Youth Bowlers From South Windsor Experience Success In New League

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Three youth bowlers from South Windsor recently won top state and regional championship titles as members of the new Connecticut ICS Youth Bowling League 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.

Winners from South Windsor were:

• Kristina Kelly, an incoming eighth-grader at Timothy Edwards Middle School, was the first-place doubles champion in the 2023 Connecticut State USBC Adult/Youth Tournament in December, winning the top spot with her father, Michael Kelly, in their division. She also won the singles first-place championship in the 2023 Greater Central Connecticut USBC Adult/Youth Tournament in her division; and the second-place doubles spot in that tournament with her mother, Krista Kelly, in their division. Kristina also won the doubles first-place championship in the 2024 GCC Youth Tournament with her partner, Evan Johnson of Glastonbury, in their division.
• Sophie Donnelly, an incoming ninth-grader at South Windsor High School, was the first-place singles champion in her division at the 2023 Greater Central Connecticut (GCC) Adult/Youth Tournament in November. She also won second place in doubles at that tournament with her partner, Krista Kelly of South Windsor, in their division.
• Evan Mazzie, an incoming eighth-grader at Timothy Edwards Middle School, was the second-place singles winner of the 2024 Greater Central Connecticut (GCC) Youth Tournament in his division.

In its first year, the league produced two qualifiers for the Junior Gold Championships national tournament in Detroit; the singles and doubles champions of the U.S. Eastern Region of TNBA (The National Bowling Association); and the Connecticut USBC youth singles state champion.

In addition, Connecticut ICS Youth League bowlers won the top titles in the Connecticut USBC Adult/Child Tournament and its all-events male and female categories; and the Greater Central Connecticut USBC’s championships in singles, doubles, all-events male, and all-events female.

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 early 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, including a new program in which companies and organizations can “sponsor” a bowler by funding their $250 scholarship in advance and receiving personalized updates on the bowler’s progress, publicity in league news releases, and other benefits in appreciation.

Registrations are underway for the youth league’s fall session, which starts Sept. 7 and takes place every Saturday morning at Bowlero Hall of Fame Silver Lanes in East Hartford. More information is available at ctyouthbowling.org.