Japan, Korea lead team event at 2018 World Bowling Youth Championships
July 31, 2018
Standings
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Junior Team USA boys have been to every medal round and medal ceremony at the 2018 World Bowling Youth Championships, but they're ready to experience one from the settee, rather than the bleachers.
Halfway through this week's six-game team event, the three-time defending champion United States squad is just 12 pins below the cutline to the semifinals. A roller coaster day produced consistent totals, despite all four players never lining up at the same time.
The group posted games of 851, 818 and 844 for a 2,513 total at Thunderbowl Lanes and finished the day sixth among the 31 complete teams at this year's World Youth Championships.
By moving his feet up and slowing down his ball speed Tuesday, Bryan Hahlen of Greenwood, South Carolina, was able to get the reaction he needed on the 44-foot London oil pattern and set the pace for the Junior Team USA boys with a 681 series.
Hahlen was followed by Cortez Schenck of Phoenix (646), Jeffery Mann of West Lafayette, Indiana (601), and five-time World Youth Championships gold medalist Wesley Low Jr. of Palmdale, California (585).
"The medal rounds have been really nice to watch, but we're ready to bowl in one, which is why we're working so hard in the team event," said Hahlen, who has been plagued by splits this week while averaging 215.4. "Our team has had some historic moments in recent years, but we've struggled lately. That definitely is motivating us."
Japan, fueled by a perfect game and 741 series from 19-year-old Sayato Takahira, tops the standings with a 2,691 total and is followed the Philippines (2,587), Malaysia (2,569) and Qatar (2,525).
After three additional games Wednesday, six-game pinfall totals will determine the four teams that advance to Thursday's bracket-style semifinals. The semifinal and gold-medal matches will use a best-of-three Baker format.
"To get to compete at this high of a level is awesome, and to do it with these talented guys makes it even more special," Mann said. "Today was interesting, and the lanes seemed a little different than what we saw earlier in the week. We didn't bowl great, but we didn't bowl too badly either, so we're still really close. I didn't feel like I was throwing the ball too well early, but I was able to figure something out. We've given ourselves a chance, and we're confident going into the next three games."
The Junior Team USA girls used a big second game Tuesday to surge up the standings, and they finished the day second overall with a 2,482 total. The quartet rolled games of 832, 890 and 760.
Taylor Bailey of Joliet, Illinois, led the way for the Junior Team USA girls Tuesday with a 639 series and was joined by Mabel Cummins of Elburn, Illinois (638), singles silver medalist Caitlyn Johnson of Rockwell, North Carolina (610), and Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina (595). Bailey and Clemmer earned the silver medal in doubles Monday.
"We work really well together, and with the team chemistry we have, we can pick each other up anytime it's needed," Cummins said. "We're definitely looking forward to tomorrow, and as long as we get our brains back on straight and eliminate the mistakes, we should be OK."
The Junior Team USA girls are looking for their first team title at the World Youth Championships since 2012.
Korea leads at the halfway point of the girls team event this year with 2,553, Malaysia is third with 2,471 and Finland rounds out the top four with 2,406. The women's field includes 20 complete teams.
All competitors at the 2018 World Youth Championships will be back on the lanes Wednesday for three additional games of team competition, after which, gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded based on 18-game pinfall totals - six games in singles, doubles and team.
The event's top individual performers, 24 boys and 24 girls, will advance to Masters match play Thursday and Friday.
Through 15 games, Qatar's Ghanim Aboujassoum tops the boys all-events standings with a 3,442 total, a 229.47 average. Han Jaehyeon of Korea is second with 3,411, and Georg Skryten of Norway is third with 3,405.
Junior Team USA's Schenck is tied for seventh place (3,333), Hahlen is 16th (3,231), Mann is 25th (3,202) and Low is 81st (2,939).
Clemmer tops the all-events standings on the girls side with a 3,297 total, a 219.8 average. She is followed by Colombia's Juliana Botero (3,280) and Hong Sunhwa of Korea (3,238).
Junior Team USA's Bailey is seventh (3,181), Cummins is tied for ninth (3,160) and Johnson is 13th (3,127).
The World Youth Championships is held every two years, and the 2018 edition has brought more than 200 competitors from 37 countries to the Detroit area to bowl for medals in singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters competition.
World Bowling is providing livestream coverage of the event, and bowling fans from around the globe will be able to watch the competition live from start to finish. Coverage will include all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds.
For more information on the 2018 World Youth Championships or to watch the livestream, visit 2018WYC.WorldBowling.org.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Junior Team USA boys have been to every medal round and medal ceremony at the 2018 World Bowling Youth Championships, but they're ready to experience one from the settee, rather than the bleachers.
Halfway through this week's six-game team event, the three-time defending champion United States squad is just 12 pins below the cutline to the semifinals. A roller coaster day produced consistent totals, despite all four players never lining up at the same time.
The group posted games of 851, 818 and 844 for a 2,513 total at Thunderbowl Lanes and finished the day sixth among the 31 complete teams at this year's World Youth Championships.
By moving his feet up and slowing down his ball speed Tuesday, Bryan Hahlen of Greenwood, South Carolina, was able to get the reaction he needed on the 44-foot London oil pattern and set the pace for the Junior Team USA boys with a 681 series.
Hahlen was followed by Cortez Schenck of Phoenix (646), Jeffery Mann of West Lafayette, Indiana (601), and five-time World Youth Championships gold medalist Wesley Low Jr. of Palmdale, California (585).
"The medal rounds have been really nice to watch, but we're ready to bowl in one, which is why we're working so hard in the team event," said Hahlen, who has been plagued by splits this week while averaging 215.4. "Our team has had some historic moments in recent years, but we've struggled lately. That definitely is motivating us."
Japan, fueled by a perfect game and 741 series from 19-year-old Sayato Takahira, tops the standings with a 2,691 total and is followed the Philippines (2,587), Malaysia (2,569) and Qatar (2,525).
After three additional games Wednesday, six-game pinfall totals will determine the four teams that advance to Thursday's bracket-style semifinals. The semifinal and gold-medal matches will use a best-of-three Baker format.
"To get to compete at this high of a level is awesome, and to do it with these talented guys makes it even more special," Mann said. "Today was interesting, and the lanes seemed a little different than what we saw earlier in the week. We didn't bowl great, but we didn't bowl too badly either, so we're still really close. I didn't feel like I was throwing the ball too well early, but I was able to figure something out. We've given ourselves a chance, and we're confident going into the next three games."
The Junior Team USA girls used a big second game Tuesday to surge up the standings, and they finished the day second overall with a 2,482 total. The quartet rolled games of 832, 890 and 760.
Taylor Bailey of Joliet, Illinois, led the way for the Junior Team USA girls Tuesday with a 639 series and was joined by Mabel Cummins of Elburn, Illinois (638), singles silver medalist Caitlyn Johnson of Rockwell, North Carolina (610), and Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina (595). Bailey and Clemmer earned the silver medal in doubles Monday.
"We work really well together, and with the team chemistry we have, we can pick each other up anytime it's needed," Cummins said. "We're definitely looking forward to tomorrow, and as long as we get our brains back on straight and eliminate the mistakes, we should be OK."
The Junior Team USA girls are looking for their first team title at the World Youth Championships since 2012.
Korea leads at the halfway point of the girls team event this year with 2,553, Malaysia is third with 2,471 and Finland rounds out the top four with 2,406. The women's field includes 20 complete teams.
All competitors at the 2018 World Youth Championships will be back on the lanes Wednesday for three additional games of team competition, after which, gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded based on 18-game pinfall totals - six games in singles, doubles and team.
The event's top individual performers, 24 boys and 24 girls, will advance to Masters match play Thursday and Friday.
Through 15 games, Qatar's Ghanim Aboujassoum tops the boys all-events standings with a 3,442 total, a 229.47 average. Han Jaehyeon of Korea is second with 3,411, and Georg Skryten of Norway is third with 3,405.
Junior Team USA's Schenck is tied for seventh place (3,333), Hahlen is 16th (3,231), Mann is 25th (3,202) and Low is 81st (2,939).
Clemmer tops the all-events standings on the girls side with a 3,297 total, a 219.8 average. She is followed by Colombia's Juliana Botero (3,280) and Hong Sunhwa of Korea (3,238).
Junior Team USA's Bailey is seventh (3,181), Cummins is tied for ninth (3,160) and Johnson is 13th (3,127).
The World Youth Championships is held every two years, and the 2018 edition has brought more than 200 competitors from 37 countries to the Detroit area to bowl for medals in singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters competition.
World Bowling is providing livestream coverage of the event, and bowling fans from around the globe will be able to watch the competition live from start to finish. Coverage will include all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds.
For more information on the 2018 World Youth Championships or to watch the livestream, visit 2018WYC.WorldBowling.org.