Manchester Teen Bowler Wins Spot to Compete In National Tournament For 2nd Year

MANCHESTER, CT — Landon Dunaway, a Manchester resident and freshman at Connecticut River Academy in East Hartford, has secured a berth for the second consecutive year to compete in the nation's top youth bowling tournament.

Dunaway qualified for a spot in next summer’s 2026 Junior Gold Championships in Minneapolis through his performances at the 2025 Survivor Tournament in Green Bay, WI, and the Connecticut River Travel Tournament on Nov. 16.

Youth bowlers compete in local tournaments for a limited number of spots each year in Junior Gold. It runs over nine days and includes qualifying rounds, advancer rounds, match lay, and nationally televised finals.

His 2024-25 bowling season was filled with achievements, including winning the top spot as champion of the 2025 U15 Boys Connecticut State Pepsi Tournament, and receiving the Greater Central Connecticut USBC 2025 Junior Boy Triple Crown award.

Dunaway is the son of Natasha Dunaway of Manchester. He is a member of the Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling League at Hall of Fame Silver Lanes in East Hartford and the Friday Youth league at Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama in Newington.