2025 Junior Gold Notebook - Round 3
July 17, 2025
2025 Results Page
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Only one round of qualifying remains at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin, meaning it’s now or never for some of the over 3,100 youth bowlers to make a run into their respective cuts.
U18 BOYS
Dawson Unrath of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Kaeden White of Lees Summit, Missouri, are tied for the overall lead with 2,767 with Ryan Graham of Troutman, North Carolina, not far behind at 2,753 after a 980 block total that included a perfect game (more on that further down).
Nicolas Trentler of Phoenix, Maryland (2,745), and Maxwell Benware of Keeseville, Kentucky (2,711), round out the top five.
Phillip Bolyard of Pinckney, Michigan, would be the last one in the first Advancer Round if the tournament ended today, sitting at an overall total of 2,389.
U18 GIRLS
Ashlin Teves of Machesney Park, Illinois, recovered from a slow start and ended her block on fire with 290 and 226 for a block total of 886, sitting at 2,551 overall and in the lead with four games to go.
Kyndallynn Hood of Bellefontaine, Ohio, had a block total of 896 and is at 2,520 for second heading into tomorrow’s final qualifying round, while Junior Team USA members Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina (2,486), and Gianna Brandolino of Joliet, Illinois (2,471), are third and fourth, respectively. Haley Swindle of Newnan, Georgia (2,459), rounds out the top five.
The last spots into the first Advancer Round belong to three girls, all tied for 96th at 2,135: Shelbi Webb of Perryville, Kentucky, Lyllian Smith of Belleville, Illinois, and Malia Briggs of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
U15 BOYS
Zachary Mayne of Parma, Ohio, jumped to the lead during Day 3, shooting games of 186, 267, 231 and 241 for a 925 block total and is at 2,727 overall. Dalton Wheeler of Harrisburg, Illinois, and Lucas Drisdel of Chicago are second and third overall with 2,660 and 2,650, respectively.
Kristofer Wagner of Deland, Florida (2,608), and Tyler Anderson of Odenton, Maryland (2,578), round out the top five, with Wagner rising to fourth after a 908 block.
George Hernandez IV of Aransas Pass, Texas, and Benjamin Dahle of Machesney Park, Illinois, are tied for the final spots into the first Advancer Round.
U15 GIRLS
Anna Antony of Farmington, Connecticut, maintained her lead for Day 3 with an overall total of 2,356, while Autumn Strode of Munster, Indiana, climbed from seventh to second with a block total of 823 and at is 2,313 overall.
Kylie Oppedisano of Trumbull, Connecticut (2,259), Jayna Larson of Three Rivers, Michigan (2,251), and Laelah Tiquia of Auburn, Washington (2,235), hold positions third through fifth, respectively.
The final spot for the first Advancer Round belongs to Keegan Mcclain of Lincoln Park, Michigan, with an overall total of 2,039.
U12 BOYS
Brennan Brandel after his third day of qualifying, where the U12 competitor has set the bar high for himself this year.
Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois, holds the overall lead heading into the final round of qualifying with 2,526 after a third-round block of 905 while Brennan Brandel of Saginaw, Michigan, jumped to second (2,402) after shooting 844 today.
Aaron Cabiness of Columbus, Ohio (2,353), Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington (2,347), and Noah Ausderau of Virginia Beach, Virginia (2,315), round out the top five. Emmett Larson of Three Rivers, Michigan, holds the last spot in for the Final Advancer Round with 2,052.
Brandel has improved each day so far and is in his fourth consecutive year of bowling Junior Gold, with a high finish of fifth in 2023. The Michigan bowler got his start early into the sport and has been hooked since.
“My dad is a really good bowler and he used to bowl a lot of tournaments,” said Brandel. “He is the one who has been coaching me too.”
Brandal used to bowl two-handed with his thumb in the ball before making the change to no thumb prior to the 2024 edition of the event.
“Last year I got 16th, I wasn’t throwing it the best (because of the change),” Brandel said, who has high expectations for his final year in the U12 division. “I hope I can make the top three and give myself a chance to win.”
U12 GIRLS
Stevie Newton of Honolulu, Hawaii, maintained her lead after a 785 qualifying block, putting her at 2,188 overall, with Taylor Morgan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, now in second at 2,069.
Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana (2,061), Katelyn Belcher of Graham, North Carolina (2,040), Irene Heward of Honolulu, Hawaii (2,038), round out the top five heading into the final round of qualifying.
Percila Garcia of Porter Ranch, California, holds the last spot for the Final Advancer Round with 1,931.
THREE MORE PERFECT GAMES ROLLED ON WEDNESDAY
In total, seven 300s have been thrown this week as Graham and Braden Mauro of Birmingham, Alabama, added their names to the list from U18, while Eason Taylor of Chicago had one during the final U15 squad of the day.
“It was amazing,” said Graham, marking his third time in his career he’s achieved perfection. “The nerves do get to you just because everyone is watching and it gets so quiet, but you battle through it and show up since all eyes are on you.”
As for Mauro, this was his first sanctioned 300 game and he expressed similar sentiments when it came to the pressure.
“Definitely nerve wracking,” Mauro said. “I don’t even remember much (from the last ball), I just remember looking at the pins and thinking to myself to just strike.”
The strikes will undoubtably continue during the final day of qualifying tomorrow as those jockeying for the cut line will be focused on trying to continue bowling into the advancer rounds.
For more information, visit BOWL.com/youth/youth-tournaments/junior-gold-championships.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Only one round of qualifying remains at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin, meaning it’s now or never for some of the over 3,100 youth bowlers to make a run into their respective cuts.
U18 BOYS
Dawson Unrath of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Kaeden White of Lees Summit, Missouri, are tied for the overall lead with 2,767 with Ryan Graham of Troutman, North Carolina, not far behind at 2,753 after a 980 block total that included a perfect game (more on that further down).
Nicolas Trentler of Phoenix, Maryland (2,745), and Maxwell Benware of Keeseville, Kentucky (2,711), round out the top five.
Phillip Bolyard of Pinckney, Michigan, would be the last one in the first Advancer Round if the tournament ended today, sitting at an overall total of 2,389.
U18 GIRLS
Ashlin Teves of Machesney Park, Illinois, recovered from a slow start and ended her block on fire with 290 and 226 for a block total of 886, sitting at 2,551 overall and in the lead with four games to go.
Kyndallynn Hood of Bellefontaine, Ohio, had a block total of 896 and is at 2,520 for second heading into tomorrow’s final qualifying round, while Junior Team USA members Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina (2,486), and Gianna Brandolino of Joliet, Illinois (2,471), are third and fourth, respectively. Haley Swindle of Newnan, Georgia (2,459), rounds out the top five.
The last spots into the first Advancer Round belong to three girls, all tied for 96th at 2,135: Shelbi Webb of Perryville, Kentucky, Lyllian Smith of Belleville, Illinois, and Malia Briggs of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
U15 BOYS
Zachary Mayne of Parma, Ohio, jumped to the lead during Day 3, shooting games of 186, 267, 231 and 241 for a 925 block total and is at 2,727 overall. Dalton Wheeler of Harrisburg, Illinois, and Lucas Drisdel of Chicago are second and third overall with 2,660 and 2,650, respectively.
Kristofer Wagner of Deland, Florida (2,608), and Tyler Anderson of Odenton, Maryland (2,578), round out the top five, with Wagner rising to fourth after a 908 block.
George Hernandez IV of Aransas Pass, Texas, and Benjamin Dahle of Machesney Park, Illinois, are tied for the final spots into the first Advancer Round.
U15 GIRLS
Anna Antony of Farmington, Connecticut, maintained her lead for Day 3 with an overall total of 2,356, while Autumn Strode of Munster, Indiana, climbed from seventh to second with a block total of 823 and at is 2,313 overall.
Kylie Oppedisano of Trumbull, Connecticut (2,259), Jayna Larson of Three Rivers, Michigan (2,251), and Laelah Tiquia of Auburn, Washington (2,235), hold positions third through fifth, respectively.
The final spot for the first Advancer Round belongs to Keegan Mcclain of Lincoln Park, Michigan, with an overall total of 2,039.
U12 BOYS
Brennan Brandel after his third day of qualifying, where the U12 competitor has set the bar high for himself this year.
Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois, holds the overall lead heading into the final round of qualifying with 2,526 after a third-round block of 905 while Brennan Brandel of Saginaw, Michigan, jumped to second (2,402) after shooting 844 today.
Aaron Cabiness of Columbus, Ohio (2,353), Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington (2,347), and Noah Ausderau of Virginia Beach, Virginia (2,315), round out the top five. Emmett Larson of Three Rivers, Michigan, holds the last spot in for the Final Advancer Round with 2,052.
Brandel has improved each day so far and is in his fourth consecutive year of bowling Junior Gold, with a high finish of fifth in 2023. The Michigan bowler got his start early into the sport and has been hooked since.
“My dad is a really good bowler and he used to bowl a lot of tournaments,” said Brandel. “He is the one who has been coaching me too.”
Brandal used to bowl two-handed with his thumb in the ball before making the change to no thumb prior to the 2024 edition of the event.
“Last year I got 16th, I wasn’t throwing it the best (because of the change),” Brandel said, who has high expectations for his final year in the U12 division. “I hope I can make the top three and give myself a chance to win.”
U12 GIRLS
Stevie Newton of Honolulu, Hawaii, maintained her lead after a 785 qualifying block, putting her at 2,188 overall, with Taylor Morgan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, now in second at 2,069.
Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana (2,061), Katelyn Belcher of Graham, North Carolina (2,040), Irene Heward of Honolulu, Hawaii (2,038), round out the top five heading into the final round of qualifying.
Percila Garcia of Porter Ranch, California, holds the last spot for the Final Advancer Round with 1,931.
THREE MORE PERFECT GAMES ROLLED ON WEDNESDAY
In total, seven 300s have been thrown this week as Graham and Braden Mauro of Birmingham, Alabama, added their names to the list from U18, while Eason Taylor of Chicago had one during the final U15 squad of the day.
“It was amazing,” said Graham, marking his third time in his career he’s achieved perfection. “The nerves do get to you just because everyone is watching and it gets so quiet, but you battle through it and show up since all eyes are on you.”
As for Mauro, this was his first sanctioned 300 game and he expressed similar sentiments when it came to the pressure.
“Definitely nerve wracking,” Mauro said. “I don’t even remember much (from the last ball), I just remember looking at the pins and thinking to myself to just strike.”
The strikes will undoubtably continue during the final day of qualifying tomorrow as those jockeying for the cut line will be focused on trying to continue bowling into the advancer rounds.
For more information, visit BOWL.com/youth/youth-tournaments/junior-gold-championships.