By Joe D’Amodio | damodio@siadvance.com
Staten Island Advance | silive.com
Staten Island is being represented by 23 youth bowlers competing in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Junior Gold Championships this week in Detroit, Mich.
The group represents the largest contingent of Islanders to compete in the event since 2003, when Dave Kosinski was the lone representative, according to national USBC past president Frank Wilkinson, the proprietor at Rab’s Country Lanes.
An estimated 4,700 youth bowlers, the highest number in the event’s history, will compete for the elusive titles, spots on USBC Junior Team USA 2020 and more than $400,000 in scholarships.
After day 1, Staten Island’s Jason Wichnovitz leads the Island pack by averaging 202, putting himself in 40th place out of 868 boys in the U17 Division. He ripped off games of 159, 223, 170 and 258 for an 810 scratch series.
The 22nd edition of the USBC Junior Gold Championships is taking place in eight bowling centers in the Metro Detroit Area. The event features top USBC Youth bowlers ages 7 to 20 from around the United States as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. military zones. Each participant qualified to enter by advancing through local USBC Junior Gold qualifying leagues and tournaments.
The event started Saturday with a trade show and athlete registration and then opening ceremonies at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center celebrating the young athletes who were then treated with a performance by rePercussion.
Competition officially started Monday, when bowlers rolled four games. Competitors will bowl 16 games in the qualifying rounds before advancing to the Advancer Rounds and finals which will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Results of Qualifying Round 1:
U12 Division – Field Size: 262 Boys
BOYS
40 – William Kohnenkamp 159, 175, 201, 159-694
U15 Division – Field Size: 715 Boys / 356 Girls
BOYS
203 – Joseph Guarnieri 179, 154, 158, 189-680
290 – Yousef Dardeir 136, 153, 173, 193-655
393 – Nicholas Palmeri 179, 113, 168, 170-630
409 – Frank Koppie 116, 174, 164, 172-626
522 – Victor Guastella 131, 150, 171, 143-595
593 – Alex Santos 156, 133, 169, 109-567
607 – Steven Souffrin 101, 146, 190, 124-561
666 – Cody Bass 119, 141, 115, 150-525
704 – Gregory Pasquale 107, 99, 118, 147-471
GIRLS
36 – Brianna Mester 226, 182, 164, 139-711
61 – Maya Avilez 221, 157, 135, 179-692
U17 Division – Field Size: 868 Boys / 443 Girls
BOYS
40 – Jason Wichnovitz 159, 223, 170, 258-810
68 – William Courtney 189, 181, 204, 213-787
248 – Brandon Leung 189, 158, 171, 201-719
779 – Joseph LaBarbera 182, 135, 142, 131-590
800 – Steven Pasquale 168, 154, 139, 119-580
GIRLS
376 – Lauren Ruth Sarreal 142, 128, 161, 169-600
426 – Stephanie Fetik 111, 122, 164, 143-540
U20 Division – Field Size: 800 Boys / 440 Girls
BOYS
493 – Kenneth Courtney 203, 156, 168, 154-681
674 – Anthony DeRosa 158, 134, 176, 164-632
767 – Joseph Nadal 148, 135, 146, 145-574
GIRLS
250 – Jessica Fetik 90, 172, 128, 174-564