STARLITE LANES

champs Harley Sweigart & Victoria Potter; girls champ Stefanny Toala & U-17 champ Jerod Walker

        Harley Sweigart remained on a red-hot early season roll, while Victoria Potter claimed victory for the first time, in the season-opener of the 21st season of Arizona Conference JBT action at Flagstaff's Starlite Lanes.

        After five games, bowlers competed in head to head matchplay.  Last year's All-Conference Bowler of the Year Cortez Schenck roared to the top seed, but it's been one of his contenders, Harley Sweigart, who has gotten off to the best start this season, winning in New Mexico and knocking out Schenck here in round two.  In his semifinal match, he went up against tough ASU bowler Russ Oviatt, and was brilliant in running the first eleven strikes before a ringing 7-pin gave him a 299-187 win.  In the other semi, Kyle Duster took out another Sun Devil, Matthew Zweig, 223-214, to set up the title match.

        Duster could not get lined up on the left lane in the title game, while after a few early 7-pins Sweigart started striking again, and the 247-208 final score was good for the 15th title of his excellent JBT career.

        In the handicap division, Ryan Zent had a great qualifying round to grab the top seed, but #8 Josh Grissom upset him in the second round.  Grissom was stopped by Ryan Perry 268-212 in the semifinals.  Veronica Potter, who has been steadily improving, advanced through Josh Mabry and Silas Phillips to face Perry for the title.  In the finale, Potter remained steady while Ryan was unable to find the line on the championship pair, and the 211-151 result was good for the first title of Veronica's JBT career.

        Stefanny Toala defeated Abby Franklin for the first girls scratch title of the new AZ season, while Jerod Walker beat his friend Cristian Roque 258-196 for the first win in the new U17 side event. 

           Big thanks to Ron Gatto and his team at Starlite for another great job hosting our Tour.  Want in on all the fun for all ages and averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on out to the next JBT event!