Xeniabowlerwins trioof city youthtitles

When Kelsey Rose heard the news, she immediately started doing the math.

“Honestly, my goalwas to be top five so, when I saw I won, I thought there might have been amistake,” Rose said, smiling.

There was nomistake, as the 17-year-old Xenia bowler wonboth the GreaterDayton United States Bowling Congressmajor girls scratch and handicap singles city titles with 628 and 733, respectively. Rose and longtime friendHaileyYingst alsowon themajor girlshandicapdoubles title (1,354) andwere second in scratch to Samantha EichmanandNatalieHanson.

“It’s my last year to bowl youth tournaments, so Idefinitely wanted to make the most of it,” Rose said. “But whenever I get to bowl with

Hailey it’s more about just having fun.”

Their camaraderie likely contributed to their championship title.

“If one of us starts to bowl badly, we can cheer each other up and turn things around,” Yingst said.

After close tothreemonths off the lanes due to statewide COVID closures in the spring, Rose spent the summer making up for lost time.

“You could not getme out of the bowling center,” she said.

Practice paid off. While city titles areworth celebrating, both Rose and Yingsthaveshifted their focus to the high school bowling season, which is already underway. They are happy to have the opportunity to compete for their schools this season — a season that looks different. Xenia has only Miami Valley League teamsonits schedule. Northmont, where Yingst bowls, will compete without any fans at home matches.

“Iwasalittlenervouswhen schools were getting more casesthatwemightnothavea bowling season,” Yingst said. “At leastwe’re able to bowl.”

Both bowlers have state tournament aspirations in their final high school season. RoseandtheBuccaneers squad fell short of advancing to state by just six pins her sophomore year and by 18 pins last season. Yingst and the Thunderbolts have qualified to the district tournament the past two years, as well.

“I really hope this is the year,” Rose said.