04/18/2012--The 2012 edition of the MSUSBC Pepsi Youth Championships began this past weekend at the Bonne Terre Family Fun Center in Bonne Terre, MO.  This tournament is the final stop for the qualifiers from House Rounds all over the state, running in either November, 2011, or January 2012.  There are two age divisions, and competition is split between boys and girls.

Bowlers under the age of 12 bowl three games, and those in the higher age division bowl six at the state level.  The younger bowlers compete with handicap, and there are both Handicap and Scratch Divisions in the upper age groups.  The winners of the Scratch Divisions represent Missouri at the 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold Championships, held July 14-20, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN.

After Weekend One, Austin Hays from Knob Noster, and Cecilia Roehrig from Chesterfield took control of their respective divisions in the 11 & Under Age Groups.

Hays, who entered with a 105 average, shot 453 scratch, with a high game of 183.  His 768 total is 30 pins better than Chase Dietzel of Jefferson City, and 36 higher than the 732 posted by St. Charles’ Kenny Etling, Jr.

Miss Roehrig averages 35 pins per game, and used games of 68, 75, and 58 to take the first weekend helm.  Payton Schneider, also from St. Charles, is currently second, only 3 pins back with 723.  Madison Wilson, Lebanon, rounds out the Top 3 with her 718 effort.

In the 12 & Over Handicapped Event, Kansas City’s Quinn Blades took the early lead for the boys, firing games of 224 and 234 enroute to a 1,218 scratch total.  Averaging 149, he received 366 pins handicap, and posted a 1,584 block.  Tyler Currie from Kirkwood slid into second place with a 1,272 scratch effort, and 1,536 with handicap.  Tyler averages 166.  James Swain, who bowls in St. Louis, was just 3 pins back of second place with 1,533.

Republic, MO is proud of Devyn Clark, who has a chance to take the 12 & Over Handicapped Event for the girls, should her 1,458 total hold up for two more weekends.  She averages 116, and fired high games of 164, 165, and 161 as part of her 894 six-game attack.  Liza Biondo from St. Louis held the lead for one squad, shooting 1,451, and Jordan Metz is currently third with 1,424.

Hazelwood’s Kurt Aldrich holds the top spot in the 12 & Over Scratch Event for the boys, turning in a solid 1,332 total with a 706 final three games.  His high game of the set was 263.  Daniel Walker of Park Hills is second with 1,326, using a very consistent attack across the day.  His first three games totaled 656, and the final three were 670.  Finally, Seth Zamora had 267 his second game, and withstood a 174 game three to finish third after the first weekend.  Zamora is from Kansas City.

Brittany Kelly, from Independence, holds the position that will take her to Indianapolis after Weekend One.  She had 1,241 for her six games, with a very strong 686 finish.  Osceola’s Noelle Garrison averaged 203 for her six games, firing 1,220 with a 227-223 finish.  Anna Thompson, from Union, used a 255 Game 4 to build up her 1,192 total, good enough for third place.

The tournament continues for two more weekends.