SHERIDAN — The motto of the annual Teen Masters bowling competitors is “the hand within the ball is extra essential than the ball within the hand.”
That motto is very true when the hand belongs to 14-year-old Juliann Amende of Sheridan.
When Teen Masters begins in Allen Park, Michigan, Sunday, Amende would be the first-ever youth bowler from Wyoming within the occasion’s 25-year historical past, in response to the Wyoming Junior Bowlers Tour. It’s loads of strain, Amende admits, however she’s excited to hit the lanes.
“I’m trying ahead to the expertise,” Amende stated. “It’s fairly nerve-wracking, however fairly thrilling too.”
Amende earned the possibility to compete in Teen Masters in April after successful the Vitality Lanes Open Teen Masters Qualifying Match in Gillette, and she or he stated she isn’t taking the chance as a right.
Simply days after getting back from one other bowling match — the Junior Gold Match in Grand Rapids, Michigan — Amende has been hitting the native lanes onerous to observe. She bowled 10 video games at Cloud Peak Lanes on Saturday, July 23, adopted by six video games every on July 24 and 25.
Amende stated she is decided to bowl the perfect video games she will when she is among the many 300 teenaged opponents gathered at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park through the occasion, which runs by Aug. 5. However even for somebody who has been bowling half her life, Teen Masters supplies new challenges for Amende.
In an effort to degree the taking part in discipline amongst opponents, bowlers at Teen Masters should select between simply one in every of two balls, Amende stated: a 12-to-13-pound plastic Storm Combine ball for youthful opponents or a 14-to-16-pound polished urethane ball for older opponents.
Although she sometimes competes with a 13-pound ball, Amende opted to make use of the 14-pound urethane ball for the primary time at Teen Masters.
“My reasoning is that I’ll get a greater response with a heavier ball,” Amende stated. “So I’m working towards with that ball and getting used to that.”
The Junior Gold match, which was held final week, supplied a fantastic alternative for Amende to organize for Teen Masters. Amende performed alongside 16-year-old Ranchester bowler Shane Hatzenbiler.
“Junior Gold’s a fantastic expertise for bowlers all around the nation,” stated Hatzenbiler, who competed within the match for the fifth time this yr. “It’s a fantastic probability to get to know extra individuals and see how aggressive bowling can actually be. It’s additionally an opportunity to speak to high schools and showcase your abilities.”
“I believe the spotlight of Junior Gold is assembly all of the totally different gamers, and seeing how good they’re regardless of how younger they’re,” Amende stated. “It jogs my memory that I nonetheless have loads of work to do.”
2022 was Amende’s third yr competing in Junior Gold. Amende stated the match was a good way to construct up confidence within the leadup to Teen Masters.
“I used to be higher — extra assured and fewer scared,” Amende stated. “The primary yr I went, I used to be very nervous as a result of I hadn’t been to something prefer it earlier than. This yr, I felt extra assured and ready for the competitors.”
Amende stated her final bowling objective is “to get scholarship cash so I can compete in faculty.” There may be loads of that scholarship cash up for grabs at Teen Masters with a minimal of $50,000 awarded, together with $5,000 every to the highest female and male finishers. The highest bowlers ages 13 by 19 can even obtain a minimal of $500 in scholarships.
However for now, Amende’s eyes should not on the prize, however the pins. And with loads of onerous work and a little bit luck, she’s hoping to make her hometown proud.
“I’m fairly excited to see the way it goes,” Amende stated.