Vol.1, No.4
Summer2006

Tournament Tips
Six veterans tell how to succeed at
USBC Junior Gold Championships

To be part of the pinnacle of youth bowling - the USBC Junior Gold Championships - you must be a USBC Junior Gold member who places high at regional Junior Gold tournaments or are among the high-average scorers in Junior Gold leagues and have earned your entry in the national championship event. To succeed at the national tournament you must practice harder, compete more often and receive advanced coaching and training.

Junior Gold bowlers have to be tough, but the payoffs are huge – you can earn scholarships, bowl in college and even climb to international or professional bowling levels. Just ask six bowlers who already have learned the ropes at the event formerly called the USA Junior Gold Bowling National Championships.


Preparing for the
Pepsi USBC Youth Championships

The 2006 Pepsi USBC Youth Championships (formerly the Pepsi Youth Bowling Championships) will be held directly after the USBC Junior Gold Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 17-19.

Earlier in the bowling season, all USBC Youth members were eligible to bowl in the league level of the competition, including those from U.S. military zones around the world. Bowlers could advance to higher levels of the tournament, ultimately earning the right to compete at the national level. Approximately $300,000 in scholarships are awarded every year at the state/zone level of the Pepsi USBC Youth Championships.

Scratch and handicap divisions are based on gender and age. Age 12 and Older Scratch Division state/zone winners advance to the USBC Junior Gold Championships, while Age 12 and Older Handicap Division winners advance to the Pepsi USBC Youth Championships. Pepsi scratch finalists at the Gold championships compete for an extra $15,000 in scholarships during the championships' qualifying rounds. Pepsi handicap finalists compete for $20,000 in scholarships, which will be divided among the top four finishers in two average-based divisions.

While it’s exciting to be a part of such a diverse group of bowlers, participants should remember to focus on the lanes during competition. Concentrate on bowling your best and keeping your emotions calm, despite the hectic environment. You’ll have plenty of off-time to socialize and have fun after tournament play has finished for the day!

Physical focus

Derek Eoff, 26, from Greenfield, Wis., bowled at the University of Nebraska and was a member of Junior Team USA in 1999. He prepared for the Junior Gold Championships at his local bowling center, but he had a plan.

“I knew the lanes at Junior Gold were going to be tough, so I asked the manager at my local center to put out a tough (Sport Bowling) pattern for me to practice on,” Derek said. “I worked on spare shooting.”

Eight-time Junior Gold Championship participant Nikki Lewandowski, 20, from Buffalo, N.Y., agrees with Derek. “The best preparation is a huge amount of spare shooting,” Nikki said. “Spares often are the difference between athletes making the cut or not.”

Serious Junior Gold athletes begin preparing long before the tournament begins. Current Junior Team USA member Michelle Quirk, a 21-year-old from Roseville, Calif., works out at the gym to build endurance to fight off fatigue at the tournament.

Cassie Leuthold, 18, from Black Hawk, S.D., focuses on Junior Gold six months in advance.

“I switch to what I call ‘competition training,’ working on fundamentals so I can make quality shots,” said Cassie, the 2005 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow and freshman on the University of Nebraska women’s bowling team. “I compete in tournaments to help me become more mentally tough against other opponents in match play.”

Go mental

Many Junior Gold tournament bowlers find that keeping a cool head is just as important as knocking down pins. Visualizing a win often pays off on the lanes.

“In some of the most stressful situations, I’ll close my eyes and remember the positive words of encouragement from my friends, coach and parents,” Nikki said. “With each tournament, you experience the same emotions: frustration, sadness, regret, happiness, excitement and anticipation.”

“Breathing is great for relaxation,” Michelle said. “I think about what I need to do and then trust that it will happen.”

Former Junior Team USA member, Team USA member and current professional bowler Sean Rash, 23, from Wichita, Kan., thinks big – and it works. “I visualize the medal around my neck,” he said.

Enjoy the ride

The Junior Gold Championships may put a lot of pressure on young athletes, but the event also brings the opportunity to travel to different locations across the country each year and meet more than 1,000 other youth bowlers.

“I met lifelong friends at the Junior Gold Championships,” Derek said. “Everyone has something in common – bowling – and there is a good chance you will see those same people through college bowling and even afterward. I suggest soaking it all in and making as many friends as possible.”

Two-time Junior Team USA member Clay Herrbach, 23, from Naperville, Ill., reminds young bowlers that getting to the tournament is an accomplishment in itself.

“Try not to get discouraged if you don’t do as well as you would like,” Clay said. “Junior Gold is by far the most challenging youth tournament with the best competition. Take it one shot at a time, set goals for yourself and stay positive.”

Above all, Junior Gold Championships athletes find the best results come from practice and concentration. Sean’s secrets to success are short and sweet.

“Give it your all,” he said. “And get plenty of sleep!”

Peek inside Daniel’s suitcase

Packing for a bowling tournament can be tough: the equipment is big and heavy. And when the event is held in Florida in July – like this year’s USBC Junior Gold Championships – it’s a vacation as well as a competition.

Baltimore's Daniel Curtis, 11, will make his second appearance at the USBC Junior Gold Championships this year. Let’s see what he’s bringing to Fort Lauderdale!

  • Bowling balls
  • Ball bag
  • Ball towel
  • Wrist/hand guard
  • Bowling shoes
  • Rosin bag
  • Bowler's tape
  • Finger grips
  • Shoe brush
  • Clean bowling shirts
  • MP3 player/CD player
  • Swimsuit
  • Sunglasses
  • Beach towel
  • Camera
  • Journal/notebook
  • Alarm clock
  • Energy bars/granola bars

USBC Junior Gold Championships

Each year, Junior Gold bowlers compete at the USBC Junior Gold Championships for a limited number of spots on Junior Team USA.

The 2006 USBC Junior Gold Championships will be held July 8-14 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nearly 1,500 bowlers have earned their entry and the tournament is at full capacity.

This year the USBC Junior Gold Championships will offer larger scholarships than ever before, with a total of $80,000 in scholarships to be awarded.

Bowlers must work hard to succeed on the tournament’s demanding Sport Bowling conditions, which regulate oil patterns to emphasize consistency and spare shooting.

About Junior Gold

Junior Gold athletes start like many other young bowlers: as USBC Youth members. But to advance to the Junior Gold level of membership, bowlers must carry a minimum USBC Youth average of 165 for girls and 175 for boys based on at least 21 games. They pay an additional annual fee of $30 ($25 if joining with a friend or renewing), but the investment is small compared to the rewards:

  • Chance to earn a spot on USBC Junior Team USA and represent the United States in international youth competitions
  • Access to world-class coaching
  • Multiple scholarship opportunities through Gold events
  • Gold Approach special section in US Youth Bowler
  • Special USBC Junior Gold membership card and gift
  • Automatic USBC Sport Bowling membership upgrade