Accenting the dreams of the 3,100 youth-bowling hopefuls who stormed eight bowling centers throughout the bowling Mecca of Detroit in July were smells and sounds that became all-too-familiar as the 2024 USBC Junior Gold Championships progressed — the aromas of pizza and fries from snack bar to snack bar, the whoops and hollers of bowlers and their families turning each center into an environment approximating the electric vibes of the college-bowling realm some of them already know and many more will soon. 

With camaraderie and passion taking as prominent a place as the competition while the event neared its high-stakes conclusion at historic Thunderbowl Lanes, where finalists would bowl under TV lights and cameras for broadcasts to air later on CBS Sports Network, 18 players emerged from the event’s massive initial wave of competitors for the tournament’s final rounds. 

Walking away with some of the most coveted hardware in youth bowling were U12 winners Eli Franco of Fishers, Indiana, and Alyssa Randisi of Brooklyn, New York; U15 champions Bella Castillo of Odessa, Texas, and Elliott Gordon of Columbus, Ohio, and U18 victors Karina Capron of Fremont, Nebraska, and Ernesto Reynoso of Folsom, California, both repeat champs.

While all of them are taking life journies that prominently feature bowling, there also are other life paths in their sights, including law-school aspirations, entrepreneurial ventures, dreams of changing the bowling world as we know it and much more. Here are their stories… 

U12 Boys: Eli Franco’s Spirited Pursuit of Junior Gold Glory

Take Eli Franco as an example. He is known for his constant smile and mature demeanor, and his personality and diverse interests make him stand out. Whether he’s building intricate Lego structures or following his favorite sports team, his life off the lanes is just as impressive as his achievements on them. 

Franco’s journey is also a testament to hard work and dedication. After missing the Advancers round last year, he put in the time and effort to become the top seed this year and did not let that opportunity go to waste. In his final match of the U12 division, he shot an impressive game of 205, which was enough to take down No. 2 seed Eason Taylor of Chicago, Illinois, who finished with a 179. “I just tried to make good, quality shots and avoid the early hook,” Franco explained.

His commanding presence and ability to make his own decisions showcase his decade-long dedication to the sport. It also is a nod to his parents’ wisdom, as they often express how important it is for their son to forge his own path. 

“We try to preach it to him constantly that he just has to stay in control of his emotions,” his mother, Kristy, said. “He has to realize that he is in charge of how things go, of how he reacts, and how he doesn’t react, and I think that is what was so good about Junior Gold. He had some rough games, he had some rough shots, but he kept his emotions in check.” 

Outside of bowling, Franco’s creativity shines through his love for Legos. He once built an operational piano that won first prize at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair. 

“It gives me something to do in my spare time,” Franco explained. “I can do them really quick once I understand the constructions, and it gets me to focus on something other than bowling.” 

His passion for sports also extends to playing baseball and basketball in addition to managing two fantasy football leagues, a tradition in the Franco household. While Franco might be the national champion, it’s his mom who remains atop the leaderboard in fantasy wins. It is no surprise that the U12 champion is able to make the right calls on the lanes, as he is just as particular in that aspect as he is in choosing players for his fantasy team. 

“You have to have a strategy,” he said. “You don’t want to just pick all of your favorite players because when that bye week comes, or if that team doesn’t have a good week, your team is sunk.” 

Franco’s strategy-focused mindset also comes in handy during his ninja warrior training, a hobby he stumbled upon by accident after his plans to go bowling fell through. “The races are the best part,” he said of the sport, adding that he also enjoys watching American Ninja Warrior on TV with his family. 

As for his future? His next goal is to bowl an 800 series, possibly adding another 300 game to his resume. Franco will be making the jump to the U15 division at next year’s event and while his goals are within reach, he knows that he still has a lot of work to do. But for now, he plans on just enjoying this moment. 

“Getting here, winning this, it’s really a dream come true to me,” he said. 

U12 Girls: Alyssa Randisi, Wise Beyond her Years 

Standing next to Franco in the U12 winner’s circle was Alyssa Randisi, another young star who is more than meets the eye. In fact, bowling is a small line on an already impressive résumé that will only continue to grow as the years continue.

She has a commanding presence on the lanes with focus and precision, but off the lanes she’s a vibrant and multi-faceted individual. She is known for her perpetual smile and keen sense of humor, both qualities that help her bring joy and determination to everything she does. Aspiring to be a lawyer since the fourth grade, her academic ambitions are just as, if not even more, impressive than her athletic achievements. She was valedictorian at her elementary school, is now a member of the National Junior Honor Society and is a student at a prestigious middle school in Brooklyn, New York. 

In addition to taking core classes, Randisi also takes additional classes focused on law and business. In her first year of middle school alone she managed to average 98% across 10 classes while sticking to a dedicated training schedule that requires travel to the neighboring state of New Jersey. 

She hopes one day to become a lawyer, and while most children participating in the U12 division have not even thought about college, Randisi has her eyes set on Vanderbilt, though Harvard and Oxford have been a topic of conversation since she was in the fourth grade. 

“We’re very proud of her in that aspect,” her parents, Chris and Amy Randisi said of their daughter’s academic success and aspirations. 

Though academically focused, Randisi is also an artist at heart, often expressing her creativity through a daily comic strip that features a cat and a shark. She also holds a second-degree blackbelt in taekwondo and has a passion for the art of crochet, which she uses to make items like hats, toys and scarves that she then donates to charities that help underserved families in New York and New Jersey. 

“[My parents] taught me to be grateful and because of that, I want to give back to the communities because they have just been so kind to me,” Randisi said. 

Her bubbly personality will put a smile on anyone’s face, though as soon as the lights come on, she becomes laser-focused on success, paying attention only to the shot in front of her. However, that’s not to say that her personality doesn’t shine through in these moments as she can quickly brush off misses, sometimes even finding humor in them. “I know that sometimes bowling can be frustrating, so I try to be more positive for [those around me] and try to help them not dig a hole with frustration,” Randisi said. 

It is no surprise to anyone that she was able to walk away with this year’s U12 title, defeating No. 3 seed Aliyana Debina-Gasper of Mililani, Hawaii, 198-153. She puts in countless hours of work with the Bohn family, training at their New Jersey facilities, and leaning on those around her, including family friend Nicole Martell, mother of standout PBA bowler Michael Martell. 

As for the future, while Randisi might have her eyes set on higher education, her focus is also on putting in the work for next year as she prepares to take the jump to the U15 division. 

“I’m going to work a lot harder because I know what I did this year is not enough to get to the top of the U15 girls and I want to be at the top there too,” she explained. “I’m going to train a lot harder, work on what I struggled with this year, and hopefully be better.” 

U15 Girls: Bella Castillo, an Artist on and off the Lanes

A few years ago, the bowling world was introduced to another bowler who mirrored Randisi’s aspirations. Her name is Bella Castillo, and it is a name that resonates strongly in the bowling community. But there’s much more to her than that. 

From an early age, the star demonstrated a love for art, whether it’s coloring intricate pictures or experimenting with video editing, she pours her heart into her creative endeavors. Her father, Brian, describes her art as a labor of love, noting that she will spend hours perfecting her work, only to gift it to family and friends, a hallmark of her personality, revealing a young artist with a genuine desire to bring joy to those around her. 

Her passion for art is not contained to the lines of coloring pages either. She also has taken an interest in video editing, a skill that developed with the help of a friend. 

“My friend really got into editing, and she was teaching me how to do it, and I thought I could start making YouTube videos about my bowling and that it would be kind of cool, so I just started to experiment and try new things and got into seeing what I could accomplish,” Castillo recalled. 

With more than 51,000 subscribers on YouTube, she has come a long way from just sharing her love of bowling online. Sometimes she posts daily vlogs about what a typical day in her life looks like, or she’ll partake in various challenges. She even dabbles in streaming, playing Roblox online with her friends. 

Castillo’s Instagram page has also blown up in recent years, amassing more than 103,000 followers, a testament to her success and growing influence that plays a crucial role in expanding the sport of bowling. Though an active page, Castillo shared that it is mainly run by her parents, and when it comes to social media, she prefers to stay disconnected, focusing on other hobbies. 

“I don’t really like being on social media much because sometimes people can be negative,” she explained. “But I don’t really let other people’s opinions affect me, and it’s not that social media is bad, it has its good qualities, I just find that being off of it is healthier.” 

In general, family plays a central role in Castillo’s life. She is deeply connected with her loved ones, often treasuring the time they spend together. These feelings even extend to her bowling family, which is spread across the United States, making tournaments like Junior Gold more of a family reunion. “Bowling is my way of socializing with the friends I don’t see every month or every year, these tournaments help us reconnect,” Castillo said. “The community really invites you in with open arms.”  

That connection extends to professionals like Danielle McEwan, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, and Diandra Asbaty, all of whom have taken the U15 winner under their wings. During our discussion, Castillo recalled a conversation she had with Tackett after continuously losing when she was the No. 1 seed, explaining how he gave her words of encouragement that have stuck with her all this time. 

“After I lost, I was pretty bummed since I had worked so hard to make it to the show, and to get beat as a No. 1 seed as many times before, it made me a little sad. But he pulled me aside and was like, ‘You know, you’re going to do great things, yes you lost today but everyone’s gonna lose eventually. You can’t always win a tournament every single time.’ Just to hear that coming from him made me really happy and so grateful.”  

In a way, this year’s Junior Gold event was redemption on the dreaded No. 1 seed curse, as she was able to secure her third victory in the positioning, previously losing eight times. The win came after she bested No. 2 seed Trishna Desai of Nesconset, New York, with a clean 197 against Desai’s 157. She credited the win to her spare shooting, which she heavily practiced prior to the event, noting that her game plan was to “hit the pocket, keep it controllable, and make my spares.” 

Moving forward, Castillo plans on critiquing her two-handed technique, focusing on improving her weaknesses. Her story, however, remains a tapestry of creativity, familial love, and an unyielding spirit. She’s not only a rising star in the bowling community but one whose journey is as inspiring as it is impressive. 

U15 Boys: Elliott Gordon, Chess Master

Elliott Gordon’s journey is also inspiring and similar to Castillo’s because he’s not just a bowling prodigy — he’s a dynamic young achiever with a passion for sports, academics, and personal growth. 

As a person, Gordon has a goal-oriented mindset, which has proven useful in his relentless pursuit of excellence. His love for chess and basketball has become a huge part of his identity, and it is these skills that he has been able to hone in on to reach greatness. 

“He thinks a lot. He thinks things instead of talking about his thoughts, he processes things up [there] and I think that’s why he really loves chess. I think he uses those processes to help him on the lanes,” his mom, Quenetta, said. 

His dad, Matthew, added, “He clearly knows that bowling is his best sport, but he can’t deny that he loves having [any] ball in his hand, and he also likes having a chess piece in his hand, too.” 

One could argue that this mindset is what propelled him to the top of the U15 standings and allowed him to secure the No. 1 seed in this year’s championship. It can also be said that this same mindset is what kept him so calm during the championship match against No. 2 seed Kristofer Wagner, who had just fired an impressive 244 against No. 3. Seed Lincoln Moyer of Merritt Island, Florida, to advance. 

No one would blame him for feeling a bit anxious after watching Wagner’s thrilling performance, but in the end, it was his ability to stay focused and composed under pressure that ultimately led him to secure the win, defeating the 2023 U12 runner-up 225-208. “It feels great, I feel really happy,” he said after the event. “I knew I could do it coming into this, but I didn’t know how far I was going to get. I just wanted to make match play.” 

Gordon’s ambitions aren’t just confined to sports either. As a sophomore, he’s already taking college-level classes and setting himself up for academic success, even as he remains open to various colleges and majors. 

“The one thing that I could see him doing is having a lot of side opportunities so that he doesn’t feel locked into one thing because when people try to tell him ‘You’re a bowler,’ he’ll let them know that he’s not defined by that,” Gordon’s father said. “That’s important for someone who is 15 because a lot of people would want to hear him say something that would please an adult, but he’s 15, he’s still a kid.” 

Gordon’s intellectual curiosity is evident in other areas too, with his research project on Eli Whitney and the cotton gin getting selected for the Ohio State History competition, highlighting his dedication to learning. His love for languages has also led him to study both Spanish and Mandarin, with an exciting trip to Spain planned for next year’s Spring Break, a moment his father believes will help shape him for the rest of his life. 

“I think it’ll help grow him into the person he’s meant to become because we’re always here with him, watching him, so now he’ll get a sense of unsupervised opportunities, especially in a foreign country, traveling, he’ll have to use his Spanish and I just really believe that we’ll see a lot of his personality thrive and I’m looking forward to that opportunity,” he said. In addition to exploring a taste of freedom, Gordon is also excited to make lasting memories with his friends, and of course, try out the local cuisine.

On the bowling side, Gordon’s achievements are nothing short of spectacular, with 2024 being his best year yet, from winning Junior Gold to shooting his first 800 series and scoring the highest four-game series (1,081) across 40 Bowlero youth class tournaments, nothing is impossible for the young star. 

Gordon bowls under the guidance of coach Andy Parker, a man who has helped elevate his game to the next level in a short amount of time. While Gordon might have already accomplished more this year than many of his peers ever will, his coach knows that the world hasn’t seen anything yet. “Elliott is going to get better and better; I think he’s just barely scraped the surface of what talent he has,” Parker said. 

This drive and motivation come from not only a personal desire to succeed but also the biggest motivator of all — sibling rivalry. Gordon’s brother Miles is also a success in his own right, having previously made the U12 TV show in 2023. The two are always going head-to-head against each other, and this year’s competition was no exception as they were both in the U15 category, but they were able to come together and secure the Youth Open Championship U15 doubles title, with a final score of 1,378. 

Miles also walked away with the U15 All Events title, scoring 2,005 total, while his brother trailed ever so slightly with a final score of 1,937. 

“A little more competition that I’m sure they’ll feed off of,” Parker said.

U18 Girls: Karina Capron 

Growing up in Nebraska, Capron’s life has been a tapestry of sports and academics, woven with threads of family influence and personal ambition. As a former Junior Gold U12 champion and a standout high school athlete in both softball and track, she has always been driven by a love for sports. But it’s her quieter, more reflective side that truly defines her. 

She might not be the loudest on the lanes or in a crowd, but when the lights come on, she shines with confidence and determination, demonstrating focus and skill in every movement. This allowed her to win the U12 championship in 2017, so it was no surprise to anyone that she ended her run as a Junior Gold competitor as the 2024 U18 winner. 

Capron entered the 2024 Junior Gold finals as the No. 2 seed, advancing to the title match after defeating No. 3 seed Kayla Starr of Crofton, Maryland, 192-180. She followed that up with a dominating 204-173 win over No.1 seed Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina, earning her spot on Junior Team USA once again. “I truly didn’t think that was going to happen; it’s still kind of a shock to me,” she said of the win. 

This was a perfect end to a perfect youth career, paved with Junior Gold, Youth Open, and Storm Youth Championships. It truly sets the tone for her next big step — entering the collegiate scene as one of the newest members of the University of Nebraska Huskers this coming fall. 

Capron chose the school because she fell in love with it the minute she stepped on campus. It also helps that it is so close to home. While there, she will be pursuing a career in either athletic training or sports nutrition, combining her passion for sports with her desire to help others. 

“I’ve always been super big into sports and training,” Capron explained. “I go to the gym almost every day, so it’s kind of just something that lives within me, so wanting to get a degree in it only felt natural.” She added, “I just want to help people.” 

As for what she’s most excited about? The opportunity to add to the Nebraska legacy, make her mark on the lanes, and get to know her new teammates. 

“When I met the girls, we all just clicked together,” she said. “[My parents and I] went to other visits but I just kept thinking about Nebraska.” 

Her mother is also looking forward to this next big milestone, eager to follow the Huskers wherever they go and watch as her daughter “continues to excel and improve her game.” 

Capron and her mother have a strong bond together, and it is actually what ignited her interest in healthcare. When her mom went back to school to become a nurse practitioner, she would join her in practicing sutures and even listen in on her classes. She loved it so much that she began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) while in high school. 

What may surprise people most about Capron, however, is that she is not always at a bowling alley. Instead, when she is not helping others, she is out spending time with her friends, whether it’s going to local fairs, rodeos, or even shopping. This balance between her social life and athletic pursuits highlights her down-to-earth nature and shows there’s more to her than just what is seen on the lanes. 

U18 Ernesto Reynoso Makes History

In a similar vein, Ernesto Reynoso’s lively personality and outgoing nature shine brightly on the lanes, this year especially, as he became the first bowler in Junior Gold history to win back-to-back championships in different age divisions. 

“It means a lot to me because I know how much I’ve put in at Junior Team USA camp, off the lanes, and mentally,” he said after his historic performance. “I’m really proud of how I just stayed present in the moment all week.” 

However, Reynoso’s victory was not an easy feat, as he first had to take on No. 2 seed Owen Williams of Tipton, Michigan. The two battled hard, each throwing clean games, but in the end, it was Reynoso who came out on top, winning 207-190. 

For anyone, this game would’ve been too close for comfort and even the fans were on the edge of their seats the entire time. The title match between Reynoso and No. 1 seed Ethan Crouse of Lowville, New York, was no different, however, and a true nail-bitter, though, in the end, he persevered once again, winning 206-199. 

This historic win caught the attention of many, including PWBA star Sydney Brummett, who was watching the moment unfold live from the CBS Sports broadcasting booth above. She, like many others, was impressed by his dynamic presence on the lanes and his refusal to back down from any challenge. 

“Ernesto is fearless. His willingness to be brave and take bold risks is what allows him to play at a high level — and that shines through on and off the lanes,” she said. “Being the first back-to-back champion in different age divisions is legacy-building for this young man. It’s the start to a lofty résumé — and the bowling world looks forward to what history he will continue to make.” 

EJ Tackett agrees, observing that Reynoso's back-to-back feat "doesn't surprise me. He didn't seem scared of the moment. I felt like he was ready."

Winning Junior Gold for any competitor is a dream come true, and only a few have ever been able to claim the title twice. One might think that this is the highlight of any bowler’s year, but it is not the only exciting title Reynoso claimed in 2024. Before even stepping foot on Detroit’s soil, he bowled alongside Tackett during the PBA Jr. Doubles Championship. Reynoso and Tackett won the title after defeating Starr and PWBA legend Valerie Bercier 258-218. At the same event, he and Starr also won the PBA Jr. National Championship titles, further cementing Reynoso’s standout year and his impressive partnership with some of bowling’s best. 

These titles are an impressive achievement in their own right, but Reynoso noted that each had its unique atmosphere. Junior Gold was marked by its intensity and seriousness, while the PBA Jr. events had a more relaxed and fun vibe. “I felt like I was in my element; I felt like I couldn’t miss,” he said. 

The future is bright for young Reynoso, and I would bet that the Junior Gold stage has not seen the last of him, though he now has his eyes set on new milestones as he prepares to fly to Sweden to take part in Storm’s Lucky Larsen Masters event and make a run at some PBA Regional titles. 

“I like to take advantage of whatever opportunities I can,” he said of the intense schedule. 

College is also just around the corner and while he still has a few years, he has his heart set on pursuing a business degree. This ambition reflects his entrepreneurial spirit, which has already driven him to success with his online shoe store. There, he curates a collection of coveted “hype sneakers,” including Jordans, Nike Dunks, and other designer brands, showcasing his knack for turning passion into profit. Though, no matter what career path he goes down in the future, one thing that’s for certain is his determination and talent will continue to drive him toward success, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he meets.