Youngstown, Ohio — Youngstown State's six incoming freshman bowlers had a successful week at the 2025 Junior Gold Championships, which concluded on Saturday.
In a field of more than 550 competitors in the U18 Girls division, three Penguins qualified for the Final Advancers round and placed in the top 30 overall at the event held at centers in and around Green Bay, Wis.
Leyna Kratzer was the top-finishing bowler, placing 17th and missing the cut to match play by nine pins. She averaged 194.54 overall and ranked 23rd or higher in the standings after each of her six rounds of competition.
Gianna Varano finished 28th overall while averaging 190.35, and she had the best four-game block of any incoming Penguin to start the tournament. Varano fired a 902 set in the first block to be in second place, and she remained in the top 20 until the conclusion of the Final Advancers Round.
Amber Mason placed 29th, six pins behind Varano and a 190.12 average. Mason closed the week strong by averaging 203.6 in her 10 games in the Advancers and Final Advancers rounds. her final game was a 278.
Additionally, Alivia Baskin, Kaitlyn Greenaway and Amber Spicer bowled well over their four rounds of qualifying. Baskin shot 650 or higher in each of her blocks and finished 209th. Greenaway bounced back from a tough start to finish 190th, and her third set of 761 was the best among the six Penguins last Wednesday. Spicer was above 675 in each of her final three rounds and finished 222nd.
