STRIKE GOLD LANES

champs Harley Sweigart & Ivan John; Yarelis Alvarez, Kloey Kielich

        Harley Sweigart completed a dream weekend, while 9 year-old Ivan John outlasted the handicap field, in exciting JBT NM-TX Conference action at Strike Gold Lanes.

        Scores were at the opposite end of the spectrum from the previous day on the tough Turnpike pattern.  Instead of near perfection every game, Sweigart ground out +60 in qualifying to earn the top seed.  Form held in matchplay with the top 4 seeds advancing to the semifinals.  In that round, Harley beat Zach Wojciechowski, while Zach Harvey got past Daniel Hall to set up the title match.  Harvey is a very talented bowler still looking for his first scratch win, but Sweigart ensured that wait would continue, as he bowled a confident game to beat Zach, sweep the weekend, and earn the 48th title of his JBT career.

        Kloey Kielich fired a big game to grab the top seed, then her personal best game (246) to beat Shaiden Raymond, then stopped previous day's champ Michael Goodman to reach the final.  On the other side of the bracket, newcomer Ivan John beat Taylor Herson, then threw a late turkey to stun Kara Thompson and get through to the final.  The title game went similarly to the previous match for John, with Kloey having the early lead but Ivan coming up with a late game double to flip things around.  In the end he held off Kloey for the title, the first of his JBT career.

        Yarelis Alvarez was unbeatable in the day's subdivisions, beating Josh Williams for the U17 win, and Elizabeth Romero for teh Priority Girls Scratch win.

        Big thanks to Ed Romero and the team at Pojoaque for another great hosting job.  Want in on all the fun?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!