Young Bowler From Glastonbury Shines In Major Competitions

VERNON, CT — Several eastern Connecticut youth bowlers in Spare Time Entertainment’s Vernon Juniors league earned victories in recent statewide competitions, including first-place wins in several categories and age divisions. A Glastonbury competitor was among the standouts.

Several will be honored at the state and regional U.S. Bowling Congress groups’ annual youth events this month. Alphabetically by hometown, they include:

BOLTON

Lucy Dubeau was named the U8 (under 8) girls Connecticut singles champion for 2022 in the Pepsi Youth Tournament on May 1 at Hall of Fame Silver Lanes in East Hartford. Bowlers must earn a spot to compete in the invitation-only event, in which state-level winners in older divisions qualify for this summer’s national tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich.

In addition to Lucy’s championship in the Pepsi tournament, she also won first place in her division for singles bowling and first place in the All Events-Female category at the 2022 Greater Central Connecticut USBC Youth Tournament in March, for which she will be honored at this month’s event at Lessard Lanes.
Lucy was also the “rose” in the four-member “Rose Among Thorns” team that won second place in the Greater Central Connecticut USBC Tournament. She attends Bolton Center School and bowls with her sister, Hadley, in the Vernon Juniors league. They are the daughters of Brett and Aubrey Dubeau.

Lucy’s father, Brett Dubeau, a former Connecticut youth bowling champion, also recently was named this year’s Connecticut 2022 adult doubles champion with Jeffrey Laroux Jr. in the Connecticut State USBC (U.S. Bowling Congress) Open in March.

GLASTONBURY

Brady Reitz, another Pepsi tournament competitor, won first place in March in the All Events-Male category of the 2022 Greater Central Connecticut USBC Youth Tournament, and will be honored at this month’s annual awards event.

Brady also won second place in doubles with Bolton’s Lucy Dubeau in that competition, and second place statewide in singles in his division in the 2022 Connecticut USBC Youth Tournament in April.
He recently competed in the New England Youth Open regional bowling tournament in East Providence, RI, over Memorial Day weekend, and will compete later this month in the DJBT youth bowling tournament in Portland, Maine.

Brady is the son of Stephanie Reitz and attends Glastonbury’s Smith Middle School.

MANCHESTER

Blake Wissinger won second place in U10 boys singles in the Pepsi tournament on May 1 and was last year’s first-place winner in the U8 boys division.

Earlier this season, he also won first place in doubles with partner Brendan Soucy of South Windsor in their division in the Greater Central Connecticut USBC Youth Tournament, and they will be honored at its annual awards event this month. Blake is the son of Brian and Jordan Wissinger, and attends St. Bridget School in Manchester. He bowls in the Vernon Juniors league with his brother, Brantley.

Landon Dunaway was a member of the four-person team, “The Destroyers,” which won first place in the Greater Central Connecticut USBC Youth Open in March. He is the son of Natasha Dunaway and attends Bennet Academy School.

SOUTH WINDSOR

Brendan Soucy won first place in doubles with partner Blake Wissinger of Manchester in their division in the Greater Central Connecticut USBC Youth Tournament, and will be honored at its annual awards event this month. He attends Timothy Edwards Middle School and is the son of Ryan and Aimee Soucy.

VERNON

Michael Machewirth won first place in his category in doubles with partner Joseph Johnson of Manchester in their category in the Greater Central Connecticut USBC’s annual Adult/Child Tournament in October. Michael is the son of Dr. David and Angeline Machewirth, and attends East Catholic High School.

WOODSTOCK

Zachary and Brendan Wright, who are brothers ages 10 and 13, were members of the team “Rose Among Thorns,” which won second place at the Greater Central Connecticut USBC Tournament. They attend Woodstock Middle School.

Other Vernon Juniors bowlers whose league performances earned them places to compete in the Pepsi tournament included, alphabetically by town:

• Bloomfield: Da’Rius Giles, Gavin Giles
• Bolton: Lucy Dubeau
• Ellington: Jonathan Delisle
• Glastonbury: Brady Reitz
• Manchester: Landon Dunaway, Brennen Johnson, Blake Wissinger
• South Windsor: Brendan Soucy, William Trzaski
• Tolland: Nick Schortman, Frank Testa
• Vernon: Makayla Adkins, Antonio Millette
• Woodstock: Zachary Wright

____

Those interested in learning more about joining a league at Spare Time in Vernon can provide contact information on the bowling center’s website, along with any questions they have about participation. League bowlers become sanctioned with the U.S. Bowling Congress, allowing them to participate in many tournaments in which they can earn college scholarship funds.

No previous experience is necessary for the youth league, which includes options for new bowlers to begin with bumpers on their lanes. League members also receive discounts for games during open bowling sessions, food and beverages, and birthday parties.