ARLINGTON, Texas – Regional competition is complete and finalists have been determined for the 2025 USA Bowling National Championships that will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in July. The U12 division will feature 15 teams competing for a national championship while the U15 division will have 16 teams.
CBS Sports Network will once again televise the finals of each division of the event, which features more than $120,000 in scholarships for youth bowlers from across the country.
As an added bonus this year, the finals of both the U12 and U15 divisions of the USA Bowling National Championships will be contested and taped for television in an arena setting at the Resch Center on July 13, the same day as the live telecast of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association 10th Anniversary Open.
The U12 division finals of the USA Bowling National Championships will air on CBSSN Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Eastern and be followed by the finals of the U15 division on Tuesday, July 22, also at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The winning team in each age-based division at each regional qualifier earned a spot at the national event, which will take place as a prelude to the 2025 Junior Gold Championships.
The qualifying teams in the U12 division are as follows:
- Upper Midwest Region – Cousin Crew
- Lower Great Lakes Region – Dem Midwest Boyz
- Northeast Region – DKJ Pro Shop
- Coastal South Region – YBAM! Rising
- South Central Region – No Lane No Gain
- Atlantic East Region – Lane Damage
- Heartland Region – Northern Illinois Misplitz
- Pacific Region – Homestead
- South Region – The Beast 2.0
- Mountain Region – Sleeping Giant Odd Ballz
- New England Region – CT Crash Out
- Southeast Region – Buffaloe Lanes Boardwalkers
- Southwest Region – Fantastic Four
- Upper Great Lakes Region – Clams
- Midwest Region – Strike Squad
Patrick Waters, a former USA Bowling competitor in both the U12 and U15 divisions, is now the head coach of YBAM Rising, this year’s U12 Coastal South Region champions.
Waters, 19, was able to apply lessons he learned as a competitor to help coach his current team.
“Having competed in this event as a youth bowler, I gained insight on what the bowlers are thinking and feeling – mainly how to bowl well under pressure,” Waters said. “Being able to understand, guide and overcome specific emotions has helped tremendously when we were both doing incredibly well and sometimes struggling a bit. The most rewarding part is seeing how they all work together and have fun achieving their collective goal.”
It turns out that coaching is a generational pastime in the Waters family, as Patrick’s dad Ryan was the head coach of the 2024 U12 USA Bowling national champions.
“The biggest thing that has driven my passion for this tournament has been my father,” Waters said. “He has guided me through every regional event, tournament and league I have competed in. He also shared coaching tips for this specific tournament. Everything he has done has led me to where I am now.”
The qualifying teams in the U15 division are as follows:
- Upper Midwest Region – Minnesota Ducks
- Lower Great Lakes Region – Wii Sports Elite
- Northeast Region – DKJ Pro Shop
- Coastal South Region – Going For It
- South Central Region – Perfect Match
- Atlantic East Region – Spare Parts Pro Shop
- Heartland Region – ISST Fab 5
- Pacific Region – Starlight Strikers
- South Region – The Avengers
- Mountain Region – Rocky Mountain Fierce 5
- New England Region – Fantastic 4
- Southeast Region – We > Me
- Southwest Region – Nine Hands
- Mideast Region – Keystone Strikers
- Upper Great Lakes Region – Great Lake Muskies
- Midwest Region – ICT All Stars
Dave Kline Jr. has been a coach in the USA Bowling program for six years, and his team won the U12 title in 2022. This year, he’s coaching a U15 team – DKJ Pro Shop – that won the Northeast Region championship. Kline was asked what has kept him coming back to coach in the program for all these years.
“First and foremost, it’s the kids and the passion they have for the sport,” Kline said. “Seeing their commitment to the sport, watching them develop their skills and sportsmanship and being a part of their growth as both bowlers and individuals is incredibly rewarding. I also really value the camaraderie and community within USA Bowling. The coaches, parents and volunteers all share a genuine love for the sport and a commitment to supporting these young athletes. Finally, there’s just an electric energy at Nationals. The competition is fierce, but supportive, and it’s a blast watching them get all pumped, especially when they come through in the clutch.”
In addition to the U15 team he coaches, DKJ Pro Shop, of which he is owner/operator, Kline also supports a U12 team that qualified for Nationals this year.
“It’s really my love for the sport and a desire to give back,” Kline said when asked about supporting two teams in the USA Bowling program. “I’ve been fortunate to be involved with USA Bowling for several years now, and I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact it has on young bowlers. My son, Donaven, is bowling with our U15 team, so I’m obviously committed to coaching the older team. The opportunity arose to support the DKJ Pro Shop U12 team at local and national events, and since this team consists of two athletes that I provide personal coaching to, I wanted to build a team around them. Ultimately, I’m just passionate about fostering the next generation of bowlers and helping them succeed both on and off the lanes.”
Qualifying and match-play rounds in the USA Bowling National Championships will take place at Revs Bowl Bar and Grill in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 9 and 10, respectively.
The top two teams in each division will advance to the finals on July 13 at the Resch Center.
More information about USA Bowling can be found at bowl.com/youth/usa-bowling.
| November 12, 2024
