Youth Bowling Championships
Over 800 Youth Bowlers Compete for Scholarships at Minnesota Championship
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Key Points
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The non-qualifying tournament was open to all United States Bowling Congress Youth members and was held at Lucky Strike Blaine from July 8 to 26.
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The tournament field included 167 four-player teams, and each event offered both scratch and optional handicap competition.
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Newton’s first title came in scratch team competition with the Scuba Divers, alongside Kailynn Melvin, Nolan Randisi and Josh Worley; the team finished with 2,429.
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Newton and Garske also won their respective under-12 titles at the Junior Gold Championships. Garske was one of eight bowlers to record a perfect game at the Youth Open Championships.
More than 800 young bowlers competed in the 2026 Bowling.com Youth Open Championships at Lucky Strike Blaine in Minnesota from July 8 to 26. Over 60 athletes earned national recognition and scholarships totaling more than $80,000 across five new age divisions and multiple competition formats.
Stevie Newton dominated the 12-and-under girls division with four titles, while Gleason Garske claimed the boys singles crown with a perfect 300 game and a 765 series. Eight bowlers recorded perfect games across the entire tournament, according to Bowling.com.
Five Divisions Welcome 800 Young Competitors
The non-qualifying tournament was open to all United States Bowling Congress Youth members. The field included 167 four-player teams competing in team, doubles, singles, and all-events formats. Each event offered both scratch and optional handicap competition to level the playing field.
The expansion to five age divisions marked a major shift for the championship, allowing younger bowlers to compete against peers their own age rather than across one large field. This structure gave more young athletes opportunities to win titles and earn scholarships.
Newton's Dominant Four-Title Performance
Stevie Newton swept the 12-and-under girls competition with victories across multiple events. Her first title came in scratch team competition with the Scuba Divers. Her teammates were Kailynn Melvin, Nolan Randisi, and Josh Worley. The team finished with a combined score of 2,429.
Newton's dominance extended beyond Blaine. She also won her division title at the Junior Gold Championships earlier in the season. Her four-title haul showcased consistency and skill across different competition formats and pressure situations.
Garske's Perfect Game and Boys Division Win
Gleason Garske captured the 12-and-under boys singles title with a remarkable performance. He rolled a perfect 300 game as part of a 765 series—the total pins across three games. Garske earned his first major title and joined an elite group of eight bowlers to roll a perfect game at the championships.
Like Newton, Garske also claimed a title at the Junior Gold Championships, indicating he's among the top young talent in American bowling. His perfect game placed him among eight bowlers to achieve the feat across all divisions at the Youth Open Championships.
Scholarships and National Recognition for 60 Athletes
The tournament distributed more than $80,000 in scholarships to over 60 young bowlers who earned national recognition. This prize money supports junior bowlers' development and creates pathways to bowling careers and college programs. The scale of prize money underscores bowling's commitment to youth development.
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