Returning champions remain undefeated at 2016 Junior Gold

INDIANAPOLIS - The opening two rounds of match play in the U15 and U20 divisions at the 2016 Junior Gold Championships presented by Storm, Roto Grip and Master are complete and a total of 48 bowlers remain in the bracket after Friday's competition at Western Bowl.

A total of 12 bowlers in each of the U15 Girls, U20 Girls, U15 Boys and U20 Boys divisions still have the chance to make their way through the double-elimination bracket to the championship round, which will take place Saturday and broadcast on CBS Sports Network in August.

A pair of 2015 Junior Gold Championships winners still are in the winners bracket after the opening day of match play on the girl's side.

Defending U20 champion Sierra Kanemoto of Dayton, Ohio, and U12 winner Amanda Naujokas of Ronkonkoma, New York, each find themselves two wins away from a return visit to the title round.

SierraKanemoto250Kanemoto did not let the pressure of returning to Junior Gold as the defending champion hinder her match-play performance as she averaged 230 in her wins Friday over Madysen Keller of Matthews, North Carolina, and Gazmine Mason of Cranston, Rhode Island.

"I don't like to reflect on the past, so I try and minimize the pressure," said Kanemoto, who qualified fourth overall and earned a spot on Junior Team USA for the second consecutive year. "My coach always say that pressure is made in your head, so I'm trying not to think about any of that. I'm just trying to be free and focus on my game."

AmandaNaujokas250Naujokas moved up to the U15 division in 2016, but she showed the same poise that helped lead her to victory last year in Chicago.

After narrowly escaping with the win in her opening-round match at Western Bowl against Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, 385-380, Naujokas defeated top seed Mabel Cummins of Elburn, Illinois, 423-372.

"I was a little intimidated because I knew the competition would have more experience but after qualifying, I knew I would have a shot," said Naujokas, who qualified ninth overall. "These matches were important because now I know I can win a match. I just have to remember to keep my feet slow and make my spares."

Also among the remaining contenders in U15 is defending champion Danielle Jedlicki of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who won her opening match Friday but was knocked to the contenders bracket after falling to Imari Blond of Flint, Michigan, 389-364.

The top four boys and top four girls in the U20 division also earned automatic spots on Junior Team USA for 2017 based on their qualifying performance through 26 games in Indianapolis this week.

For the girls, Heather Penatzer of Tucson, Arizona, Julia Bond of Aurora, Illinois, Sydney Brummett of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kanemoto will once again represent Junior Team USA after making the team in 2016.

For the boys, Jared Armstrong of Louisville, Kentucky, Pete Vergos of Apopka, Florida, and Thomas McNeal of Burien, Washington, earned their spot of Junior Team USA for the first time, while Wesley Low of Palmdale, California, will make his fifth appearance on the team in 2017.

In addition, a total of four additional spots will be given after bracket play in the U20 Division. The winner and runner-up in both the boys and girls bracket also will make Junior Team USA. If one or both of the finalists in the bracket already earned a spot through qualifying, the next age-eligible athlete based on the qualifying standings will take the spot. Bowlers must be age 20 or younger as of Jan. 1, 2017 to be eligible.

Competition will resume with match play at Western Bowl at 7 a.m. Eastern live on BowlTV.