Junior Team USA battles to Boys' Team bronze at 2026 IBF World Youth Championships
July 02, 2026
Junior Team USA bowlers (from left to right) Josh Hammons of Topeka, Kansas; Jacob Bockstie of Nottingham, Maryland; Landin Jordan of Sycamore, Illinois; and Dawson Peterson of Stewartville, Minnesota, performed well at the 2026 IBF World Youth Championships in Malaysia on Thursday, finishing tied for third to capture a bronze medal in Boys' Team competition at Megalanes Sarawak Bowling Centre.
FULL RESULTS
ARLINGTON, Texas – Junior Team USA bowlers authored medal-worthy performances during each of the first four days of competition at the 2026 International Bowling Federation World Youth Championships, which kicked off at Megalanes Sarawak Bowling Centre in Sarawak, Malaysia, on June 28 and concludes on Monday.
However, since the semifinals and finals of the singles and doubles events won’t be contested until the final two days of the tournament, it remains to be seen just what color the American medals will be.
The wait is over in the Boys’ Team event though as the foursome of Jacob Bockstie of Nottingham, Maryland; Josh Hammons of Topeka, Kansas; Landin Jordan of Sycamore, Illinois; and Dawson Peterson of Stewartville, Minnesota, officially secured bronze medals by finishing tied for third after a long day of competition at Megalanes on Thursday.
The journey to the podium began with 10 games of Baker team qualifying, during which the Junior Team USA boys qualified fifth in the 32-team field with a 10-game score of 2,123 (a 212.3 average), which included seven games of 202 or higher (204, 214, 256, 223, 202, 235 and 224) and a low of 181.
Sweden, Canada, Romania and Hong Kong secured the top four qualifying spots with scores of 2,267, 2,153, 2,149 and 2,147, respectively; nevertheless, the Americans’ fifth-place finish was more than enough to move on to match play.
Bockstie, Hammons, Jordan and Peterson remained consistent once round-robin matches began, posting a 4-2-1 record with game scores of 235, 206, 223, 234 and 211 during their wins and tie and solid marks of 193 and 192 during their two losses.
That performance was good enough for second place in Boys’ Team Match Play Group A. Qatar won the group with a final record of 5-1-1.
Australia posted the best match-play mark in Sarawak on Thursday, winning Group B with a record of 6-1. The Czech Republic was close behind, finishing second at 5-2 to secure the final spot in the Boys’ Team semifinals.
By reaching the semis, all four teams were guaranteed medals. The only question that remained was which two would survive and advance to keep their gold-medal hopes alive and which two would end the day with bronze.
Bockstie, Hammons, Jordan and Peterson performed admirably during their semifinal matchup against Australia, posting scores of 234 and 187.
The Aussies were just a bit better each time, however, topping Junior Team USA by 12 pins (246) in Game 1 and 10 (197) during Game 2 to win the match 2-0 and advance to the finals.
There, Australia will square off for gold against the Czech Republic, which came out on top of Qatar during two hard-fought games by final scores of 246-228 and 228-202. Like Junior Team USA, Qatar will take home bronze.
Although the American boys would have loved the opportunity to bowl for team gold on Monday, they were proud of the effort they put forth at Megalanes on Thursday.
“We fought hard, never gave up, worked together and made lots of memories that will last a lifetime,” Jordan said, speaking on behalf of the squad. “Now, we’re looking super forward to cheering on the girls on Friday and then getting to compete alongside them on Saturday as that is something we don’t often get to do.”
Jordan, Peterson, Hammons and Bockstie will have the day off on Friday as that’s when Girls’ Team qualifying, match play and semifinal action will occur. Junior Team USA’s roster for that competition includes Katelyn Abigania of San Diego, Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois; Erin Klemencic of Powder Springs, Georgia; and Elizabeth Teuber of Holly, Michigan.
While Friday will be all about the ladies, all eight Junior Team USA athletes will be back on the lanes Saturday participating in the first three rounds of mixed team competition.
Singles and doubles semifinal action will be completed in both divisions on Sunday.
The final day of competition will be the most extensive, however, as Monday’s docket will see the finals play out in all four events, singles, doubles, team and mixed team.
Once the final shots have been delivered and medals conferred, the Victory Banquet will officially bring the 2026 IBF World Youth Championships to a close on Monday night.
CLICK HERE for more information on Junior Team USA.
FULL RESULTS
ARLINGTON, Texas – Junior Team USA bowlers authored medal-worthy performances during each of the first four days of competition at the 2026 International Bowling Federation World Youth Championships, which kicked off at Megalanes Sarawak Bowling Centre in Sarawak, Malaysia, on June 28 and concludes on Monday.
However, since the semifinals and finals of the singles and doubles events won’t be contested until the final two days of the tournament, it remains to be seen just what color the American medals will be.
The wait is over in the Boys’ Team event though as the foursome of Jacob Bockstie of Nottingham, Maryland; Josh Hammons of Topeka, Kansas; Landin Jordan of Sycamore, Illinois; and Dawson Peterson of Stewartville, Minnesota, officially secured bronze medals by finishing tied for third after a long day of competition at Megalanes on Thursday.
The journey to the podium began with 10 games of Baker team qualifying, during which the Junior Team USA boys qualified fifth in the 32-team field with a 10-game score of 2,123 (a 212.3 average), which included seven games of 202 or higher (204, 214, 256, 223, 202, 235 and 224) and a low of 181.
Sweden, Canada, Romania and Hong Kong secured the top four qualifying spots with scores of 2,267, 2,153, 2,149 and 2,147, respectively; nevertheless, the Americans’ fifth-place finish was more than enough to move on to match play.
Bockstie, Hammons, Jordan and Peterson remained consistent once round-robin matches began, posting a 4-2-1 record with game scores of 235, 206, 223, 234 and 211 during their wins and tie and solid marks of 193 and 192 during their two losses.
That performance was good enough for second place in Boys’ Team Match Play Group A. Qatar won the group with a final record of 5-1-1.
Australia posted the best match-play mark in Sarawak on Thursday, winning Group B with a record of 6-1. The Czech Republic was close behind, finishing second at 5-2 to secure the final spot in the Boys’ Team semifinals.
By reaching the semis, all four teams were guaranteed medals. The only question that remained was which two would survive and advance to keep their gold-medal hopes alive and which two would end the day with bronze.
Bockstie, Hammons, Jordan and Peterson performed admirably during their semifinal matchup against Australia, posting scores of 234 and 187.
The Aussies were just a bit better each time, however, topping Junior Team USA by 12 pins (246) in Game 1 and 10 (197) during Game 2 to win the match 2-0 and advance to the finals.
There, Australia will square off for gold against the Czech Republic, which came out on top of Qatar during two hard-fought games by final scores of 246-228 and 228-202. Like Junior Team USA, Qatar will take home bronze.
Although the American boys would have loved the opportunity to bowl for team gold on Monday, they were proud of the effort they put forth at Megalanes on Thursday.
“We fought hard, never gave up, worked together and made lots of memories that will last a lifetime,” Jordan said, speaking on behalf of the squad. “Now, we’re looking super forward to cheering on the girls on Friday and then getting to compete alongside them on Saturday as that is something we don’t often get to do.”
Jordan, Peterson, Hammons and Bockstie will have the day off on Friday as that’s when Girls’ Team qualifying, match play and semifinal action will occur. Junior Team USA’s roster for that competition includes Katelyn Abigania of San Diego, Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois; Erin Klemencic of Powder Springs, Georgia; and Elizabeth Teuber of Holly, Michigan.
While Friday will be all about the ladies, all eight Junior Team USA athletes will be back on the lanes Saturday participating in the first three rounds of mixed team competition.
Singles and doubles semifinal action will be completed in both divisions on Sunday.
The final day of competition will be the most extensive, however, as Monday’s docket will see the finals play out in all four events, singles, doubles, team and mixed team.
Once the final shots have been delivered and medals conferred, the Victory Banquet will officially bring the 2026 IBF World Youth Championships to a close on Monday night.
CLICK HERE for more information on Junior Team USA.