National champions crowned at 2026 Junior Gold Championships
July 19, 2026
FULL RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS – Eight national champions were crowned at Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday to bring the 2026 Junior Gold Championships to a close.
This year’s winners represented four age-based divisions for both boys and girls – U12, U14, U16 and U18 – and reached the winner’s circle by making it through four rounds of qualifying at 10 bowling centers in the Greater Minneapolis area, Advancers’ Rounds, bracket match play and stepladder finals competition in their respective divisions.
All stepladder finals at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships were streamed live on BowlTV and on Bowling TV, the new 24-hour channel dedicated entirely to bowling, which can be found on Prime Video, LG Channels, Xumo Play, DISH TV, Bonusview, Sling Freestream, Plex, Free Live Sports and Bowling TV’s Roku app.
Because the stepladder finals were not be under live national television time constraints, each top seed had to be beaten twice during stepladder competition in order to be denied their division’s title.
WASHINGTON WINS U18 BOYS THRILLER OVER ILLINOIS’ BIONDO
2026 U18 Boys champion Clayton Washington of Midlothian, Virginia
When eight stepladder finals are conducted and eight national champions crowned in one venue on a single day, it would be difficult to get fans to agree on which show was their favorite.
Nevertheless, if the large gallery exiting Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday night were to be polled, it’s a safe bet more than a few people would say that the evening’s final contest, the U18 Boys stepladder, was the most exciting event of the day.
No. 3 seed Brett Biondo of Carpentersville, Illinois, got things going by starting with the front nine during his semifinal match against second-seeded Will Winkelbauer of Wichita, Kansas. A high-flush 9-pin would prevent Biondo from cashing in the 300, but his 278-194 win was more than good enough to earn a berth in the title match against top seed Clayton Washington of Midlothian, Virginia.
Washinton started strong, posting strikes on each of his first three shots to take the early lead. The advantage was shot-lived, however, as a Washington open in the fourth coupled with strikes from Biondo in frames three through six flipped the script and allowed Biondo to open up a a 23-pin lead with four frames to go.
A late double kept the door open just a crack for Washington, but Biondo promptly slammed it shut when he spared and counted nine on his fill ball to finish at 236. Washington could’ve struck out for 235 but instead went spare-strike to finish to make the final score 236-214 in favor of Biondo.
Biondo started strong once again during the finale, striking on six of his first seven shots. Washington didn’t blink, however, recording five strikes of his own during that same stretch to remain right on Biondo’s heels just one pin back with three frames to go.
Riding a four-bagger, Biondo stepped up in the eighth frame and delivered a picture-perfect shot into the 1-3 pocket. Unfortunately, this time the pins wouldn’t cooperate as the delivery left a vicious solid 8-pin much to the chagrin of the Cedarvale faithful.
The negative vibes didn’t stick around long though as Washington promptly stepped up and notched a double in the eighth and ninth frames to take the lead and remain in control of his own destiny.
Biondo stepped up for the ninth and tenth looking to finish with a four-bagger to get in with 258, which would have forced Washington to double in the 10th frame to win.
But that four-bagger never came. Biondo recorded a strike in the ninth frame, but his first shot in the 10th left a ringing 10-pin. He converted the spare and then left the 3-6-9-10 on the fill to finish with a final score of 234.
Needing a mark to win, Washington calmly went nine-spare, nine to finish at 245 and become the 2026 U18 Boys Junior Gold champion.
It was an accomplishment Washington was having a hard time wrapping his head around.
“This feels surreal,” Washington said. “I’ve never won anything this prestigious, so it’s a crazy moment and nothing like I’ve ever felt before.”
In order to get where he’s never been before, Washington had to execute better than he ever had before, which is precisely what he did during his six days in Minnesota.
“My spare shooting was really good this week, and my shot-making was a lot better too,” Washington said. “
Although Biondo and Washington combined to throw nearly 30 strikes during their two-game title tilt, in the end, the match’s outcome was determined by a spare. Some right-handers would’ve been nervous about having to make the 10-pin to win a title, but Washington thought nothing of it.
“I just said to myself, ‘You’ve done this a thousand time. It’s just another 10-pin,’” Washington said. “As soon as I made it, I had so many thoughts rushing to my head because I did it; I finally realized my dream. It was crazy.”
SMITH STRIKES TO TOP TEVES, WIN U18 GIRLS NATIONAL TITLE
2026 U18 Girls champion Madison Smith of Elmira, New York
Fans who came to Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday to watch this year’s Junior Gold stepladder finals were treated to more than 12 hours of intense bowling action. As such, those who attended from start to finish were understandably running low on energy by the time the U18 Girls stepladder got underway on Saturday night.
Thankfully, Madison Smith of Elmira, New York, and Ashlin Teves of Machesney Park, Illinois, gave the capacity crowd a much-needed shot of adrenaline, engaging in a two-game thriller that will be talked about for years to come.
Smith struck on eight of her first nine shots during Game 1 of the championship match; nevertheless, an open in the fifth combined with a pair of Teves doubles still forced Smith to spare and fill seven to win the opener and force a deciding second game.
Although it was dicey, Smith was up to the task, converting the 6-10 by sending the 6-pin off the side wall and back into the 10-pin and then getting the seven pins she needed by leaving a 4-6-7 split on her fill ball to win Game 1 by a score of 239-217.
But for as dramatic as the first game was, it paled in comparison to how Game 2 played out.
Smith used an early turkey to grab an eight-pin lead through four frames, but spares in the fifth, sixth and seventh and an open in the eighth – when she failed to convert the 3-10 split – caused her to trail top-seed Teves by 17 pins heading into the last two frames.
Things looked bleak, but Smith didn’t blink; instead, she shook off the open frame and struck in the ninth, 10th and 11th before counting nine on her fill ball to post a score of 209.
That made the math simple. Teves, who was riding a double in the eighth and ninth frames, needed to strike on her first ball in the 10th to win the match. Anything less, and Smith would complete the upset and walk away with the 2026 U18 Girls title.
Not surprisingly, Teves delivered an excellent shot that hit flush in the 1-2 pocket; unfortunately, the 4-pin flew up and around the 7-pin without knocking it over, resulting in a nine count that gave Smith a hard-fought 209-207 title-clinching victory.
The crowd at Cedarvale may have known the ring-seven meant Smith was a winner, but she was a little bit slower to figure it out.
“I honestly didn’t know at first that I’d won,” Smith said. “After Ashlin (Teves) picked up the 7-pin, I saw the score show on the screen, and that’s when I knew I had it.”
What Smith also had all night long was a knack for delivering the shot she needed when she needed it, which she claims occurs by keeping her focus narrow.
“I just focus on the little things,” Smith said. “You know, at the end of the day, I was just happy to make it to this stage no matter the outcome. I think that mindset helped me a lot.”
Smith opened the U18 Girls stepladder with a 216-165 win against No. 3 seed Taylor Kretz of Erie, Pennsylvania.
U16 BOYS TITLE GOES TO MISSOURI’S BURNETT
2026 U16 Boys champion Harper Burnett of Jackson, Missouri
Winning a Junior Gold title is never easy, but Harper Burnett of Jackson, Missouri, sure made it look that way on Saturday, besting Ryan Carmichael of South Bend, Indiana, 237-191 at Cedarvale Lanes to capture the first U16 Boys title in tournament history.
Burnett entered as the stepladder’s No. 1 seed, and he wasted no time showing why as he struck on six of his first eight shots, including a five-bagger in frames four through eight, to seize control of the match from the outset.
Carmichael, on the other hand, took a while to get going. The No. 3 seed left the 4-6-7-9-10 split in the first frame and a pocket 7-10 in the third to quickly ball behind Burnett by 24 pins.
Carmichael rebounded by posting strikes on five of his next six shots, but Burnett matched him ball for ball to maintain a healthy lead.
Burnett’s advantage went from sizable to insurmountable when Carmichael left a 4-9 split and opened the 10th frame to give Burnett the win on the bench.
The victory meant a lot to Burnett, who was quick to thank his supporters for helping make it happen.
“My parents have helped me so much along the way, taking me to all these tournament,” Burnett said. “Also, I have a lot of people back home trusting in me. It means a lot.”
Burnett was, however, willing to accept some degree of credit for the work he put in to make Saturday’s victory happen.
“For me to get here, it took practicing every day, just tons of practice,” Burnett said. “Winning today means a lot because it shows all the work I’ve been putting in pays off.”
Saturday’s U16 Boys stepladder finals began with Carmichael topping second seed Lucas Drisdel of Chicago, 257-166.
PRESSLEY PERSEVERES, WINS U16 GIRLS STEPLADDER IN THREE
2026 U16 Girls champion Makayla Pressley of Vale, North Carolina
One of the hallmarks of a champion is never giving up and fighting until the end.
Makayla Pressley of Vale, North Carolina, put that quality on full display during Saturday’s U16 Girls title match at Cedarvale Lanes, and that’s why she emerged victorious and became the first national champion in division history.
Pressley reached the winner’s circle by topping Candace Van Tine of Spokane, Washington, 202-173 during the finale after Van Tine won Game 1 of the championship match 217-189 to force a do-or-die second game.
Things didn’t look particularly good for Pressley during the early going of the deciding game as she opened two of her first three frames to fall behind be 23 pins.
The tide turned, however, when Van Tine opened the fifth frame after leaving a 2-8-10 split. Pressley pounced on the opening, responding with a four-bagger in frames six through nine to erase the deficit and take a two-pin lead of her own with three frames remaining.
Van Tine kept fighting, recording a clutch double in the seventh and eighth frames; however, when she left a 2-4-10 split in the ninth, the stage was set for Pressley to lock up the title.
She did so by knocking down nine pins on her first ball in the 10th frame to complete the comeback and officially become the 2026 U16 Girls Junior Gold champion.
Given the whirlwind of emotions the two-game title bout evoked, it was hardly surprising that Pressley was at something of a loss for words in the moments immediately following the win.
“It honestly doesn’t seem real, but I’m happy,” Pressley said. “I’m just thankful to have had the opportunity to do this.”
Pressley was all about taking advantage of opportunities during the stepladder finals, and she claims it had as much to do with mindset as it did with ball reaction.
“I just started to bowl fearless,” Pressley said. “I started out really nervous with it being my first time on TV and me not having a great look on the left lane, but I knew I just had to bowl fearless, and that shaped my mentality and got me back in it.”
And that approach paid off to the tune of a national title that has already ascended to the top of Pressley’s list of accomplishments.
“This win today is definitely my number one,” Pressley said. “I don’t really think anything will ever compare to this.”
Van Tine’s stellar performance earned her a runner-up finish. She opened Saturday’s U16 Girls stepladder by notching a 220-186 victory over third seed Laeiah Tiquia of Auburn, Washington.
ODUJEBE WINS THRILLER, CAPTURES INAUGURAL U14 BOYS CROWN
2026 U14 Boys champion Arryn Odujebe of Manassas, Virginia
All Junior Gold stepladder finals are entertaining, but Saturday’s U14 Boys show at Cedarvale Lanes delivered entertainment value that bowling fans would be hard-pressed to find at majors on the men’s and women’s pro tours.
When the dust settled, Arryn Odujebe of Manassas, Virginia, emerged as the inaugural U14 Boys national champion after he defeated top seed Treavor Mason of Mabank, Texas, by scores of 245-224 and 220-187 during two games that went down to the wire.
The opening game of the title match saw Odujebe run off a seven-bagger on shots five through 11 to erase an early deficit and go around Mason for a 21-pin victory that sent the bout to a winner-take-all second game.
Odujebe started strong in the finale, opening with a five-bagger. Mason hung tough too, however, recording two strikes and three spares during that same stretch to keep Odujebe from putting the game out of reach.
Things really got interesting after Odujebe suffered back-to-back open frames on the left lane, failing to convert the 1-2-4-6-10 super washout in the sixth and chopping the 3-6-10 in the eighth.
Those two opens allowed Mason to draw within 12 pins of Odujebe with two frames remaining.
Things really got interesting when Mason’s delivery in the ninth frame went high on the head pin but caved in the 4-7-10 for a strike. The fortunate break kept Mason’s hopes alive as he could still strike out for a final score of 219.
Undaunted, Odujebe delivered a flush strike during his own ninth frame to keep his destiny firmly within his own hands. If he could post strike, nine-spare in the 10th, he’d finish at 220 and officially shut Mason out.
Odujebe stepped up and sent his first shot in the final frame heading toward the 1-3 pocket. The delivery finished high, momentarily leaving the 4-9 split standing. But before the stunned crowd at Cedarvale could let out the collective gasp it was prepared to offer, both pins toppled over, giving Odujebe the strike he needed.
His second ball in the 10th left a 7-pin standing, but he calmly converted the spare to get to the clubhouse with a final score of 220 and officially become the first U14 Boys Junior Gold Champion – This is the first year there has been a U14 age group at youth bowling’s most hallowed tournament.
Odujebe wasn’t initially thinking about the historical implications of Saturday’s victory, but he was very proud of the accomplishment in the moments immediately following the match.
“I really didn’t know or think about being the first one, but it feels really good,” Odujebe said.
According to Odujebe, it also felt good to be able to share the moment with his family since they were the ones who inspired him to take up competitive bowling.
“As soon as I realized I’d won, the first thing I knew that I needed to do was go hug my mom and dad,” Odujebe said. “They’re the ones who got me here, who take me to tournaments and who got me into bowling in the first place.”
The U14 Boys stepladder began with Odujebe defeating No. 3 seed Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois, 194-182. That match came down to the 10th frame as well with Odujebe doubling to survive and advance.
KANSAS CITY’S BOURNE TAKES HOME U14 GIRLS TITLE
2026 U14 Girls champion Averie Bourne of Kansas City, Missouri
Because of her late birthday, Averie Bourne of Kansas City, Missouri, is typically one of the youngest competitors in her division at the Junior Gold Championships.
The only number that mattered on Saturday, however, was No. 1, which was the place Bourne captured in the U14 Girls final standings at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.
Bourne, who came to the stepladder finals as the division’s No. 1 seed, defeated Gabby Jackson of Pittsburgh by a score of 172-140 in front of a packed house at Cedarvale Lanes to become the first U14 Girls champion in Junior Gold Championships history.
It’s a distinction Bourne thinks has a very nice ring to it.
“This is really cool,” Bourne said. “I just turned 14 and am always one of the youngest, so this tournament has usually been tough for me. To win this year is really exciting.”
Bourne got the win by staying clean during the first seven frames of the title match. Jackson, meanwhile, suffered two early opens to allow the No. 1 seed to seize control.
Jackson did her best to hang tough, but a chopped 3-6-9-10 in the ninth frame and a 4-6 split in the ninth allowed Bourne to win sitting on the bench.
After the match, Bourne recalled the moment she knew she’d officially become the first U14 Girls national champion in event history.
“When Gabby “Jackson” split in the ninth, I looked back and saw my dad making a ‘W’ with his hands, and that’s when I realized I’d won,” Bourne said. “This win means a lot to my family. My papa is the whole reason I got into bowling, so this will mean a lot to him.”
Jackson kicked off U14 Girls stepladder play by taking down No. 3 seed Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana, 235-152. Jones was looking for her second Junior Gold title in as many years as she won the U12 Girls title at the 2025 event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
GARSKE CAPS GREAT WEEK WITH U12 BOYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2026 U12 Boys champion Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington
Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington, made things look easy during most of his time on the lanes at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships, placing his name at or near the top of the U12 Boys standings after each round of qualifying and going undefeated during match play to earn the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals.
The 12-year-old two-handed righty was pushed to the limit during Saturday’s championship match at Cedarvale Lanes, however, losing the opener, 199-191, to Colin Park of San Jose, California, but rallying to win Game 2 by a final of 192-170 to become the 2026 U12 Boys national champion.
Garske has accomplished a lot more than most bowlers four and five times his age; nevertheless, Saturday’s win immediately jumped to the top of his list of achievements.
“Of all the things I’ve done in bowling, winning Junior Gold is number one by a mile,” Garske said. “I’ve been working for this since I was a little kid.”
Park definitely made Garske work during the title tilt.
The opening game of the title match came down to the 10th frame with Park needing the first strike to win and force a winner-take-all rematch for the U12 Boys title. Garske put Park in that position by making a gutsy ball change in the ninth frame and recording a clutch double.
Nevertheless, Park was up to the task, getting the strike he needed to win the opener and force the two talented young men do it all over again.
Even though Garske would like to have finished the match off right then and there, he wasn’t rattled when Park won to force Game 2.
“I just told myself that since it didn’t happen that first game, I’d get the next one,” Garske said.
Garske’s confidence was evident during the early stages of the deciding game, when he struck on three of his first five deliveries to take a 24-pin lead at the halfway point.
Things got much tighter after Garske suffered an open in the eighth frame, which set up a scenario where the two bowlers could both strike out to tie at 213.
Disaster struck for Park in the ninth frame, however, as his high-flush delivery left a 4-9 split that he wasn’t able to pick up.
That allowed Garske to mark in the 10th to win the title, and that’s precisely what he did, delivering a no-doubt strike to seal the victory.
In the aftermath of the win, Garske had a hard time wrapping his mind around what had just occurred.
“I still don’t know what to think about all this; it’s insane, but some how it happened,” Garske said.
Park opened the U12 Boys stepladder finals with a 204-148 victory over No. 3 seed Daniel Wiseman of Bassett, Virginia.
TOP-SEED NEWTON CRUISES TO U12 GIRLS TITLE
2026 U12 Girls champion Stevie Newton of Hanover, Pennsylvania
Don’t call it a comeback; Stevie Newton of Hanover, Pennsylvania, had been a Junior Gold stepladder finalist before – She finished third in the U12 Girls division at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
That level of success on the national stage is more than most athletes achieve in a lifetime; nevertheless, Newton wanted more, so she set her sights on reaching the winner’s circle at this year’s tournament in Minnesota.
She accomplished that mission on Saturday by defeating Lila Bollman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 233-148 during the U12 Girls stepladder finals at Cedarvale Lanes.
Newton was the top seed for the stepladder, and it didn’t take long to understand why as she began the title match against Bollman with a six-bagger. Bollman, meanwhile, managed just one strike during her first six frames, allowing Newton to open up a 63-pin lead with just four frames to go.
At that point, the outcome of the match was all but determined, but Newton still had the opportunity to thrill the Cedarvale fans even more by extending her string of strikes and continuing her run at 300.
Perfection was not to be, however, as Newton’s seventh shot came in light to the 1-3 pocket, leaving a 2-10 split that she was unable to convert.
Newton recovered quickly though, notching spares in the eighth and ninth frames and a strike on the first ball in the 10th to win the match and secure the U12 Girls national title she wanted so badly.
Bollman, who earned her shot at the title by defeating No. 3 seed Kailynn Melvin of Tonganoxie, Kansas, 209-165 one match earlier, settled for second place, and Melvin took third.
Newton had tears in her eyes as she held the trophy above her head while the assembled gallery at Cedarvale Lanes applauded her winning performance. After stepping off the approach and having a few minutes to let the moment sink in, Newton shared her thoughts on Saturday’s victory.
“It doesn’t seem real yet, but it feels great,” Newton said. “I don’t watch the scoreboard, so I didn’t know it was over until the tournament director told me. When that happened, I just felt a rush of emotions. I was so happy and crying happy tears.”
Newton rarely loses control of her emotions; in fact, she credits that as being one of the main factors influencing her success.
“One of the biggest keys to doing well out here is having a good mindset and just focusing on what you can control,” Newton said.
With this year’s win now crossed off her bowling bucket list, Newton had a very simple celebration strategy.
“I’m going to celebrate during our 17-hour car ride home,” Newton said with a smile. “Having the trophy in the backseat will definitely provide an extra boost and make the ride feel better.”
22 ATHLETES EARN SPOTS ON JUNIOR AND FURURES TEAM USA 2027
National titles weren’t the only prizes on the line at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships. Spots on Junior Team USA and Futures Team USA 2027 also were up for grabs through qualifying and the stepladder finals at this year’s tournament.
Six boys and six girls qualified for Junior Team USA through scores bowled in the U18 division. The top four male bowlers and top four female bowlers after 26 games of qualifying and the champions and runners-up in each division earned spots on Junior Team USA. If the champion or runner-up already had earned one of the four spots available in qualifying, the next athlete based on the qualifying standings after 26 games qualified.
In the U16 division, the top two age-eligible male and top two age-eligible female bowlers at the conclusion of 26 games of qualifying plus the U16 champions and runners-up qualified for Futures Team USA. If the champion or runner-up already had earned one of the two spots available in qualifying, the next athlete based on the qualifying standings after 26 games qualified.
The list of players securing spots at this year’s tournament included each of the following athletes:
JUNIOR TEAM USA 2027
Boys – Brett Biondo, Carpentersville, Illinois; Emmanuel Guevara, Largo, Florida; Braden McDonough, Coppell, Texas; Spiros Schenk, Newnan, Georgia; Kai Strothers, Maplewood, New Jersey; Clayton Washington, Midlothian, Virginia.
Girls – Bella Castillo, Odessa, Texas; Tori Franklin, Frisco, Texas; Kyndallynn Hood, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Taylor Kretz, Erie, Pennsylvania; Madison Smith, Elmira, New York; Ashlin Teves, Machesney Park, Illinois.
FUTURES TEAM USA 2027
Boys – Harper Burnett, Jackson, Missouri; Ryan Campbell, Clinton, South Carolina; Ryan Carmichael, South Bend, Indiana; Miles Gordon, Columbus, Ohio; Jason Grothus, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Girls – Emma Lester, Daleville, Alabama; Makayla Pressley, Vale, North Carolina; Autumn Strode, Munster, Indiana; Laelah Tiquia, Auburn, Washington; Candace Van Tine, Spokane, Washington.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships began on Monday at 10 bowling centers in the Greater Minneapolis area with nearly 3,500 young athletes competing in four age-based divisions (U12, U14, U16 and U18).
Athletes completed four four-game qualifying blocks from Monday through Thursday to determine competitors moving on to the Advancers Rounds. U12 advancers bowled another four-game block on Friday before the top eight headed into match play, while U14, U16 and U18 advancers bowled a five-game block. A second cut was made for U14, U16 and U18 for the final Advancers’ Round with an additional five games before the top 16 advanced to match play.
Match play featured a double-elimination bracket, with each match being two games and highest pinfall determining who advanced. The final two in the Winners Bracket in each division bowled for the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals, while the winner in the Elimination Bracket earned the No. 3 seed on the show.
CLICK HERE for more information on the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.
MINNEAPOLIS – Eight national champions were crowned at Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday to bring the 2026 Junior Gold Championships to a close.
This year’s winners represented four age-based divisions for both boys and girls – U12, U14, U16 and U18 – and reached the winner’s circle by making it through four rounds of qualifying at 10 bowling centers in the Greater Minneapolis area, Advancers’ Rounds, bracket match play and stepladder finals competition in their respective divisions.
All stepladder finals at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships were streamed live on BowlTV and on Bowling TV, the new 24-hour channel dedicated entirely to bowling, which can be found on Prime Video, LG Channels, Xumo Play, DISH TV, Bonusview, Sling Freestream, Plex, Free Live Sports and Bowling TV’s Roku app.
Because the stepladder finals were not be under live national television time constraints, each top seed had to be beaten twice during stepladder competition in order to be denied their division’s title.
WASHINGTON WINS U18 BOYS THRILLER OVER ILLINOIS’ BIONDO
2026 U18 Boys champion Clayton Washington of Midlothian, Virginia
When eight stepladder finals are conducted and eight national champions crowned in one venue on a single day, it would be difficult to get fans to agree on which show was their favorite.
Nevertheless, if the large gallery exiting Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday night were to be polled, it’s a safe bet more than a few people would say that the evening’s final contest, the U18 Boys stepladder, was the most exciting event of the day.
No. 3 seed Brett Biondo of Carpentersville, Illinois, got things going by starting with the front nine during his semifinal match against second-seeded Will Winkelbauer of Wichita, Kansas. A high-flush 9-pin would prevent Biondo from cashing in the 300, but his 278-194 win was more than good enough to earn a berth in the title match against top seed Clayton Washington of Midlothian, Virginia.
Washinton started strong, posting strikes on each of his first three shots to take the early lead. The advantage was shot-lived, however, as a Washington open in the fourth coupled with strikes from Biondo in frames three through six flipped the script and allowed Biondo to open up a a 23-pin lead with four frames to go.
A late double kept the door open just a crack for Washington, but Biondo promptly slammed it shut when he spared and counted nine on his fill ball to finish at 236. Washington could’ve struck out for 235 but instead went spare-strike to finish to make the final score 236-214 in favor of Biondo.
Biondo started strong once again during the finale, striking on six of his first seven shots. Washington didn’t blink, however, recording five strikes of his own during that same stretch to remain right on Biondo’s heels just one pin back with three frames to go.
Riding a four-bagger, Biondo stepped up in the eighth frame and delivered a picture-perfect shot into the 1-3 pocket. Unfortunately, this time the pins wouldn’t cooperate as the delivery left a vicious solid 8-pin much to the chagrin of the Cedarvale faithful.
The negative vibes didn’t stick around long though as Washington promptly stepped up and notched a double in the eighth and ninth frames to take the lead and remain in control of his own destiny.
Biondo stepped up for the ninth and tenth looking to finish with a four-bagger to get in with 258, which would have forced Washington to double in the 10th frame to win.
But that four-bagger never came. Biondo recorded a strike in the ninth frame, but his first shot in the 10th left a ringing 10-pin. He converted the spare and then left the 3-6-9-10 on the fill to finish with a final score of 234.
Needing a mark to win, Washington calmly went nine-spare, nine to finish at 245 and become the 2026 U18 Boys Junior Gold champion.
It was an accomplishment Washington was having a hard time wrapping his head around.
“This feels surreal,” Washington said. “I’ve never won anything this prestigious, so it’s a crazy moment and nothing like I’ve ever felt before.”
In order to get where he’s never been before, Washington had to execute better than he ever had before, which is precisely what he did during his six days in Minnesota.
“My spare shooting was really good this week, and my shot-making was a lot better too,” Washington said. “
Although Biondo and Washington combined to throw nearly 30 strikes during their two-game title tilt, in the end, the match’s outcome was determined by a spare. Some right-handers would’ve been nervous about having to make the 10-pin to win a title, but Washington thought nothing of it.
“I just said to myself, ‘You’ve done this a thousand time. It’s just another 10-pin,’” Washington said. “As soon as I made it, I had so many thoughts rushing to my head because I did it; I finally realized my dream. It was crazy.”
SMITH STRIKES TO TOP TEVES, WIN U18 GIRLS NATIONAL TITLE
2026 U18 Girls champion Madison Smith of Elmira, New York
Fans who came to Cedarvale Lanes on Saturday to watch this year’s Junior Gold stepladder finals were treated to more than 12 hours of intense bowling action. As such, those who attended from start to finish were understandably running low on energy by the time the U18 Girls stepladder got underway on Saturday night.
Thankfully, Madison Smith of Elmira, New York, and Ashlin Teves of Machesney Park, Illinois, gave the capacity crowd a much-needed shot of adrenaline, engaging in a two-game thriller that will be talked about for years to come.
Smith struck on eight of her first nine shots during Game 1 of the championship match; nevertheless, an open in the fifth combined with a pair of Teves doubles still forced Smith to spare and fill seven to win the opener and force a deciding second game.
Although it was dicey, Smith was up to the task, converting the 6-10 by sending the 6-pin off the side wall and back into the 10-pin and then getting the seven pins she needed by leaving a 4-6-7 split on her fill ball to win Game 1 by a score of 239-217.
But for as dramatic as the first game was, it paled in comparison to how Game 2 played out.
Smith used an early turkey to grab an eight-pin lead through four frames, but spares in the fifth, sixth and seventh and an open in the eighth – when she failed to convert the 3-10 split – caused her to trail top-seed Teves by 17 pins heading into the last two frames.
Things looked bleak, but Smith didn’t blink; instead, she shook off the open frame and struck in the ninth, 10th and 11th before counting nine on her fill ball to post a score of 209.
That made the math simple. Teves, who was riding a double in the eighth and ninth frames, needed to strike on her first ball in the 10th to win the match. Anything less, and Smith would complete the upset and walk away with the 2026 U18 Girls title.
Not surprisingly, Teves delivered an excellent shot that hit flush in the 1-2 pocket; unfortunately, the 4-pin flew up and around the 7-pin without knocking it over, resulting in a nine count that gave Smith a hard-fought 209-207 title-clinching victory.
The crowd at Cedarvale may have known the ring-seven meant Smith was a winner, but she was a little bit slower to figure it out.
“I honestly didn’t know at first that I’d won,” Smith said. “After Ashlin (Teves) picked up the 7-pin, I saw the score show on the screen, and that’s when I knew I had it.”
What Smith also had all night long was a knack for delivering the shot she needed when she needed it, which she claims occurs by keeping her focus narrow.
“I just focus on the little things,” Smith said. “You know, at the end of the day, I was just happy to make it to this stage no matter the outcome. I think that mindset helped me a lot.”
Smith opened the U18 Girls stepladder with a 216-165 win against No. 3 seed Taylor Kretz of Erie, Pennsylvania.
U16 BOYS TITLE GOES TO MISSOURI’S BURNETT
2026 U16 Boys champion Harper Burnett of Jackson, Missouri
Winning a Junior Gold title is never easy, but Harper Burnett of Jackson, Missouri, sure made it look that way on Saturday, besting Ryan Carmichael of South Bend, Indiana, 237-191 at Cedarvale Lanes to capture the first U16 Boys title in tournament history.
Burnett entered as the stepladder’s No. 1 seed, and he wasted no time showing why as he struck on six of his first eight shots, including a five-bagger in frames four through eight, to seize control of the match from the outset.
Carmichael, on the other hand, took a while to get going. The No. 3 seed left the 4-6-7-9-10 split in the first frame and a pocket 7-10 in the third to quickly ball behind Burnett by 24 pins.
Carmichael rebounded by posting strikes on five of his next six shots, but Burnett matched him ball for ball to maintain a healthy lead.
Burnett’s advantage went from sizable to insurmountable when Carmichael left a 4-9 split and opened the 10th frame to give Burnett the win on the bench.
The victory meant a lot to Burnett, who was quick to thank his supporters for helping make it happen.
“My parents have helped me so much along the way, taking me to all these tournament,” Burnett said. “Also, I have a lot of people back home trusting in me. It means a lot.”
Burnett was, however, willing to accept some degree of credit for the work he put in to make Saturday’s victory happen.
“For me to get here, it took practicing every day, just tons of practice,” Burnett said. “Winning today means a lot because it shows all the work I’ve been putting in pays off.”
Saturday’s U16 Boys stepladder finals began with Carmichael topping second seed Lucas Drisdel of Chicago, 257-166.
PRESSLEY PERSEVERES, WINS U16 GIRLS STEPLADDER IN THREE
2026 U16 Girls champion Makayla Pressley of Vale, North Carolina
One of the hallmarks of a champion is never giving up and fighting until the end.
Makayla Pressley of Vale, North Carolina, put that quality on full display during Saturday’s U16 Girls title match at Cedarvale Lanes, and that’s why she emerged victorious and became the first national champion in division history.
Pressley reached the winner’s circle by topping Candace Van Tine of Spokane, Washington, 202-173 during the finale after Van Tine won Game 1 of the championship match 217-189 to force a do-or-die second game.
Things didn’t look particularly good for Pressley during the early going of the deciding game as she opened two of her first three frames to fall behind be 23 pins.
The tide turned, however, when Van Tine opened the fifth frame after leaving a 2-8-10 split. Pressley pounced on the opening, responding with a four-bagger in frames six through nine to erase the deficit and take a two-pin lead of her own with three frames remaining.
Van Tine kept fighting, recording a clutch double in the seventh and eighth frames; however, when she left a 2-4-10 split in the ninth, the stage was set for Pressley to lock up the title.
She did so by knocking down nine pins on her first ball in the 10th frame to complete the comeback and officially become the 2026 U16 Girls Junior Gold champion.
Given the whirlwind of emotions the two-game title bout evoked, it was hardly surprising that Pressley was at something of a loss for words in the moments immediately following the win.
“It honestly doesn’t seem real, but I’m happy,” Pressley said. “I’m just thankful to have had the opportunity to do this.”
Pressley was all about taking advantage of opportunities during the stepladder finals, and she claims it had as much to do with mindset as it did with ball reaction.
“I just started to bowl fearless,” Pressley said. “I started out really nervous with it being my first time on TV and me not having a great look on the left lane, but I knew I just had to bowl fearless, and that shaped my mentality and got me back in it.”
And that approach paid off to the tune of a national title that has already ascended to the top of Pressley’s list of accomplishments.
“This win today is definitely my number one,” Pressley said. “I don’t really think anything will ever compare to this.”
Van Tine’s stellar performance earned her a runner-up finish. She opened Saturday’s U16 Girls stepladder by notching a 220-186 victory over third seed Laeiah Tiquia of Auburn, Washington.
ODUJEBE WINS THRILLER, CAPTURES INAUGURAL U14 BOYS CROWN
2026 U14 Boys champion Arryn Odujebe of Manassas, Virginia
All Junior Gold stepladder finals are entertaining, but Saturday’s U14 Boys show at Cedarvale Lanes delivered entertainment value that bowling fans would be hard-pressed to find at majors on the men’s and women’s pro tours.
When the dust settled, Arryn Odujebe of Manassas, Virginia, emerged as the inaugural U14 Boys national champion after he defeated top seed Treavor Mason of Mabank, Texas, by scores of 245-224 and 220-187 during two games that went down to the wire.
The opening game of the title match saw Odujebe run off a seven-bagger on shots five through 11 to erase an early deficit and go around Mason for a 21-pin victory that sent the bout to a winner-take-all second game.
Odujebe started strong in the finale, opening with a five-bagger. Mason hung tough too, however, recording two strikes and three spares during that same stretch to keep Odujebe from putting the game out of reach.
Things really got interesting after Odujebe suffered back-to-back open frames on the left lane, failing to convert the 1-2-4-6-10 super washout in the sixth and chopping the 3-6-10 in the eighth.
Those two opens allowed Mason to draw within 12 pins of Odujebe with two frames remaining.
Things really got interesting when Mason’s delivery in the ninth frame went high on the head pin but caved in the 4-7-10 for a strike. The fortunate break kept Mason’s hopes alive as he could still strike out for a final score of 219.
Undaunted, Odujebe delivered a flush strike during his own ninth frame to keep his destiny firmly within his own hands. If he could post strike, nine-spare in the 10th, he’d finish at 220 and officially shut Mason out.
Odujebe stepped up and sent his first shot in the final frame heading toward the 1-3 pocket. The delivery finished high, momentarily leaving the 4-9 split standing. But before the stunned crowd at Cedarvale could let out the collective gasp it was prepared to offer, both pins toppled over, giving Odujebe the strike he needed.
His second ball in the 10th left a 7-pin standing, but he calmly converted the spare to get to the clubhouse with a final score of 220 and officially become the first U14 Boys Junior Gold Champion – This is the first year there has been a U14 age group at youth bowling’s most hallowed tournament.
Odujebe wasn’t initially thinking about the historical implications of Saturday’s victory, but he was very proud of the accomplishment in the moments immediately following the match.
“I really didn’t know or think about being the first one, but it feels really good,” Odujebe said.
According to Odujebe, it also felt good to be able to share the moment with his family since they were the ones who inspired him to take up competitive bowling.
“As soon as I realized I’d won, the first thing I knew that I needed to do was go hug my mom and dad,” Odujebe said. “They’re the ones who got me here, who take me to tournaments and who got me into bowling in the first place.”
The U14 Boys stepladder began with Odujebe defeating No. 3 seed Nehemiah Keefer of Bellwood, Illinois, 194-182. That match came down to the 10th frame as well with Odujebe doubling to survive and advance.
KANSAS CITY’S BOURNE TAKES HOME U14 GIRLS TITLE
2026 U14 Girls champion Averie Bourne of Kansas City, Missouri
Because of her late birthday, Averie Bourne of Kansas City, Missouri, is typically one of the youngest competitors in her division at the Junior Gold Championships.
The only number that mattered on Saturday, however, was No. 1, which was the place Bourne captured in the U14 Girls final standings at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.
Bourne, who came to the stepladder finals as the division’s No. 1 seed, defeated Gabby Jackson of Pittsburgh by a score of 172-140 in front of a packed house at Cedarvale Lanes to become the first U14 Girls champion in Junior Gold Championships history.
It’s a distinction Bourne thinks has a very nice ring to it.
“This is really cool,” Bourne said. “I just turned 14 and am always one of the youngest, so this tournament has usually been tough for me. To win this year is really exciting.”
Bourne got the win by staying clean during the first seven frames of the title match. Jackson, meanwhile, suffered two early opens to allow the No. 1 seed to seize control.
Jackson did her best to hang tough, but a chopped 3-6-9-10 in the ninth frame and a 4-6 split in the ninth allowed Bourne to win sitting on the bench.
After the match, Bourne recalled the moment she knew she’d officially become the first U14 Girls national champion in event history.
“When Gabby “Jackson” split in the ninth, I looked back and saw my dad making a ‘W’ with his hands, and that’s when I realized I’d won,” Bourne said. “This win means a lot to my family. My papa is the whole reason I got into bowling, so this will mean a lot to him.”
Jackson kicked off U14 Girls stepladder play by taking down No. 3 seed Isabella Jones of Edinburgh, Indiana, 235-152. Jones was looking for her second Junior Gold title in as many years as she won the U12 Girls title at the 2025 event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
GARSKE CAPS GREAT WEEK WITH U12 BOYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2026 U12 Boys champion Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington
Gleason Garske of Spokane, Washington, made things look easy during most of his time on the lanes at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships, placing his name at or near the top of the U12 Boys standings after each round of qualifying and going undefeated during match play to earn the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals.
The 12-year-old two-handed righty was pushed to the limit during Saturday’s championship match at Cedarvale Lanes, however, losing the opener, 199-191, to Colin Park of San Jose, California, but rallying to win Game 2 by a final of 192-170 to become the 2026 U12 Boys national champion.
Garske has accomplished a lot more than most bowlers four and five times his age; nevertheless, Saturday’s win immediately jumped to the top of his list of achievements.
“Of all the things I’ve done in bowling, winning Junior Gold is number one by a mile,” Garske said. “I’ve been working for this since I was a little kid.”
Park definitely made Garske work during the title tilt.
The opening game of the title match came down to the 10th frame with Park needing the first strike to win and force a winner-take-all rematch for the U12 Boys title. Garske put Park in that position by making a gutsy ball change in the ninth frame and recording a clutch double.
Nevertheless, Park was up to the task, getting the strike he needed to win the opener and force the two talented young men do it all over again.
Even though Garske would like to have finished the match off right then and there, he wasn’t rattled when Park won to force Game 2.
“I just told myself that since it didn’t happen that first game, I’d get the next one,” Garske said.
Garske’s confidence was evident during the early stages of the deciding game, when he struck on three of his first five deliveries to take a 24-pin lead at the halfway point.
Things got much tighter after Garske suffered an open in the eighth frame, which set up a scenario where the two bowlers could both strike out to tie at 213.
Disaster struck for Park in the ninth frame, however, as his high-flush delivery left a 4-9 split that he wasn’t able to pick up.
That allowed Garske to mark in the 10th to win the title, and that’s precisely what he did, delivering a no-doubt strike to seal the victory.
In the aftermath of the win, Garske had a hard time wrapping his mind around what had just occurred.
“I still don’t know what to think about all this; it’s insane, but some how it happened,” Garske said.
Park opened the U12 Boys stepladder finals with a 204-148 victory over No. 3 seed Daniel Wiseman of Bassett, Virginia.
TOP-SEED NEWTON CRUISES TO U12 GIRLS TITLE
2026 U12 Girls champion Stevie Newton of Hanover, Pennsylvania
Don’t call it a comeback; Stevie Newton of Hanover, Pennsylvania, had been a Junior Gold stepladder finalist before – She finished third in the U12 Girls division at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
That level of success on the national stage is more than most athletes achieve in a lifetime; nevertheless, Newton wanted more, so she set her sights on reaching the winner’s circle at this year’s tournament in Minnesota.
She accomplished that mission on Saturday by defeating Lila Bollman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 233-148 during the U12 Girls stepladder finals at Cedarvale Lanes.
Newton was the top seed for the stepladder, and it didn’t take long to understand why as she began the title match against Bollman with a six-bagger. Bollman, meanwhile, managed just one strike during her first six frames, allowing Newton to open up a 63-pin lead with just four frames to go.
At that point, the outcome of the match was all but determined, but Newton still had the opportunity to thrill the Cedarvale fans even more by extending her string of strikes and continuing her run at 300.
Perfection was not to be, however, as Newton’s seventh shot came in light to the 1-3 pocket, leaving a 2-10 split that she was unable to convert.
Newton recovered quickly though, notching spares in the eighth and ninth frames and a strike on the first ball in the 10th to win the match and secure the U12 Girls national title she wanted so badly.
Bollman, who earned her shot at the title by defeating No. 3 seed Kailynn Melvin of Tonganoxie, Kansas, 209-165 one match earlier, settled for second place, and Melvin took third.
Newton had tears in her eyes as she held the trophy above her head while the assembled gallery at Cedarvale Lanes applauded her winning performance. After stepping off the approach and having a few minutes to let the moment sink in, Newton shared her thoughts on Saturday’s victory.
“It doesn’t seem real yet, but it feels great,” Newton said. “I don’t watch the scoreboard, so I didn’t know it was over until the tournament director told me. When that happened, I just felt a rush of emotions. I was so happy and crying happy tears.”
Newton rarely loses control of her emotions; in fact, she credits that as being one of the main factors influencing her success.
“One of the biggest keys to doing well out here is having a good mindset and just focusing on what you can control,” Newton said.
With this year’s win now crossed off her bowling bucket list, Newton had a very simple celebration strategy.
“I’m going to celebrate during our 17-hour car ride home,” Newton said with a smile. “Having the trophy in the backseat will definitely provide an extra boost and make the ride feel better.”
22 ATHLETES EARN SPOTS ON JUNIOR AND FURURES TEAM USA 2027
National titles weren’t the only prizes on the line at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships. Spots on Junior Team USA and Futures Team USA 2027 also were up for grabs through qualifying and the stepladder finals at this year’s tournament.
Six boys and six girls qualified for Junior Team USA through scores bowled in the U18 division. The top four male bowlers and top four female bowlers after 26 games of qualifying and the champions and runners-up in each division earned spots on Junior Team USA. If the champion or runner-up already had earned one of the four spots available in qualifying, the next athlete based on the qualifying standings after 26 games qualified.
In the U16 division, the top two age-eligible male and top two age-eligible female bowlers at the conclusion of 26 games of qualifying plus the U16 champions and runners-up qualified for Futures Team USA. If the champion or runner-up already had earned one of the two spots available in qualifying, the next athlete based on the qualifying standings after 26 games qualified.
The list of players securing spots at this year’s tournament included each of the following athletes:
JUNIOR TEAM USA 2027
Boys – Brett Biondo, Carpentersville, Illinois; Emmanuel Guevara, Largo, Florida; Braden McDonough, Coppell, Texas; Spiros Schenk, Newnan, Georgia; Kai Strothers, Maplewood, New Jersey; Clayton Washington, Midlothian, Virginia.
Girls – Bella Castillo, Odessa, Texas; Tori Franklin, Frisco, Texas; Kyndallynn Hood, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Taylor Kretz, Erie, Pennsylvania; Madison Smith, Elmira, New York; Ashlin Teves, Machesney Park, Illinois.
FUTURES TEAM USA 2027
Boys – Harper Burnett, Jackson, Missouri; Ryan Campbell, Clinton, South Carolina; Ryan Carmichael, South Bend, Indiana; Miles Gordon, Columbus, Ohio; Jason Grothus, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Girls – Emma Lester, Daleville, Alabama; Makayla Pressley, Vale, North Carolina; Autumn Strode, Munster, Indiana; Laelah Tiquia, Auburn, Washington; Candace Van Tine, Spokane, Washington.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships began on Monday at 10 bowling centers in the Greater Minneapolis area with nearly 3,500 young athletes competing in four age-based divisions (U12, U14, U16 and U18).
Athletes completed four four-game qualifying blocks from Monday through Thursday to determine competitors moving on to the Advancers Rounds. U12 advancers bowled another four-game block on Friday before the top eight headed into match play, while U14, U16 and U18 advancers bowled a five-game block. A second cut was made for U14, U16 and U18 for the final Advancers’ Round with an additional five games before the top 16 advanced to match play.
Match play featured a double-elimination bracket, with each match being two games and highest pinfall determining who advanced. The final two in the Winners Bracket in each division bowled for the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals, while the winner in the Elimination Bracket earned the No. 3 seed on the show.
CLICK HERE for more information on the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.