Tackett, Koff win doubles gold at PABCON Youth
July 20, 2011
DOUBLES: Boys | Girls
ALL-EVENTS: Boys | Girls
SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic - The Junior Team USA boys pairing of EJ Tackett and Andrew Koff earned the gold medal in boys doubles on Tuesday night at the 2011 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships.
The pair totaled 2,711 for six games, an average of 225.91, to win the gold. Tackett led the way with 1,363, while Koff added 1,348 at Cibao Bowling Center.
For Tackett it was his first medal in international competition, and he said it is a moment he will remember forever.
"Just making the team made me feel like all the hard work I'd put in had paid off," Tackett said. "But winning a gold medal really takes it to the next level."
Koff, who in his short tenure on Junior Team USA has acquired several international medals, was thrilled to share the gold medal with Tackett.
"It feels great to win the gold medal, especially in a doubles event where you work with someone else to make it happen," Koff said. "We played the lanes similar and he had a very good look with his urethane ball, so I just wanted to stay around him."
Venezuela's Michael Piccari and Kevin Belandria took the silver medal with 2,684, while Puerto Rico's Cristian Azcona and Josh Lee Encarnacion earned the bronze with 2,644.
The other Junior Team USA boys pairing of Marshall Kent and Kyle King finished seventh with 2,381. King shot 1,216, while Kent had 1,165.
In the girls division, Junior Team USA's Jessica Earnest and Kaitlin Quinn took the lead on the opening squad but eventually finished in second place to take the silver with 2,462. Quinn led the duo with 1,270, while Earnest shot 1,192.
Puerto Rico's Kristie Lopez and Neishka Cardona won the gold medal with 2,560, while Danielle Lemoine and Melissa Courchense of Canada took the bronze with 2,439.
The United States' Elise Bolton and Danielle McEwan ended the event in sixth place with 2,364. Bolton shot 1,266, while McEwan had 1,098.
The PABCON Youth Championships continue Wednesday with the trios event. McEwan and King will sit out of the trios event but will still bowl their six games for their all-events totals.
BOWL.com is providing free live coverage of the event and a complete schedule can be found on the homepage of BOWL.com.
2011 PABCON YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cibao Bowling Center, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Tuesday's Results
DOUBLES MEDALISTS
(Six games)
BOYS
Gold - Andrew Koff/E.J. Tackett, United States, 2,711
Silver - Michael Piccari/Kevin Belandria, Venezuela, 2,684
Bronze (tie) - Josh Lee Encarnacion/Cristian Azcona, Puerto Rico, 2,644
GIRLS
Gold - Kristie Lopez/Neishka Cardona, Puerto Rico, 2,560
Silver - Jessica Earnest/Kaitlin Quinn, United States, 2,462
Bronze - Danielle Lemoine/Melissa Courchesne, Canada, 2,439
ALL-EVENTS: Boys | Girls
SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic - The Junior Team USA boys pairing of EJ Tackett and Andrew Koff earned the gold medal in boys doubles on Tuesday night at the 2011 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships.
The pair totaled 2,711 for six games, an average of 225.91, to win the gold. Tackett led the way with 1,363, while Koff added 1,348 at Cibao Bowling Center.
For Tackett it was his first medal in international competition, and he said it is a moment he will remember forever.
"Just making the team made me feel like all the hard work I'd put in had paid off," Tackett said. "But winning a gold medal really takes it to the next level."
Koff, who in his short tenure on Junior Team USA has acquired several international medals, was thrilled to share the gold medal with Tackett.
"It feels great to win the gold medal, especially in a doubles event where you work with someone else to make it happen," Koff said. "We played the lanes similar and he had a very good look with his urethane ball, so I just wanted to stay around him."
Venezuela's Michael Piccari and Kevin Belandria took the silver medal with 2,684, while Puerto Rico's Cristian Azcona and Josh Lee Encarnacion earned the bronze with 2,644.
The other Junior Team USA boys pairing of Marshall Kent and Kyle King finished seventh with 2,381. King shot 1,216, while Kent had 1,165.
In the girls division, Junior Team USA's Jessica Earnest and Kaitlin Quinn took the lead on the opening squad but eventually finished in second place to take the silver with 2,462. Quinn led the duo with 1,270, while Earnest shot 1,192.
Puerto Rico's Kristie Lopez and Neishka Cardona won the gold medal with 2,560, while Danielle Lemoine and Melissa Courchense of Canada took the bronze with 2,439.
The United States' Elise Bolton and Danielle McEwan ended the event in sixth place with 2,364. Bolton shot 1,266, while McEwan had 1,098.
The PABCON Youth Championships continue Wednesday with the trios event. McEwan and King will sit out of the trios event but will still bowl their six games for their all-events totals.
BOWL.com is providing free live coverage of the event and a complete schedule can be found on the homepage of BOWL.com.
2011 PABCON YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cibao Bowling Center, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Tuesday's Results
DOUBLES MEDALISTS
(Six games)
BOYS
Gold - Andrew Koff/E.J. Tackett, United States, 2,711
Silver - Michael Piccari/Kevin Belandria, Venezuela, 2,684
Bronze (tie) - Josh Lee Encarnacion/Cristian Azcona, Puerto Rico, 2,644
GIRLS
Gold - Kristie Lopez/Neishka Cardona, Puerto Rico, 2,560
Silver - Jessica Earnest/Kaitlin Quinn, United States, 2,462
Bronze - Danielle Lemoine/Melissa Courchesne, Canada, 2,439