Hartford-Area Bowlers Excel In Fledgling League

Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling

HARTFORD/BLOOMFIELD, CT — Several youth bowlers from throughout greater Hartford recently won top state and regional championship titles, including those from Bloomfield and Hartford.

They did so as members of the new Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling League, which is in its first year of operation.

The league’s approximately 55 bowlers won a combined total of almost $15,000 in scholarships between the organization’s launch in September 2023 and the conclusion of the tournament season this spring.

They include Bloomfield resident Rylan Milliner, and Hartford brothers Da'Rius Giles and Gavin Giles.

Registration is underway for the league’s fall session, which starts Sept. 7 and takes place every Saturday morning at Bowlero Hall of Fame Silver Lanes in East Hartford.

Parents of bowlers from throughout central Connecticut launched the league last year as a nonprofit to help their children develop in the sport, earn scholarship money, and build an inclusive, welcoming community with families from all backgrounds and interests.

Youth bowlers do not need previous experience and can join as young as 5 years old.

Participants bowl in teams each Saturday morning at Silver Lanes and can also choose to compete in a variety of tournaments as teams, singles, or doubles.

The league also holds holiday parties, a year-end banquet, free coaching before the Saturday sessions, and other events.

The league is run by a board of parents, all of whom undergo background checks and receive Safe Sport Certification through the U.S. Center for Safe Sport, as do the league’s USBC-certified coaches.

In addition to scholarships that members may win in tournaments, each graduating senior who has been an active participant for at least two years receives a $250 scholarship from the league.

The Connecticut ICS Youth League is supported by member dues, fundraising, and sponsorships.

Greater Hartford area bowlers who excelled in the program were:

Hartford

· Da’Rius Giles, a 2024 graduate of CREC Civic Leadership High School in Enfield and incoming freshman at the University of Connecticut.

He was a member of “CT ICS 11,” the four-person team that won second place in its division in the 2024 Greater Central Connecticut (GCC) USBC Youth Tournament.

He also was the first member of the new Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling League to graduate from high school and “age out” of youth participation, earning a $250 scholarship from the league in April.

· Gavin Giles, an incoming eighth-grader at CREC Academy of International Studies in South Windsor, was a member of “CT ICS 11,” the four-person team that won second place in its division in the 2024 Greater Central Connecticut (GCC) USBC Youth Tournament.

Bloomfield

· Rylan Milliner, an incoming eighth-grader at Carmen Arace Middle School, was one of two league members to win a spot in the highly competitive 2024 Junior Gold Championships national tournament in Detroit, where he bowled in early July.

He also won first place in the all-events/male category of the 2024 Connecticut State USBC Youth Championships; and second place in the 2024 Connecticut Pepsi Tournament for the U15 age category, for which he earned his Junior Gold berth.

In addition, he won third place in doubles at the 2024 Connecticut State USBC Youth Championships with his partner, Hadley Dubeau of Bolton, in their division; and third place in doubles in the 2024 Greater Central Connecticut (GCC) USBC Youth Tournament with his partner in their division.

For more information on Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling, click on this link.