Weinstok and White earn U18 title at 2025 Junior Gold Championships
August 12, 2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Elena Weinstok of Costa Rica and Kaeden White of Lees Summit, Missouri, took home national titles at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships in the 18-and-under division, held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which just aired on CBS Sports Network.
Weinstok added her name to the history books by becoming the first international female to win at Junior Gold, defeating No. 2 seed Amber Benson of Dunkirk, North Dakota, 183-159, and No. 1 seed Tori Franklin of Frisco, Texas, 225-192.
“I can’t really describe my emotions right now, but it feels amazing to represent my country really well here,” said Weinstok.
The right-handed Costa Rican made her country proud with the win, adding to her trophy case that includes multiple gold medals from the Pan American Games and International Bowling Federation Youth World Cup.
Her journey began against Benson with an open, but Weinstok quickly recovered from it and struck three times over the next four frames to keep the match close. Two opens in the fifth and sixth by Benson put Weinstok in the driver’s seat the rest of the way, closing with 183 to Benson’s 159.
In the title match, Weinstok started with a spare and three straight strikes as Franklin left and converted three consecutive 10 pins, struggling to take the corner pin out before opening in the fifth frame. Weinstok stayed clean amid her own carry troubles before striking out in the 10th frame for 225 to Franklin’s 192, earning the U18 Girls win.
After the win, Weinstok had nothing but praise about Junior Gold in her fourth year bowling the event.
“Hopefully my win will invite more people to come to the states to bowl,” said Weinstok. “This tournament in particular has made me improve so much and I still can’t believe that I won it, it feels like the job’s not finished yet but it is.
“Having so many different oil patterns made me not only learn about lane play, but improving myself and learn new skills that I don’t get to back home.”
Weinstok will take these new skills back to Costa Rica in hopes of bringing more young bowlers to the Junior Gold Championship and keep the sport growing in the youth ranks.
U18 BOYS
Arguably, the best was saved for last in the all two-handed U18 Boys stepladder as No. 3 seed White shot games of 256 and 269 on his way to a U18 title, defeating No. 2 seed Chance McLane of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and No. 1 seed Jos Weems of Chicago.
“I’m just speechless,” said White.
White took the longest road possible after losing his opening match in match play, winning five straight matches in the Elimination Bracket just to earn the No. 3 seed and face McLane first in the stepladder.
“(After the opening round loss) I had nothing to lose, it was win or go home,” said White. “I told myself to get on the approach, take a deep breath and execute.”
The Missouri bowler began with the first five strikes and the lead after McLane started with a flush 4 pin, double and another 4 pin to fall behind early. After two spares by White in the sixth and seventh frame, he struck the next three shots to advance to the title match with McLane falling with a 227.
White proceeded to start the final match with a spare before throwing the next seven strikes in a row as Weems struggled to get any strikes in the first five frames, save for the opening frame. Weems ended with the final seven strikes, but it was too little, too late for him as he closed out with 247 to White’s 269.
White stayed composed throughout his matches, only releasing his emotions once he knew he clinched the win.
“It was a sigh of relief,” he said. "I try my best to not show much emotion when I bowl, but that shot I was super tense and had to tell myself it’s just another shot.”
This was only White’s second year competing at Junior Gold and he took full advantage of the opportunity, not only winning the title but also being named to the 2026 edition of Junior Team USA.
“I knew going into the advancer rounds that I had a shot at Junior Team,” he said. "It’s the most amazing feeling ever and it means a lot to be a part of the team.”
Junior Team USA 2026
Six boys and six girls from the U18 division also earned spots on Junior Team USA for 2026 based on their performances this week at the Junior Gold Championships.
Boys
*Kai Strothers, Maplewood, New Jersey
Chance McLane, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
Riley Speer, Beech Grove, Indiana
Nicolas Trentler, Phoenix, Maryland
U18B Champion – Kaeden White, Lees Summit, Missouri
U18B Runner-Up – Jos Weems, Chicago
Girls
*Abigail Starkey, Schaumburg, Illinois
Ashlin Teves, Machesney Park, Illinois
Katelyn Abigania, San Diego, California
Haley Swindle, Newnan, Georgia
Gianna Brandolino, Joliet, Illinois
U18G Runner-Up – Tori Franklin, Frisco, Texas
*McLane already earned a spot as the leader of qualifying, his spot went to Strothers as the sixth-place finisher. Weinstok is ineligible for Junior Team USA due to being from Costa Rica, the next available spot went to Starkey as the sixth-place finisher.
Weinstok added her name to the history books by becoming the first international female to win at Junior Gold, defeating No. 2 seed Amber Benson of Dunkirk, North Dakota, 183-159, and No. 1 seed Tori Franklin of Frisco, Texas, 225-192.
“I can’t really describe my emotions right now, but it feels amazing to represent my country really well here,” said Weinstok.
The right-handed Costa Rican made her country proud with the win, adding to her trophy case that includes multiple gold medals from the Pan American Games and International Bowling Federation Youth World Cup.
Her journey began against Benson with an open, but Weinstok quickly recovered from it and struck three times over the next four frames to keep the match close. Two opens in the fifth and sixth by Benson put Weinstok in the driver’s seat the rest of the way, closing with 183 to Benson’s 159.
In the title match, Weinstok started with a spare and three straight strikes as Franklin left and converted three consecutive 10 pins, struggling to take the corner pin out before opening in the fifth frame. Weinstok stayed clean amid her own carry troubles before striking out in the 10th frame for 225 to Franklin’s 192, earning the U18 Girls win.
After the win, Weinstok had nothing but praise about Junior Gold in her fourth year bowling the event.
“Hopefully my win will invite more people to come to the states to bowl,” said Weinstok. “This tournament in particular has made me improve so much and I still can’t believe that I won it, it feels like the job’s not finished yet but it is.
“Having so many different oil patterns made me not only learn about lane play, but improving myself and learn new skills that I don’t get to back home.”
Weinstok will take these new skills back to Costa Rica in hopes of bringing more young bowlers to the Junior Gold Championship and keep the sport growing in the youth ranks.
U18 BOYS
Arguably, the best was saved for last in the all two-handed U18 Boys stepladder as No. 3 seed White shot games of 256 and 269 on his way to a U18 title, defeating No. 2 seed Chance McLane of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and No. 1 seed Jos Weems of Chicago.
“I’m just speechless,” said White.
White took the longest road possible after losing his opening match in match play, winning five straight matches in the Elimination Bracket just to earn the No. 3 seed and face McLane first in the stepladder.
“(After the opening round loss) I had nothing to lose, it was win or go home,” said White. “I told myself to get on the approach, take a deep breath and execute.”
The Missouri bowler began with the first five strikes and the lead after McLane started with a flush 4 pin, double and another 4 pin to fall behind early. After two spares by White in the sixth and seventh frame, he struck the next three shots to advance to the title match with McLane falling with a 227.
White proceeded to start the final match with a spare before throwing the next seven strikes in a row as Weems struggled to get any strikes in the first five frames, save for the opening frame. Weems ended with the final seven strikes, but it was too little, too late for him as he closed out with 247 to White’s 269.
White stayed composed throughout his matches, only releasing his emotions once he knew he clinched the win.
“It was a sigh of relief,” he said. "I try my best to not show much emotion when I bowl, but that shot I was super tense and had to tell myself it’s just another shot.”
This was only White’s second year competing at Junior Gold and he took full advantage of the opportunity, not only winning the title but also being named to the 2026 edition of Junior Team USA.
“I knew going into the advancer rounds that I had a shot at Junior Team,” he said. "It’s the most amazing feeling ever and it means a lot to be a part of the team.”
Junior Team USA 2026
Six boys and six girls from the U18 division also earned spots on Junior Team USA for 2026 based on their performances this week at the Junior Gold Championships.
Boys
*Kai Strothers, Maplewood, New Jersey
Chance McLane, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
Riley Speer, Beech Grove, Indiana
Nicolas Trentler, Phoenix, Maryland
U18B Champion – Kaeden White, Lees Summit, Missouri
U18B Runner-Up – Jos Weems, Chicago
Girls
*Abigail Starkey, Schaumburg, Illinois
Ashlin Teves, Machesney Park, Illinois
Katelyn Abigania, San Diego, California
Haley Swindle, Newnan, Georgia
Gianna Brandolino, Joliet, Illinois
U18G Runner-Up – Tori Franklin, Frisco, Texas
*McLane already earned a spot as the leader of qualifying, his spot went to Strothers as the sixth-place finisher. Weinstok is ineligible for Junior Team USA due to being from Costa Rica, the next available spot went to Starkey as the sixth-place finisher.