2024 Junior Gold Notebook - Round 3
July 18, 2024
DETROIT – Only one round of qualifying remains at the 2024 Junior Gold Championships in Detroit after Wednesday’s four-game block, and time is winding down for those near the cut line to make a run into the Advancers Round and continue their quest to win.
U18 BOYS
Leading the U18 Boys is Keaton Ostrowski of Rochester, New York, who had a 993 block today and is at 2,799 overall, while second place Chance Mclane of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, had a 1,013 block to sit at 2,721 overall.
Rounding out the top five is Nicolas Trentler of Phoenix, Maryland (2,673), Riley Speer of Beech Grove, Indiana (2,657) and Evan Flath of Carterville, Illiniois (2,648).
Matthew Kiker of Florence, South Carolina, currently is the last person into the Advancers Round with 2,331.
U18 GIRLS
Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina, increased her lead with a 930 block today and is at 2,741 overall while Melia Mitskavich of Du Bois, Pennsylvania, is at 2,562 overall. Amelia Droste of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is third with 2,530, Sydney Bohn of Jackson, New Jersey, is fourth with 2,524 and Karina Capron of Fremont, New England, rounds out the top five with 2,514.
For the cut line, there is a three-way tie for 77th at 2,219.
U15 BOYS
The U15 Boys came to bowl today.
Elliott Gordon of Columbus, Ohio, the overall leader after Round 3, had games of 278, 258, 228 and 280 for a block total of 1,044 and is at 2,895 overall, averaging over 241 through 12 games. In second is Dylan Beck of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, who had his own great block with 1,016 and sits at 2,726 overall.
Third is Jackson Alexander Veitch who had 912 today to be at 2,724 overall. Last year’s U12 Boys winner Ryan Campbell of Clinton, South Carolina, had 1,017 today and sits fourth with 2,718 overall, and rounding out the top five is Ewan Oester of Portland, Oregon, at 2,675 overall.
For Campbell, coming into this year as a champion doesn’t change how he is approaching his first year as a U15 competitor.
“I came here just looking to make the first cut, I’m not putting any pressure on myself to win. I’m focused on being myself out on the lanes,” said Campbell.
Luke Jovans of Commack, New York, is the cut line for U15 Boys at 2,354.
U15 GIRLS
Bella Castillo of Odessa, Texas, now holds the overall lead after a Round 3 block total of 870 and is at 2,493 overall with one block remaining. Lindsay Greim out of Poway, California, is second with an overall total of 2,469 while Zoe Skinner of Crystal, Minnesota, sits in third with 2,442. Baylie Massingill out of Troy, Ohio, and Anna Antony of Farmington, Connecticut, round out the top five with 2,379 and 2,337, respectively.
In a tie for 42nd and the final spots into the Advancers Round are Grace Zuerner of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Abigail Craig of Frankfort, Illinois, both with an overall total of 2,100.
U12 BOYS
Eli Franco of Fishers, Indiana, holds onto the overall lead for the second straight day, shooting a block total of 792 and is now at 2,446 overall. Vincent Cintron of Jacksonville, Florida, gained ground on Franco with an 847 block and is at 2,377 overall in second.
Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois (2,355), Thomas Ault of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (2,330) and Noah Ausderau of Virginia Beach, Virginia (2,292), round out the top five, respectively.
Oliver Morton of Smyrna, Tennessee, holds the last spot into the Advancers Round with 2,048.
U12 GIRLS
For the third straight round, Alyssa Randisi of Brooklyn, New York, has the lead after a Round 3 block total of 819 and is at an overall total of 2,406. She also is the only U12 Girls bowler to have multiple rounds of 800 or better after an 861 in Round 1.
Olivia Titus out of St. Charles, Missouri, is second with an overall total of 2,212, Aliyana Debina-Gasper of Mililani, Hawaii, occupies third with 2,201, Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana, is fourth at 2,131 and Lea Besevic of Machesney Park, Illinois, rounds out the top five with 2,111.
Sophia Street of Livonia, Michigan, holds the 17th and final spot into the Advancers Round with 1,938.
BIG SCORES ALL AROUND
Gavin Haack of nearby Flint, Michigan, made a run at perfection today and ended his Round 3 block with a 299 to finish with 917 for the day and is 29th in U18 Boys. This is Haack’s fourth Junior Gold appearance, and he is in good position to make his first cut after today’s round.
“I have never made it to the Advancer Round before, so a lot of hard work has been paying off recently,” said Haack, who is attending Lawrence Technological University this upcoming fall. “I’m excited to bowl with those guys; I’ve known them for a few years and I’m ready to work this season.”
Lawrence Tech finished as the Intercollegiate Team Championships runner-up this past April.
Three bowlers had perfect games today, as Dylan Jablonski (U18 Boys) of Canton, Michigan, Christian Ortega (U15 Boys) of Casa Grande, Arizona, and Kristofer Wagner (U15 Boys) of Deland, Florida, all managed to achieve perfection Wednesday evening, bringing the total number of 300s to six. Their 300s were the first time each bowler had shot perfect games.
Braden McDonough of Coppell, Texas, had himself a day to rocket up the standings, shooting a block total of 976 and is sitting in 19th overall in U18 Boys with 2,565.
For McDonough, who is bowling his sixth Junior Gold tournament, it's the unmatched camaraderie of Junior Gold that is one of his favorite things about the tournament.
“It’s a different feeling than other sports to me, the environment of this tournament and throughout youth bowling in general is really awesome,” said McDonough.
He also offered some words of wisdom for those that are making their first appearance in Detroit.
“Just take your time, you can’t win this in just one shot or one block," McDonough said. "Focus on what you want, and the results will come naturally.”
Qualifying concludes Thursday before the Advancer rounds start on Friday.
For more information on the 2024 Junior Gold Championships, visit bowl.com/juniorgold.
U18 BOYS
Leading the U18 Boys is Keaton Ostrowski of Rochester, New York, who had a 993 block today and is at 2,799 overall, while second place Chance Mclane of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, had a 1,013 block to sit at 2,721 overall.
Rounding out the top five is Nicolas Trentler of Phoenix, Maryland (2,673), Riley Speer of Beech Grove, Indiana (2,657) and Evan Flath of Carterville, Illiniois (2,648).
Matthew Kiker of Florence, South Carolina, currently is the last person into the Advancers Round with 2,331.
U18 GIRLS
Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina, increased her lead with a 930 block today and is at 2,741 overall while Melia Mitskavich of Du Bois, Pennsylvania, is at 2,562 overall. Amelia Droste of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is third with 2,530, Sydney Bohn of Jackson, New Jersey, is fourth with 2,524 and Karina Capron of Fremont, New England, rounds out the top five with 2,514.
For the cut line, there is a three-way tie for 77th at 2,219.
U15 BOYS
The U15 Boys came to bowl today.
Elliott Gordon of Columbus, Ohio, the overall leader after Round 3, had games of 278, 258, 228 and 280 for a block total of 1,044 and is at 2,895 overall, averaging over 241 through 12 games. In second is Dylan Beck of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, who had his own great block with 1,016 and sits at 2,726 overall.
Third is Jackson Alexander Veitch who had 912 today to be at 2,724 overall. Last year’s U12 Boys winner Ryan Campbell of Clinton, South Carolina, had 1,017 today and sits fourth with 2,718 overall, and rounding out the top five is Ewan Oester of Portland, Oregon, at 2,675 overall.
For Campbell, coming into this year as a champion doesn’t change how he is approaching his first year as a U15 competitor.
“I came here just looking to make the first cut, I’m not putting any pressure on myself to win. I’m focused on being myself out on the lanes,” said Campbell.
Luke Jovans of Commack, New York, is the cut line for U15 Boys at 2,354.
U15 GIRLS
Bella Castillo of Odessa, Texas, now holds the overall lead after a Round 3 block total of 870 and is at 2,493 overall with one block remaining. Lindsay Greim out of Poway, California, is second with an overall total of 2,469 while Zoe Skinner of Crystal, Minnesota, sits in third with 2,442. Baylie Massingill out of Troy, Ohio, and Anna Antony of Farmington, Connecticut, round out the top five with 2,379 and 2,337, respectively.
In a tie for 42nd and the final spots into the Advancers Round are Grace Zuerner of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Abigail Craig of Frankfort, Illinois, both with an overall total of 2,100.
U12 BOYS
Eli Franco of Fishers, Indiana, holds onto the overall lead for the second straight day, shooting a block total of 792 and is now at 2,446 overall. Vincent Cintron of Jacksonville, Florida, gained ground on Franco with an 847 block and is at 2,377 overall in second.
Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois (2,355), Thomas Ault of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (2,330) and Noah Ausderau of Virginia Beach, Virginia (2,292), round out the top five, respectively.
Oliver Morton of Smyrna, Tennessee, holds the last spot into the Advancers Round with 2,048.
U12 GIRLS
For the third straight round, Alyssa Randisi of Brooklyn, New York, has the lead after a Round 3 block total of 819 and is at an overall total of 2,406. She also is the only U12 Girls bowler to have multiple rounds of 800 or better after an 861 in Round 1.
Olivia Titus out of St. Charles, Missouri, is second with an overall total of 2,212, Aliyana Debina-Gasper of Mililani, Hawaii, occupies third with 2,201, Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana, is fourth at 2,131 and Lea Besevic of Machesney Park, Illinois, rounds out the top five with 2,111.
Sophia Street of Livonia, Michigan, holds the 17th and final spot into the Advancers Round with 1,938.
BIG SCORES ALL AROUND
Gavin Haack of nearby Flint, Michigan, made a run at perfection today and ended his Round 3 block with a 299 to finish with 917 for the day and is 29th in U18 Boys. This is Haack’s fourth Junior Gold appearance, and he is in good position to make his first cut after today’s round.
“I have never made it to the Advancer Round before, so a lot of hard work has been paying off recently,” said Haack, who is attending Lawrence Technological University this upcoming fall. “I’m excited to bowl with those guys; I’ve known them for a few years and I’m ready to work this season.”
Lawrence Tech finished as the Intercollegiate Team Championships runner-up this past April.
Three bowlers had perfect games today, as Dylan Jablonski (U18 Boys) of Canton, Michigan, Christian Ortega (U15 Boys) of Casa Grande, Arizona, and Kristofer Wagner (U15 Boys) of Deland, Florida, all managed to achieve perfection Wednesday evening, bringing the total number of 300s to six. Their 300s were the first time each bowler had shot perfect games.
Braden McDonough of Coppell, Texas, had himself a day to rocket up the standings, shooting a block total of 976 and is sitting in 19th overall in U18 Boys with 2,565.
For McDonough, who is bowling his sixth Junior Gold tournament, it's the unmatched camaraderie of Junior Gold that is one of his favorite things about the tournament.
“It’s a different feeling than other sports to me, the environment of this tournament and throughout youth bowling in general is really awesome,” said McDonough.
He also offered some words of wisdom for those that are making their first appearance in Detroit.
“Just take your time, you can’t win this in just one shot or one block," McDonough said. "Focus on what you want, and the results will come naturally.”
Qualifying concludes Thursday before the Advancer rounds start on Friday.
For more information on the 2024 Junior Gold Championships, visit bowl.com/juniorgold.