HARRISBURG — Next week more than 3500 of the top 18 and under bowlers in the country will compete in the United States Bowling Congress Youth Junior Gold Championships in Indianapolis. Many bowlers from our region qualified, including eight Harrisburg Bulldogs.

Half of that group recently graduated, with three of the four set to compete in college.

Evan McDermott received a scholarship to bowl at Oklahoma Christian. McDermott is the only one of the group who has bowled in the nationals before. He’s looking forward to having teammates with him this trip. Matt Watson and Eli Fromm will both bowl at SIC next year. They say this tournament experience will help prepare them to compete at the next level. Another recent grad, Gabe Swarringin, also qualified.

The group also includes four in the under 15 division. Caleb Gore and Myles Mattingly will both be sophomores, while James Cranmore and Dalton Wheeler are both incoming freshmen.

While Cranmore and Wheeler have yet to officially bowl for the high school team, for the four graduates, nationals will be the final opportunity to wear the purple and white representing the Bulldogs.

The bowlers will roll 16 games over 4 days starting Monday. Those making the cut will roll 5 more games with a second cut setting the final 64 in each class.

Here are the area bowlers who qualified for the USBC Youth Junior Gold Championships
U12 Boys
Griffin Schoonover, Carterville

U15 Boys
Raymond Andrews, Opdyke
James Cranmore, Harrisburg
Jaxon Cushman, Centralia
Trace Elliott, Mt. Vernon
Travin Elliott, Mt. Vernon
Caleb Gore, Harrisburg
Nick Hartman, Mt. Vernon
Dillon Kassen, Carterville
Aidan King, Mt. Vernon
Sam Klimek, Mt. Vernon
Myles Mattingly, Harrisburg
Jackson Mikesell, Centralia
Dalton Wheeler, Harrisburg

U15 Girls
Macy Jones, Shobonier

U18 Boys
Rhett Detering, Salem
Ryan Detering, Salem
Heath Ellis, Mt. Vernon
Nathan Evans, Murphysboro
Evan Flath, Carterville
Eli Fromm, Harrisburg
Keaton Gullion, Salem
Charlie Hunter, Iuka
David Lutchka, Carterville
Colton Morton, Breese
Evan McDermott, Harrisburg
Silas Moats, Salem
Landon Parmely, Lebanon
Rhett Runge, Odin
Hunter Schoenrock, Bluford
Colton Shoemaker, Salem
Gabe Swarringin, Harrisburg
Matt Watson, Harrisburg

U18 Girls
Adriana Bird, Carterville
Brooke Kochel, Murphysboro
Alexis Livesay, Hoyleton
Whitley Quick, Anna
Makayla Storment, Mt. Vernon
Elena Vanhoutin, Salem