Kent Lowe: Big events in March for youth bowlers

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Welcome to March and what might be the most exciting and entertaining month of youth bowling we have witnessed in years in Baton Rouge.

Let’s start with the high schools. It’s the final week of the regular season. Is there much that can change the power rankings and the top 32 boys/coed or top 16 girls teams that will be playoff bound?

On the boys/coed side, Central Lafourche and C. E. Byrd are 1-2 and after last year’s run by the Byrd girls, it’s not so easy to dismiss the northwest Louisiana team as in past years, but behind them are teams to watch — Brother Martin at third and Shaw is fourth. Three-four if they finish that way in the power rankings, would put them on different side of the brackets.

The top four girls teams — Dutchtown, H.L. Bourgeois, Albany and Byrd — are all undefeated with Archbishop Chapelle and reigning champion Denham Springs in fifth and sixth with a loss each. Bracket placement is going to be crucial in the girls with Chapelle and Denham Springs’ lone loss to Dutchtown.

The final brackets and the top averages qualifying for singles should all be announced Monday, March 13. Then the playoff rounds will take place March 20-22 (boys/coed March 20-Creole Lanes, Houma; March 21-AMF All-Star Lanes Kenner; girls March 22-All Star Lanes BR) to determine the last four teams for the semifinals and finals on March 30 at Premier Lanes.

Storm Youth Championships

On the three days before the start of the high school bowling playoffs, we will have what might be one of the biggest youth tournaments ever in the state.

The state has hosted some fairly big regional events, including qualifying events for national tournaments and the NCAA and Intercollegiate events in the past, but this has the potential to be something very special.

A total of 180 youth bowlers from 28 states and 18 SYC Champions are in the field bowling for approximately $18,000 in scholarships. That will include around 30 bowlers from Louisiana. The event is March 17-19 and the participants will roll three five-game blocks on different sport patterns, in the U12, U15 and U18 divisions.

The Storm Youth Championships were created in 2017. The vision for the SYC began as a way to give back to the bowling community, educate youth bowlers and invite the whole family to participate. The event in Baton Rouge will ending up awarding more than $600,000 in college scholarships.

Charity is a big part of the event with money donated from every entry. In 2023, $5 of every entry goes to “Ballard vs. The Big “C” to continue to fight cancer and $5 will also be donated to Make-A-Wish Utah.

While the opening day is a practice day, it’s also an educational day as PWBA stars Stefanie Johnson and Clara Guerrero will hold a Q&A session with the bowlers.

One event in Las Vegas has already been held, with the April event in Rochester, New York, already sold out. Then there are events in Kentucky, Indianapolis, Green Bay, Reno, Providence and Little River, South Carolina.

The fields sells out in less than 10 minutes for these events. When you look at the history, there are names one can recognize from college and/or professional bowling who have won. That it is coming to Louisiana and Baton Rouge is an amazing thing.

All Star is getting ready to put its best foot forward and it’s as big a moment for them as it is for bowling in the state. A good showing puts them in position to possibly host this and other events.

If there is a downside, it might be that it bumps up against the high school playoffs and some bowlers chose not to enter SYC with the possibility of having to bowl nine games the day after SYC in the state playoffs. But to get this tournament, you have to take the dates you are given and the pros outweigh the cons.

So is much happening and we will have the coverage for you starting next week. Remember Sue Braud BR singles this weekend at All Star and as always, good luck and good bowling.

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About Mary Weyand 15975 Articles
Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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