The YBC nationals is the showcase event for youth bowlers from coast to coast and this year’s event gets underway Saturday at the Baribeau Arena in Gatineau, Que.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s representatives this time around include some of the top bowlers from the Corner Brook Centre Bowl, who continue to send budding bowlers to the national tournament on a consistent basis.
Corner Brook has had its share of bowlers accomplish great things on the national stage and some of them are back for another shot at gold, including 2014 national YBC champion Jamie Hickey, a native of Benoit’s Cove who surprised the country with his amazing run to the top.
Bowlers in Corner Brook are a close-knit group who spend a lot of time honing their skills on the lanes and the coaches push them to work towards reaching their full potential and to have fun doing so.
It’s not a matter of just showing up and throwing a few balls for the competitive group that calls Centre Bowl home. They have showed they belong on many occasions before and hope to put in another fine showing this time around in Gatineau.
The following is a look at the Centre Bowl athletes and coaches wearing Newfoundland and Labrador’s crest in Gatineau:
Name: Chris Rumboldt
Team: Singles girls (junior, senior and bantam)
Hometown: Corner Brook
Years coaching YBC: 15
Provincial YBC highlghts: 2017 gold singles girls bantam and junior
National YBC highlights: 2011 bronze singles girls senior and junior, 2013 bronze singles girls bantam and junior, and 2014 silver senior girls
Name: Brooklyn Stride
Team: Bantam Girls Singles
Age: 9
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Jason and Jennifer Stride
Years in YBC: 4
Provincial YBC highest achievement: Provincial Champion 2017
National YBC highest achievement: First time competitor
Favourite Athlete: Katarina Roxon
Name: Jenna Leyte
Team: Junior Girls Singles
Age: 14
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Colin and Tonya
Years in YBC: 9
Provincial YBC highest achievement: Provincial champion 2013, 2014, 2017
National YBC highest achievement: Bronze in 2013 and 2014
Favourite Athlete: Auston Matthews
Name: Cory Hurley
Team: Junior Boys Centre Bowl
Hometown: Massey Drive
Years coaching in YBC: 10
Provincial YBC highlights: Provincial champion 2012, 2013, 2014
National YBC highlights: Bronze 2013
Name: Jamie Hickey
Team: Junior Boys Centre Bowl
Age: 14
Hometown: Humber Arm South
Parents: Tony and Sandra
Years in YBC: 8
Provincial YBC highest achievement: provincial champion 2014 and 2017
National YBC highest achievement: national champion 2014
Favourite Athlete: Kyle Lowry
Name: Daniel O'Neill
Team: Junior Boys Centre Bowl
Age: 14
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Sheldon and Tracey
Years in YBC: 9
Provincial YBC highest achievement: provincial champion 2017
National YBC highest achievement: first time competitor
Favourite Athlete: Brad Gushue
Name: Krystian Hall
Team: Junior Boys Centre Bowl
Age: 14
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Gerard Hall and Maureen George
Years in YBC: 9
Provincial YBC highest achievement: provincial champion 2017
National YBC highest achievement: first time competitor
Favourite Athlete: Don't have one
Name: Jordan Park
Team: Junior Boys Centre Bowl
Age: 14
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Kayla Dicks and Greg Park
Years in YBC: 8
Provincial YBC highest achievement: provincial champion 2017
National YBC highest achievement: first time competitor
Favourite Athlete: Leo Messi
Name: Gord Davis
Hometown: Massey Drive
Years coaching YBC: 18
Provincial YBC highlights: Junior girls team gold 2007 and 2008; Senior girls team gold 2010, 2011 and 2014
National YBC highlights: Senior girls bronze (three-way tie for first) in 2014
Name: Samantha Davis
Team: Senior Girls Centre Bowl
Age: 18
Hometown: Massey Drive
Parents: Gord and Debbie Davis
Years in YBC: 14
Provincial YBC highest achievement: 2013 Provincial Junior Singles Champion and 2014 Provincial Senior Girls Team Champion
National YBC highest achievement: 2013 National YBC Singles Bronze (2 way tie for Silver playoff game)
National Senior Girls Team Bronze Champion 2014 (3 way tie for Gold playoff game)
Jonas Valanciunas – Toronto Raptors
Name: Kaleigh Au
Team: Senior Girls Centre Bowl
Age: 17
Parents: Mike and Cathy Au
Hometown: Massey Drive
Parents: Mike and Cathy Au
Provincial highest achievement: 2014 Provincial Junior Girls Team Gold
National highest achievement: 2014 National Junior Girls Team Bronze
Favourite athlete: DeMar DeRozan - Toronto Raptors
Name: Cecilia Loder
Team: Senior Girls Centre Bowl
Age: 16
Hometown: Irishtown-Summerside
Parents: Greg and Julia Loder
Provincial highest achievement: 2014 Provincial Junior Girls Team Gold
National highest achievement: 2014 National Junior Girls Team Bronze
Favourite athlete: Frederik Andersen - Toronto Maple Leafs
Name: Helena McCarthy
Team: Senior Girls Centre Bowl
Age: 16
Hometown: Corner Brook
Parents: Ron and Monica Mccarthy
Provincial highest achievement: 2014 Provincial Junior Girls Team Gold
National highest achievement: 2014 National Junior Girls Bronze
Favourite athlete: United States gymnast Simone Biles
