Kat bowlers at international competition
7/18/2011 10:53:00 AM | Athletics
Sam Houston State University women's bowlers Neishka Cardona and Elise Bolton are participating in the 2011 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships in Santiago, Dominican Republic this week.
Cardona, who is representing Puerto Rico in the competition, was a member of the inaugural Bearkat women's bowling team that earned a berth in the NCAA Division I Elite Eight and finished No. 7 in the country in 2011.
Bolton, the Merritt Island, Fla. Product, will join the Bearkat team as a freshman in 2011-12, is playing for Team USA.
More than 100 bowlers from 16 countries will compete in the PABCON Youth Championships, which features two divisions, one for bowlers 20 and younger and the other for bowlers 16 and younger. Junior Team USA will compete only in the under-20 division.
The Dominican Republic's Aumi Guerra, last year's World Cup champion, threw out the ceremonial first ball, knocking down nine pins to officially kick off the tournament.
She was joined by World Tenpin Bowling Association President Kevin Dornberger of the United States, PABCON President Jose Guandique of El Salvador and the Dominican Republic's Manuel Fernandez in welcoming the participants, coaches and supporters.
The competition begins with singles on Monday and continues with action in doubles on Tuesday, trios on Wednesday, team on Thursday and Friday and concludes Saturday with Masters. Medals will also be awarded in all-events.
Joining Bolton on the Junior Team USA which will compete only in the under-20 division are Jessica Earnest of Vandalia, Ill., Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y., and Kaitlin Quinn of Livonia, N.Y. On the boys side, Junior Team USA is represented by Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., Kyle King of Glendale, Ariz., Andrew Koff of Miami and EJ Tackett of Huntington, Ind.
BOWL.com is planning to provide free live streaming of the under-20 division of the event. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.
