The New York State Pepsi Youth Bowling Tournament Championship was held on May 19 in Rome, N.Y. Maitland Langworthy, of Fredonia, finished second overall in the girls' ages 12 and over handicap division. She earned an $800 scholarship. Maitland qualified for the section level of the tournament during her regular league play as part of Lucky Lanes Junior Bowlers. At the sectionals, she qualified second, bowling against other bowlers from Western New York in her division.
The state finals involved a three-game block in the morning, where she bowled just above her 140 average for a 447 scratch series and 657 with handicap. This placed her 15th out of the 30 girls from across the state in her division. A second three-game block followed in the afternoon, where Langworthy turned it up a few notches and rolled a career-high 594 scratch series, giving her 804 with handicap. This moved her all the way up to third place for the step-ladder finals. She won her first game in the finals, 272-258 (with handicap) to put her in the championship game. She came up just short in the championship game, losing 251-242 (with handicap) and finished second overall.
Olivia Corbett, of Dunkirk, and Phillip Narraway, of Forestville, represented Lucky Lanes Junior Bowlers at the sectional level of the Pepsi tournament as well.
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Maitland Langworthy
Corbett competed in the girls' age 11-and-under handicap division. She finished fourth overall to earn a scholarship.
Narraway competed in the boys' age 11-and-under handicap division and finished first overall to earn a scholarship. The value of Corbett's and Narraway's scholarships has yet to be announced.
Two other bowlers from Lucky Lanes Junior Bowlers deserve honorable mention for their participation in the Pepsi tournament. Dakota Griewisch, of Forestville, also advanced to the NYS finals in Rome. Griewisch earned his trip to Rome by qualifying second in the sectional level, rolling a 737 scratch series. In the state finals, he was in 20th place after his first three-game block. He moved up to 12th in the afternoon, just shy of earning a scholarship. Shane Ryan, of Silver Creek, finished in third place at the sectional event with a 660 scratch series.
The New York State Pepsi Youth Bowling Tournament takes place each year with league qualifiers in November and February through youth bowling programs. This year alone, more than $53,000 in scholarships will be given to youth bowlers ages 4-20 across New York State.
