It has been a successful past two years for Shocker bowlers competing in the Junior Gold Championships. Like last season, three Shockers were named to Junior Team USA over the weekend. Senior Ricki Williams made her second consecutive appearance, as did incoming freshman Geoffrey Young. Earning his first selection is junior Brent Bowers.
The 2008 Junior Gold Championships were held July 5-11 in Sterling Heights, Mich. Nearly 1,500 bowlers from across the country competed for individual titles, $100,000 in scholarships and spots on Junior Team USA.
The top four finishers in the male and female divisions earned automatic spots on the team, serving as U.S. representatives in international competition in 2009. The National Selection Committee chose four additional Junior Gold competitors, two males and two females.
Young, of Denton, Texas, finished in first place claiming the U.S. Junior Amateur Title. His score of 10,345 over 46 games and his 11-5 record in match play earned him this year鈥檚 championship. Young will attend WSU in the fall and hopes to earn a spot on the team during September tryouts.
After being chosen by the selection committee last season, Williams, of 成人头条, Kan., ensured her spot on this year鈥檚 Junior Team USA by finishing in the top four. She finished third and earned an automatic place on the team.
Bowers, of Mulvane, Kan., a member of the Shocker bowling team since his freshman year, broke through at the Junior Gold Championships. His 9-7 match play record wasn鈥檛 enough for a top four finish, but the selection committee selected him as one of the four additional members to join the team.