CANTON — Although two champions were crowned, the real winner was the oil pattern during Saturday’s Stark County USBC Youth Scratch Singles Challenge at Eastbury Bowling Center.
“It was hard … definitely a grind,” boys champion and Hubbard High School senior John Jacobs said of the 37-foot Broadway pattern after stopping Wooster junior Dawson Gaynor 354-261 in the two-game title match.
“I needed everything in my bag. I had to use all six balls in one game, but I got through it,” girls champion and Perry senior Hannah Miller said after stopping Wooster sophomore Abbie Leiendecker 334-303 for the win.
The tournament drew 14 boys players and 10 girls participants, with Jacobs receiving a $200 scholarship and Miller $150 for their victories.
This was the second Stark County USBC Youth event following one in October 2021 at Strike Zone.
JACOBS GETS WIN
After qualifying sixth in the field with 634 for four qualifying games, Jacobs opened match play with a 331-335 win over United Local junior Christopher Combs. But his key matchup came in the semifinals against Lake freshman Zac Abbott, who stopped Jacobs 436-398 in the title match of the Stark County USBC Youth’s Strike Zone event.
“He had a couple of washouts, but I was able to keep my spirit up and I knew if I grinded just a little harder I could come out with the win,” said Jacobs of his 355-287 win over Abbott.
In the title match, it came down to making the choices against Gaynor.
“It was a grind, but I kept my head in it even though I got mad. I just never gave up,” said Jacobs, who will be attending Muskingum University in the fall.
Jacobs, a two-handed right-hander used a Purple Hammer in the title match and was able to get around his opponent’s line.
“We were both playing the same line, but his ball was reacting differently,” Jacobs said. “I was able to get around that with urethane.”
Gaynor, who admittedly struggled in earning the No. 4 seed with a 706 series, stopped Jackson junior Donovan Gillono 269-243 in his first match and GlenOak junior Alex Howard 303-292 in the semifinals.
“I was struggling all day. I just tried to stay in there and get as far as I could even though I was not bowling well,” Gaynor said. “I was really surprised I got as far as I did.”
Jacobs opened a 57-pin lead after Game 1 with a 201 to Gaynor’s 144 and had little problem after that.
“I don’t think the shot was that difficult, but I had really bad ball placement and just couldn’t hit the same spot twice. Sometimes, I just didn’t roll the ball well at all,” Gaynor said.
MILLER FINDS A WAY
In the girls title match, Miller took a 17-pin lead after Game 1 and was able to follow it up with a 14-pin win in Game 2 for the title.
“I was just getting some good breaks and making good shots when I needed to,” said Miller, the No. 2 seed who will be attending Youngstown State University in the fall. “That last game, I just made a huge move 10-to-15 boards to the left.
“I got a lot of help from the back (Bryce Ryan and her parents) and was just trying to keep my head on straight. Playing a hook is not something I do. I’m a down-and-in player, but someone gave me a lot of support from the back the last game to get me through it.”
Leiendecker, the No. 1 seed with 827 total pinfall (129 pins ahead of Miller), won the first Stark County USBC Youth event in October. She attributed her loss to failing on the basics.
“I didn’t stay to my technique and my fundamentals. I made the right ball change, but couldn’t get the 10 (pin) out, so I went to a stronger ball and got the 10 out and had a good start,” Leiendecker said. “But I started getting antsy, going faster, started throwing it harder and that didn’t work well for me.”
Miller advanced with a 322-267 win over Tallmadge sophomore Deandria Elijah and followed that with a 326-310 win over Dover junior Kaylie Gibson in the semifinals.
Leiendecker opened with a 351-335 win over Akron’s Maria Mara and followed with a 378-358 victory over Jonathan Alder junior Danielle Phipps, who finished second to the Wooster sophomore in October at Strike Zone.
“My first two matches were really tight,” Leiendecker said. “I just changed things on my spare game. I m using a Purple Hammer and going straight at everything, standing in front of the pins and not throw at an angle. I just wasn’t consistent throwing at angles anymore.”
Both Jacobs and Miller are preparing for their next adventures as college bowlers.
“There’s going to be a lot of bowling this summer and I’m ready to make a lot of changes to my game, trying to get everything better and working on spare shooting,” Miller said. “I don’t think people are going to recognize my style when I come back out after summer.”
For Jacobs, it’s more of the same as he voiced following his October loss at Strike Zone.
“It’s always about working on spare shooting,” Jacobs said. “But, big time, I can’t wait for college to see those big kids out there like the Bohn brothers.”
MORE HONORS
Earlier this month, Miller was named the recipient of the $3,000 scholarship from the Ohio State USBC. The award was presented at Perry High School by Ohio State USBC representative Nikki Stiteler.
Granville High School’s Kyle Neeley earned the boys scholarship. There were 25 applications for the awards.
NOTEBOOK: Leiendecker had the two high games of the day with 235 in Game 3 and 231 in Game 1 of qualifying. Only two other 200 games were rolled by girls during qualifying. … Howard was the top boys qualifier with 830, four pins ahead of Abbott. Both Howard and Abbott had three 200s each, with Abbott rolling the high boys game of d232 in Game 3. … The Stark County USBC added $500 to the scholarship fund for the event. … The girls cut to the top eight was 595; the boys cut was 612. … The Stark USBC Youth plans on future tournaments, which will be announced early this summer.
STARK COUNTY USBC YOUTH CHALLENGE
BOYS DIVISION
Quarterfinals: Alex Howard d. Jonathan Waggoner 357-336; Dawson Gaynor d. Donovan Gillono 269-243; Zac Abbott d. Parker Addison 428-423; John Jacobs d. Christopher Combs 361-335.
Semifinals: Gaynor d. Howard 303-292; Jacobs d. Abbott 355-287.
Finals: Jacobs (201-153) d. Gaynor (144-117) 354-261.
GIRLS DIVISION
Quarterfinals: Abbie Leiendecker d. Maria Mara 351-325; Danielle Phipps d. Alexis Edwards 424-263; Hannah Miller d. Deandria Elijah 322-267; Kaylie Gibson d. Jillian Treska 376-315.
Semifinals: Leiendecker d. Phipps 378-358; Miller d. Gibson 326-310.
Finals: Miller (169-165) d. Leiendecker (152-151) 334-303..