Indiana duo face off in U20 finals at 2016 Junior Gold Championships
August 08, 2016
ARLINGTON, Texas - A record 3,292 youth bowlers made their way to Indianapolis to compete at the 2016 Junior Gold Championships presented by Storm, Roto Grip and Master in July.
Of those 3,292 participants, 1,357 competed in the boys' 20-and-under division. After 16 games of qualifying and two advancers rounds, 16 remained for the double-elimination match-play bracket, which determined the two finalists that will face off in the championship match on CBS Sports Network.
Examining those numbers, the odds the two finalists would be from the same state were slim. Add in the caveat that the two finalists have been bowling together for several years - nearly impossible.
Enter Jeffery Mann of West Lafayette, Indiana, and Dustin Zehner of South Bend, Indiana, into the equation. These two young men from the Hoosier state added a variable that any statistician could not account for but clearly could see at Western Bowl - a dedication to help and push each other to the title match.
Mann and Zehner will square off in the two-game total-pinfall championship match in the boys' U20 division on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 9 p.m. Eastern. The girls' U20 title round will feature Haley Cummings of Huber Heights, Ohio, taking on Jacqueline Evans of Acton, Massachusetts.
What started as a mutual respect for each other's games came full circle at the 2014 Indiana High School Bowling State finals, when Mann and Zehner had the opportunity to cross together.
"I knew who Dustin was and what he was about through local tournaments around the state," said Mann, a 17-year-old who will be a senior this fall at William Henry Harrison High School. "We had never really talked until crossing together at state. Ever since then, we're always doing what we can to help each other out."
After making it into match play at Western Bowl and falling on different sides of the bracket, Zehner and Mann knew the only way they could cross paths would be in the championship match. Both players recorded three consecutive victories to start match play, needing a fourth to secure a spot on CBS Sports Network.
Zehner, a 20-year-old ready to embark on his junior year at Purdue University, punched his ticket to the finals by defeating Ryan Winters of Livonia, Michigan, 459-413.
Mann, after jumping out to an early lead against Jacob Yazell of Lexington, Kentucky, struggled in the second game to lose his match, 427-395.
In the double-elimination format, Yazell would have to defeat Mann one more time to advance to the finals. During the break before the second match, Zehner took the opportunity to impart some of his experience gained at the collegiate level to help get Mann back into the right mindset.
"You have days, especially after shooting 150 with four opens in a row, where you get down on yourself," Mann said. "Dustin told me to stay present and keep my head in it, and I had him and the entire Purdue team cheering me on. I'm always trying to better my mental game, and Dustin, along with being a great bowler, has such a great mental game and has taught me so much. He's definitely a great friend."
Zehner's words of wisdom helped Mann refocus and record a 460-420 victory.
"Competing collegiately, you really learn to stay within yourself and make every shot count," said Zehner, who has helped the Boilermakers advance to the Intercollegiate Team Championships in each of his two seasons. "Before that final match, I told Jeff to stay present and commit to it, and it'll happen. When you have a bad game, you need to shut it off, reset and come back the next game. That's what he did."
Now, the two not only will be able to share the spotlight on television, but each earned a spot on Junior Team USA in 2017 by advancing to the championship match.
As members of Junior Team USA, Zehner and Mann will be invited to the Junior Team USA camp at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas, in the summer of 2017.
"This means everything," Zehner said. "Being able to battle with someone I've bowled with for so many years and go for a national title is awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Getting the chance to go to Junior Team USA camp together is going to be awesome, too. I'm already excited for next summer."
Of those 3,292 participants, 1,357 competed in the boys' 20-and-under division. After 16 games of qualifying and two advancers rounds, 16 remained for the double-elimination match-play bracket, which determined the two finalists that will face off in the championship match on CBS Sports Network.
Examining those numbers, the odds the two finalists would be from the same state were slim. Add in the caveat that the two finalists have been bowling together for several years - nearly impossible.
Enter Jeffery Mann of West Lafayette, Indiana, and Dustin Zehner of South Bend, Indiana, into the equation. These two young men from the Hoosier state added a variable that any statistician could not account for but clearly could see at Western Bowl - a dedication to help and push each other to the title match.
Mann and Zehner will square off in the two-game total-pinfall championship match in the boys' U20 division on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 9 p.m. Eastern. The girls' U20 title round will feature Haley Cummings of Huber Heights, Ohio, taking on Jacqueline Evans of Acton, Massachusetts.
What started as a mutual respect for each other's games came full circle at the 2014 Indiana High School Bowling State finals, when Mann and Zehner had the opportunity to cross together.
"I knew who Dustin was and what he was about through local tournaments around the state," said Mann, a 17-year-old who will be a senior this fall at William Henry Harrison High School. "We had never really talked until crossing together at state. Ever since then, we're always doing what we can to help each other out."
After making it into match play at Western Bowl and falling on different sides of the bracket, Zehner and Mann knew the only way they could cross paths would be in the championship match. Both players recorded three consecutive victories to start match play, needing a fourth to secure a spot on CBS Sports Network.
Zehner, a 20-year-old ready to embark on his junior year at Purdue University, punched his ticket to the finals by defeating Ryan Winters of Livonia, Michigan, 459-413.
Mann, after jumping out to an early lead against Jacob Yazell of Lexington, Kentucky, struggled in the second game to lose his match, 427-395.
In the double-elimination format, Yazell would have to defeat Mann one more time to advance to the finals. During the break before the second match, Zehner took the opportunity to impart some of his experience gained at the collegiate level to help get Mann back into the right mindset.
"You have days, especially after shooting 150 with four opens in a row, where you get down on yourself," Mann said. "Dustin told me to stay present and keep my head in it, and I had him and the entire Purdue team cheering me on. I'm always trying to better my mental game, and Dustin, along with being a great bowler, has such a great mental game and has taught me so much. He's definitely a great friend."
Zehner's words of wisdom helped Mann refocus and record a 460-420 victory.
"Competing collegiately, you really learn to stay within yourself and make every shot count," said Zehner, who has helped the Boilermakers advance to the Intercollegiate Team Championships in each of his two seasons. "Before that final match, I told Jeff to stay present and commit to it, and it'll happen. When you have a bad game, you need to shut it off, reset and come back the next game. That's what he did."
Now, the two not only will be able to share the spotlight on television, but each earned a spot on Junior Team USA in 2017 by advancing to the championship match.
As members of Junior Team USA, Zehner and Mann will be invited to the Junior Team USA camp at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas, in the summer of 2017.
"This means everything," Zehner said. "Being able to battle with someone I've bowled with for so many years and go for a national title is awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Getting the chance to go to Junior Team USA camp together is going to be awesome, too. I'm already excited for next summer."