Youth bowlers take home titles, scholarships at the 2023 Wisconsin Pepsi USBC State Championships

Individual state titles, thousands of dollars in scholarships and spots in the USBC Junior Gold National Championships were up for grabs as 147 of the state’s top youth bowlers converged on Buzz Social in Green Bay May 13 at the 2023 Wisconsin Pepsi USBC Youth Championships.

Bowlers in three age/gender divisions (U12, U15 and U18) hit the lanes for six games to compete for their share of $12,175 in scholarships. The top bowler in each division will advance to the Junior Gold National Championships July 10-22 in Indianapolis where they will compete for additional scholarships.

Thanks to a record USBC distribution to scholarship providers through the SMART program, every bowler who participated at the Wisconsin Pepsi state tournament received a $100 scholarship award which will be placed in their USBC SMART account. Those additional funds raised the total to more than $23,000 in scholarships awarded.

Youth bowlers in U8 and U10 age divisions also competed for scholarships and awards, but did not advance past regional events.

Bowling parents and fans filled Buzz Social for the state tournament to watch the exciting day-long action on the lanes.

U12 Division

In the U12 Division, Molly Lessner won the girls’ state title while Gordon Kroman took home the boys’ championship. Lessner, from Watertown Bowl North, totaled 1,044 for her six-game block (174 average). Kroman, from Alpine Lanes, averaged 191.5 for a 1,149 total.

Vivien Hobach (Classic Lanes – Oak Creek) finished second in the girls’ division with 960 (160 average) while Jenna Brick (Lake Geneva Lanes) finished third with 932 (155.33 average). For the boys, Cameron Hemschemeyer (Lakeshore Lanes in Sheboygan) was runner-up with 1,132 (188.67 average) and Drake Kalkopf (Lakeshore Lanes) was close behind in third with 1,126 (187.67 average).

U15 Division

In the U15 Division, Holly Orgeman won the girls’ state title while Dakota Messenger was crowned boys’ champion. Orgeman, from T&C Lanes in Wittenberg, averaged 210.33 (1,262 total. Messenger, from The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, averaged 235.33 (1,412 total).

Autumn Vodicka (Sussex Bowl) took second for the girls with a 1,222 total (203.67 average) while Megyn Prochaska (Watertown Bowl North) took third with 1,203 (200.5 average). The boys’ category saw Henry Vater (Silver Lake Lanes) take runner-up honors with a 1,379 total (229.83 average) and Cooper Rickert (North Star Lanes in Antigo) finish third at 1,297 (216.17 average).

U18 Division

In the U18 Division, RaeAnne Kalsto won the girls’ state title while Caden Plate was crowned the boys’ state champ. Kalsto, of Sheridan Lanes in Kenosha, totaled 1,203 (200.5 average) while Plate, of Classic Lanes in Oak Creek, averaged 233.5 (1,401 total) to easily win the boys’ category.

Madison Carriveau (Village Lanes in Green Bay) finished second behind Kalsto for the girls with an 1,155 total (192.5 average) while Layla Gates

(Pla-Mor Lanes in LaCrosse) was close behind in third with an 1,152 total (192 average). For the boys in U18, Gavyn Lynch (Prairie Lanes in Sun Prairie) was runner-up with 1,343 (223.83 average) and Kaden Martinez-Jacobe (Willow Creek Lanes in Green Bay) finished third with 1,331 (221.83 average).

A total of 1,772 youth bowlers competed in the Pepsi USBC league level in-house qualifying rounds across Wisconsin. Bowlers then advanced from the league level to one of 16 regional competitions trying to earn berths in the state tournament in Green Bay.

Full tournament results are available on the Pepsi USBC Tournament page of the BCAW website:

PEPSI USBC Tournament – Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin (bowlwi.com)

The BCAW extends its gratitude to Buzz Social proprietors Dan Patterson and Jay Nephew – and their hard-working staff – for hosting a tremendous event, along with Pepsi and Storm Bowling.