Rachel ChamberlinDaniel PollakThe Michigan Junior Masters Association held their 10th Annual turbo 2-N-1 Sport Challenge at Sunnybrook Lanes on December 11-12th. Once again Randy Shank and the staff rolled out the red carpet and 91 bowlers walked in to test their talents and try to earn their share of the $4,000.00 in scholarships that were awarded and a MJMA title.

The ladies side saw a list of the usual suspects in the matchplay on Sunday with Jordan Richard (Tecumseh, MI) leading the way after qualifying was completed. The match play shook things up a little as the number four qualifier, Rachel Chamberlin (Lincoln Park, MI), moved all the way up and took the top spot going into the step ladder finals.
Chamberlin had company in the step ladders as she was joined by Richard, Carrie Hopkinson (Drumbo, Ont.), the defending event champion and Tawni Vollmer (Tecumseh, MI). Vollmer knocked Hopkinson out of contention in the first match with a close 196-190 win. Richard then showed her stuff in the semi-final knocking out Vollmer 209-155 setting up the finals match with Chamberlin.

Chamberlin showed why she was tournament leader as she started out strong and took advantange of some key shots to take control of the match to win her very first MJMA title with a 193-166 win.

The guys’ side was just as exciting as the top spot was up for grabs most of the weekend between a number of bowlers. Robby Leser (Midland, MI) led the way through the qualifying on Saturday but there were 15 other bowlers waiting to take their shot at him with the matchplay on Sunday.

Once matchplay was concluded Leser found himself in third place with Nicholas Cooper (Davisburg, MI) taking the top spot going into step ladders. Joining them were Daniel Pollak (Macomb, MI), James Koss (Brighton, MI) and Casey Shephard (Portage, MI). Koss made the biggest jump during the match play as he moved all the way to fourth from his 11th place qualifying spot.

Koss faced off against Shephard in the first match with Shephard winning 197-156. Shephard then defeated Leser 212-173 to advance to the semi-finals. Pollak was waiting and ready as he stopped Shephards run with a 190-153 win that set up a finals match with Cooper.

Cooper was the only bowler to average 200 in the event that was bowled on the demanding 2004-05 US Open pattern but that did not seem to help in the finals. Both bowlers struggled in the finals match but in the end Pollak made the shots when they counted and won his second MJMA title with a 173-157 victory.

Two spots for the USBC Junior Gold Tournament to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada were also awarded to Rachel Chamberlin and Casey Shephard. Congratulations to them and the best of luck as they represent MJMA in Las Vegas.

I want to thank our event sponsor Turbo 2-N-1 for adding to the scholarships these bowlers received and to Lou Marquez, Training Director at Turbo 2-N-1, for hosting a clinic prior to the event. This is the second year that Lori Tessmer and the folks at Turbo 2-N-1 have sponsored this event and given our bowlers the opportunity at a free training class. It is sponsors like Turbo 2-N-1 that allow MJMA to offer the training and scholarships we have been blessed to be able to give out over the past 25 years.

Our next event is the annual Adult – Junior event on January 8th and 9th. We are returning to Royal Scot Lanes in Lansing, Michigan for the event after a two year absence. The Kwiecien family always plays a gracious host and we are looking forward to having a full house for this event as we usually do.

This year Brunswick will be sponsoring the event and will be adding to the scholarship fund for the event. Along with that Brunswick will be offering a Demo Days promotion of their new equipment prior to the event along with a clinic run by the professional staff at Brunswick.