville is 36th, Kaylee Bertoletti of East Alton 42nd, Sophie Orris of O’Fallon 58th, Izabel Andrews of Opdyke 102, Quinn Collier of O’Fallon 1149, Rachel Eller of Waterloo 156.
