Four 100 Mile House bantam bowlers took home gold at the Youth Bowl Canada National Championships Zones in Prince George Feb 10 to 11.
Elias Neustaeter, Jayelle Horswell, Madelynn Stevens and Malakai Gobin, all bowled their way to gold while their fellow Big Country Lanes bowlers Nathan Butler, Angelina Gobin, Douglas Mirva and Ellie Seniw brought home bronze. It’s a result that made bowling coach Esther Neustaeter proud.
“I helped coach the bantams and all eight of them got medals. These guys are really impressive, I don’t think we’ve come back from a tournament without a medal since we started,” Neustaeter said.
Elias, Jayelle, Madelynn and Malakai were all visibly excited to have won gold. All of them noted they bowled higher than their averages despite being in an unfamiliar bowling alley.
As cousins, Malakai and Elias make natural partners for bowling. Before last year neither of them had bowled but have taken to the sport readily.
“It’s fun. I like going to tournaments and stuff. In my first year I went to a tournament and got bronze,” Elias said. “This year I’ve gotten gold two times! (In Prince George) I got a turkey and scored 204 points.”
Malakai, meanwhile, really enjoys hanging out with his friends when he goes bowling, especially Elias. During zones, he scored over 150 every game, with his usual average being 125.
“I had fun there, I always like bowling. After we won we got Subway,” Malakai said. “I don’t really have a technique, I just throw the ball down the lane.”
Jayelle meanwhile got involved in bowling after her partner Madelynn suggested she give it a try. Before the pandemic, Madelynn used to come to Big Country with her family and when the youth league started up again she was eager to give it a try.
At Zones Jayelle said she didn’t do very well at first because the lanes were a bit higher in Prince George. Once she got the hang of it by the third game her score started to improve, contributing to their victory.
“I beat my high score. My high score there was 150 and my high score here is usually 130,” Jayelle said.
Madelynn also found the new lanes to be a bit challenging. In 100 Mile House, her high score is 211 but in Prince George she scored only 164 in her best game.
“I didn’t think we’d win gold but we did. It’s my second gold medal and it was just really fun,” Madelynn said.
Neustaeter is largely new to bowling herself. She started coaching after her son Elias joined the program and outside of some family members like her grandmother who bowled, had no real experience. Despite this, she said she is committed to supporting her son and his friends.
“It’s great. I love working with youth, it’s what I’ve always done, so stepping in and being able to hang out with these guys and help them reach their potential is fun,” Neustaeter said.
With their gold medal finishes Elias and his partner Malakai and Jayelle and her partner Madelynn will all be advancing to the Youth Bowl Canada Provincials being held March 2 to 3 in Nanaimo and Duncan on Vancouver Island. If they win there they will travel to Ottawa in May to compete in nationals.
Over the next two weeks, Neustaeter intends to keep her team’s training schedule the same as it always is. They go to Big Country Lanes two days a week to bowl with the rest of the league, though she may add one or two extra practices just to be safe.
“We try not to stress them out and put that pressure on them. Bowling is supposed to be about fun and having new experiences,” Neustaeter remarked.
All four of the gold medalists agreed and said they are looking forward to having fun and doing their best at provincials.
Neustaeter encourages other parents looking for a fun after-school activity for their children to do to try bowling. She noted that when she and Elias joined last year there were barely any kids in the league and now there’s enough to fill the lanes three nights a week. Those interested can contact Big Country Lanes at 778-482-5002.
