While many high school bowlers have taken the last few months off, Heritage Christian Academy bowlers Braelyn and Alayna Windle have taken the time to work on their craft and prepare for the prestigious Junior Golds Tournament, scheduled for July 11-18 in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area.
HCA coach Amanda Windle said the bowlers will leave for Green Bay on July 10 and practices will be held July 11, 12, and 13. The tournament will begin on July 14 with qualifying held over four days. The goal of the bowlers is to make the finals, which will be televised.
Alayna Windle, who will be a junior at HCA, qualified for the Junior Golds in March. Her sister, Braelyn, an incoming freshman at HCA, qualified for the tournament last November. Braelyn said she has been working on several key fundamentals to prepare for the tournament.
Alayna said she is focusing on consistency and picking up her spares.
While most people know that the lanes are oiled and that pattern has a huge effect on the bowlers’ approach, many don’t know there is a difference between a “house shot” and a “sports shot.”
Braelyn says there is a huge difference.
Braelyn has a sports shot average of 157 and a house shot average of 169. Alayna has a sports shot average of 152 and a House Shot average of 162.
The girls also get training from Don Litton, the owner of Southern Lanes, and private coach Rebecca Watkins.
Braelyn said she wants to make her coaches, her hometown, and her local bowling alley proud at the Junior Golds.
The Windle sisters will be joined at the prestigious tournament by Hopkinsville High School graduate Ethan Brake, Christian County High School’s Christian Lane, Caldwell County High School graduate Chase Lantrip, and 11-year-old Everett Donaldson of Clarksville. All six will represent Southern Lanes of Hopkinsville.
Photos by Joe Wilson