Eight West Virginia youth bowlers headed to national tournament in Wisconsin

Four of the bowlers represent a team based at Nitro High School and Town N Country Lanes in Nitro, though not all are Nitro High students. The four Nitro bowlers who qualified are Lucas Miller, Cash Roberts, Memphis Derrick and Gaige Jenkins.

The other four bowlers are affiliated with the youth league at Galaxy Lanes in Kanawha City. The Galaxy bowlers who qualified are Trevor Hudson of Hernshaw, Bree Cummings of Cool Ridge, Dekari Leftwich of Uneeda and Jimmy Roop of Summersville.

“This tournament is held like the Olympics but for youth bowling,� said Jennifer Hudson, mother of Trevor Hudson. “You must earn an entry by winning a qualifying tournament … These are the best youth bowlers from around the country and beyond competing for scholarships, a spot on Team USA Bowling, and to be seen by college scouts.�

According to Hudson, with hundreds of youth bowlers statewide, it’s a major achievement for these eight to earn their spot on the national stage.

Building a bowling community

Ray Blake, the Nitro bowling coach, started the school’s bowling club in 2015 to get more students involved in the sport.

“I think there’s a stigma with kids today that you have to be a good bowler to participate. That’s not the case,� Blake said. “It doesn’t matter if you bowl 40 or average 200. Bowling balances things out. With the club, I’ve seen how quickly kids can get better. That’s been the enjoyable part for me.�

This is the first time Blake has had students qualify for Junior Gold. Though retiring this month as school resource officer, he’ll remain involved, staying on as athletic director, bowling coach and a part-time teacher. “I’ll have a lot of hats to wear,� he said with a laugh.

Blake’s passion for bowling is no secret. A photo still from the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski� hangs in his office, showing a character yelling, “Bowling is life!� It's a phrase that could be Blake’s motto.

“I love bowling,� he said. “My wife gives me a hard time, because when I bowl, I’m very serious about it. I get locked in.�

Jodi Roberts, aunt of Nitro bowler Cash Roberts, is new to the world of youth bowling and said learning about Junior Gold was eye opening.

“They have to go to specific tournaments and win to qualify,� she said. “Of our four kids, three qualified in Parkersburg, and one in Bluefield. At the nationals, they’ll bowl with professionals and get training. This helps us as we try to get more kids involved.�

Roberts noted that schools like Riverside and Beckley once had bowling teams, but those programs faded with declining interest. She’s hopeful that momentum from events like Junior Gold can help revive local youth bowling.

Despite competing under different banners, the Nitro and Galaxy bowlers have formed a bond. “We're not in competition with each other,� Roberts said. “In fact, we've helped each other with fundraisers and have bowled together.�

A seasoned veteran at 17

Of the eight, Dekari Leftwich is the most seasoned Junior Gold competitor. He’s qualified for the national tournament seven times, first qualifying when he was 11 years old.

“Dekari has been bowling since he was 8,� said his mother, Amber Leftwich. “He bowled his first 300 (a perfect game) at 14. He gets mad at himself if he doesn’t bowl at least a 200 average on a given night.�

She credits Jerry Maxwell, owner of Galaxy Lanes and a longtime coach and pro bowler, with helping spark her son’s passion. “We were just bowling as a family for fun when Jerry came over and told us about the youth league. We've been a part of it ever since.�

Maxwell runs the youth program every Saturday morning and has been a mentor to many. “Jerry is wonderful. It’s sad the youth league has lost people, because kids are losing interest in bowling,� Amber said.

She also emphasized the scholarship opportunities available. “You can win a $500 scholarship at a qualifying tournament,� she said. “Junior Gold gives away thousands in scholarship money.�

Dekari used to bowl with the Riverside team before the program became inactive. Now 17, he will still be eligible for next year's Junior Gold.

For more information about the Junior Gold Championships, go online to bowl.com/youth/youth-tournaments/junior-gold-championships.