Young Bowler Helps Fill Tournament Void in North Texas
October 09, 2009
A bowling tournament might not be considered a necessity to most kids, but a young north Texas bowler's desire for competition led to the creation of a popular youth bowling tour.
Lance Ragland of Mesquite, Texas, explained that back in 2006, when he was 14 years old, he noticed there was "a lack of youth tournaments in the Dallas area, especially Junior Gold qualifiers." So Ragland and Robert McBride decided if no one else would set up tournaments, then they would create their own.
And so was born the Lone Star Youth Classic Tour. While McBride is no longer involved with the tour, Lance and his father, Billy, run the events with Lance's mom, Sandra, also pitching in.
The LSYCT, which will hold its next event Nov. 1 at Plano Super Bowl in Plano, Texas, has awarded nearly $20,000 in scholarship money. The tour holds eight to 10 tournaments a year.
For Lance, who is a senior at Poteet High School in Mesquite, these tournaments also are a way to help prepare his fellow Texas bowlers for elite competitions, such as the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships.
USBC Youth members who meet a minimum average - 175 for boys, 150 for girls - can become Junior Gold members. They then can enter Junior Gold qualifying events and attempt to earn a spot in the Junior Gold Championships, which this year will be held July 10-16 in Indianapolis.
Lance has competed in Junior Gold Championships the last three years and knows what to expect. He understands the challenges bowlers will face, so LSYCT events use PBA Experience lane conditions to allow competitors to become familiar with the more challenging patterns.
"Junior Gold is a huge challenge, especially this year, considering the patterns," Lance said. "That is why we host our tournaments on PBA shots, so that bowlers can be prepared to face what is out there at Junior Gold and Teen Masters."
But Lance, who also serves on the Dallas USBC Youth Board of Directors, isn't all about bowling. He is involved in Poteet's theatre department and works as a sports intern and student disc jockey on the Mesquite public schools radio. The job at the radio station could turn out to be valuable training.
"I plan to major in broadcast journalism," said Lance, whose college choices include Wichita State and the University of North Texas. "My career goal is to do the play-by-play for the PBA telecasts on ESPN."
If you need additional information about the LSYCT, send an e-mail to lsyctinfo@tx.rr.com.
Lance Ragland of Mesquite, Texas, explained that back in 2006, when he was 14 years old, he noticed there was "a lack of youth tournaments in the Dallas area, especially Junior Gold qualifiers." So Ragland and Robert McBride decided if no one else would set up tournaments, then they would create their own.
And so was born the Lone Star Youth Classic Tour. While McBride is no longer involved with the tour, Lance and his father, Billy, run the events with Lance's mom, Sandra, also pitching in.
The LSYCT, which will hold its next event Nov. 1 at Plano Super Bowl in Plano, Texas, has awarded nearly $20,000 in scholarship money. The tour holds eight to 10 tournaments a year.
For Lance, who is a senior at Poteet High School in Mesquite, these tournaments also are a way to help prepare his fellow Texas bowlers for elite competitions, such as the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships.
USBC Youth members who meet a minimum average - 175 for boys, 150 for girls - can become Junior Gold members. They then can enter Junior Gold qualifying events and attempt to earn a spot in the Junior Gold Championships, which this year will be held July 10-16 in Indianapolis.
Lance has competed in Junior Gold Championships the last three years and knows what to expect. He understands the challenges bowlers will face, so LSYCT events use PBA Experience lane conditions to allow competitors to become familiar with the more challenging patterns.
"Junior Gold is a huge challenge, especially this year, considering the patterns," Lance said. "That is why we host our tournaments on PBA shots, so that bowlers can be prepared to face what is out there at Junior Gold and Teen Masters."
But Lance, who also serves on the Dallas USBC Youth Board of Directors, isn't all about bowling. He is involved in Poteet's theatre department and works as a sports intern and student disc jockey on the Mesquite public schools radio. The job at the radio station could turn out to be valuable training.
"I plan to major in broadcast journalism," said Lance, whose college choices include Wichita State and the University of North Texas. "My career goal is to do the play-by-play for the PBA telecasts on ESPN."
If you need additional information about the LSYCT, send an e-mail to lsyctinfo@tx.rr.com.