Junior Gold presents opportunity for college recruiting
July 17, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS - Throughout the week, more than 3,300 youth athletes will compete at the Junior Gold Championships presented by Storm, Roto Grip and Master. The field is the largest in tournament history and once again has drawn the attention of collegiate coaches from throughout the country.
More collegiate coaches in attendance means more opportunities for youth bowlers to showcase their skills and possibly get the opportunity to continue their bowling careers. Junior Gold has developed a reputation as being a stop every college coach must make to see student-athletes who could potentially fit in their program.
Woodland Bowl is one of five centers that will host athletes this week, but it also saw its fair share of collegiate coaches on Monday as more than 20 collegiate programs were represented throughout the day. Western Bowl, Expo Bowl, All-Star Bowl and Southern Bowl can expect to see a similar influx of coaches throughout the week.
Brandi Branka is in her second year as head coach of Maryville, and is one of many coaches using this week to learn more about potential newcomers to her program. While the athletes may bowl well, most coaches, including Branka, are looking for athletes with high character.
"I think it's important to come to Junior Gold because you can see how players react on the lanes," said Branka, who was a former two-time first-team All-American at McKendree. "You can watch videos and you can go to their tournaments, but just seeing their reaction, their poise, how they react with other bowlers on the lanes, the way they interact with their parents or other coaches, is very important. Their character is very important."
Branka remembers her days as a Junior Gold competitor. She is able to provide sound advice on how to handle the week.
"For me, Junior Gold is a marathon," said Branka, who is a member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association. "I think I put too much pressure on myself when I was bowling, but the kids that are bowling now have to remember it's a marathon. You have four days of qualifying and you have to take it one frame at a time, be patient and the pins will fall."
Mark Lewis, who just completed his 17th year at Wichita State, knows a thing or two about recruiting. While talent and skill attracts coaches, it's important for athletes to consider schools based on academics.
"If they're a good student, that means there's some detail-orientation involved," Lewis said. "They're probably going to be a pretty good player because those go hand in hand. They can't be just a bowler only. Playing this sport is a learning process. You have to be watching and learning and trying to figure it out all the time because the lanes are always changing. That process has to be there. If you're after it as a student, than you probably have a chance to have some success. Academics is first and foremost."
Tournament competition began today with the first round of qualifying and concludes Saturday with the finals, which will be taped for national broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Competitors in all divisions will bowl 16 qualifying games over four days before the field is cut. Bowlers in the U20 and U15 divisions will bowl an additional five games before a second cut is made (to a maximum of 64), and those making the second cut will bowl another five games to determine the 16 bowlers for match play. In the U12 division, after the initial cut, competitors will bowl an additional four games before the field is cut to the top eight for match play.
Match play for each division with be a double-elimination bracket to determine the TV finalists. Each match will be two games with total pinfall determining the winner.
BowlTV, Bowl.com's live stream channel, will have live stream coverage of the Junior Gold Championships, starting with the advancers round until TV finalists are determined.
All finals will be held at Western Bowl and will be televised on CBS Sports Network starting with the U12 finals, which will July 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern. The U15 finals will air Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. Eastern and the U20 finals will air Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on Junior Gold, visit Bowl.com/juniorgold.
More collegiate coaches in attendance means more opportunities for youth bowlers to showcase their skills and possibly get the opportunity to continue their bowling careers. Junior Gold has developed a reputation as being a stop every college coach must make to see student-athletes who could potentially fit in their program.
Woodland Bowl is one of five centers that will host athletes this week, but it also saw its fair share of collegiate coaches on Monday as more than 20 collegiate programs were represented throughout the day. Western Bowl, Expo Bowl, All-Star Bowl and Southern Bowl can expect to see a similar influx of coaches throughout the week.
Brandi Branka is in her second year as head coach of Maryville, and is one of many coaches using this week to learn more about potential newcomers to her program. While the athletes may bowl well, most coaches, including Branka, are looking for athletes with high character.
"I think it's important to come to Junior Gold because you can see how players react on the lanes," said Branka, who was a former two-time first-team All-American at McKendree. "You can watch videos and you can go to their tournaments, but just seeing their reaction, their poise, how they react with other bowlers on the lanes, the way they interact with their parents or other coaches, is very important. Their character is very important."
Branka remembers her days as a Junior Gold competitor. She is able to provide sound advice on how to handle the week.
"For me, Junior Gold is a marathon," said Branka, who is a member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association. "I think I put too much pressure on myself when I was bowling, but the kids that are bowling now have to remember it's a marathon. You have four days of qualifying and you have to take it one frame at a time, be patient and the pins will fall."
Mark Lewis, who just completed his 17th year at Wichita State, knows a thing or two about recruiting. While talent and skill attracts coaches, it's important for athletes to consider schools based on academics.
"If they're a good student, that means there's some detail-orientation involved," Lewis said. "They're probably going to be a pretty good player because those go hand in hand. They can't be just a bowler only. Playing this sport is a learning process. You have to be watching and learning and trying to figure it out all the time because the lanes are always changing. That process has to be there. If you're after it as a student, than you probably have a chance to have some success. Academics is first and foremost."
Tournament competition began today with the first round of qualifying and concludes Saturday with the finals, which will be taped for national broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Competitors in all divisions will bowl 16 qualifying games over four days before the field is cut. Bowlers in the U20 and U15 divisions will bowl an additional five games before a second cut is made (to a maximum of 64), and those making the second cut will bowl another five games to determine the 16 bowlers for match play. In the U12 division, after the initial cut, competitors will bowl an additional four games before the field is cut to the top eight for match play.
Match play for each division with be a double-elimination bracket to determine the TV finalists. Each match will be two games with total pinfall determining the winner.
BowlTV, Bowl.com's live stream channel, will have live stream coverage of the Junior Gold Championships, starting with the advancers round until TV finalists are determined.
All finals will be held at Western Bowl and will be televised on CBS Sports Network starting with the U12 finals, which will July 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern. The U15 finals will air Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. Eastern and the U20 finals will air Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on Junior Gold, visit Bowl.com/juniorgold.