Youth bowlers off to provincials

Local junior bowling teams will make up half of the contingent representing Sunset Country at the provincial round of the “4 Steps to Stardom” this weekend in Sudbury.
“They did exceptionally well because three of [our] five teams are going to provincials,” Plaza Lanes manager Jamie McKenny remarked.
“They said it is probably one of their best years ever.”
The Sunset Country contingent—representing Fort Frances, Atikokan, Dryden, and Kenora—was determined at the zone round of the “4 Steps to Stardom” roll-offs late last month at Plaza Lanes here.
The two-day competition saw each bowler on the five-person teams roll three games. The team with the highest cumulative score then advanced to the provincials.
The Plaza Lanes Bantam boys’ team (aged seven-10)—comprised of Marcus Big George, Kirk Johnson, Raymond Polz, Dallas Gervais, and Chris Gallow—finished first in their division to earn a provincial berth.
Kathy Bois coaches the squad.
They will be joined in Sudbury by the local Bantam girls’ team, which is made up of Lena Morelli, Danielle Bois, Teanna Silander, Tatum Hebert, and Amber Townson.
Bobbi-Jo Morelli is their coach.
The third local team to qualify for the provincials was the junior boys’ squad (aged 11-13)—comprised of Lyle Dolph, Joey Ballan, Jordan Sokoliuk, Daniel Murray, and Niko Matius and coached by Jeanie Townson.
Each of the three local squads will be vying to represent Northern Ontario at the “4 Steps to Stardom” nationals in Winnipeg this May.
Also competing at the zone roll-offs but not advancing to the provincials were the local junior girls’ and senior boys’ teams, who both finished in second place.
The junior girls’ squad—made up of Tylin Silander, Caitlyn Townson, Tori Hebert, Paige Silver, and Natasha Petawanaqueb made up the girls’ team while the boys’ squad feature Jeff Watts, Tyler Good, Donny Brown, D.J. Darrah, and Joseph Blanchard.
Plaza Lanes did not field a team in the senior girls’ division.
As well, two local bowlers will compete in the singles’ competition in Sudbury alongside the three teams from here.
Senior bowlers Lacey Bolduc and Travis Bois both qualified for the provincials at a competition held back in mid-January in Kenora.