State bowled over by DN youth

Teams from local youth league win big at championship

Award-winning local bowlers include, standing from left, Justin Cramer, David Calleja, Spencer Gullickson, Tanner Walker and Scott Sousa, and seated, Robert Krivanek. Not pictured are Matt Mattz and Gabino Calleja. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

Two teams from the Tsunami Junior Bowling League, Ray’s Waves and Tsunami Strikers, consisting of boys 13-17, competed in the 2011 California State Youth Championships last month in a two-day event in Yuba City and Oroville.

Ray’s Waves took first out of 40 teams in the 580-679 handicapped division with a score of 2,975 and earned $336 in scholarship money.

Tsunami Strikers finished fifth overall out of 50 teams in the 480-579 handicapped range with a score of 2,845 and earned $160 in scholarship money.

“It’s amazing,” said Scott Sousa, 17, of Ray’s Waves. “It means a lot for us. We’re all friends and we just all like to go out and bowl.”

“Our goal going in was just to enjoy bowling as a team and represent Crescent City well,” he added. “I was just happy to be there competing.”

The teams compete in the junior bowling league that is held each Saturday from September to April at the Tsunami Lanes Bowling Center in Crescent City.

Tanner Walker, 16, a member of the Tsunami Strikers, said it was a terrific experience faring so well in a statewide tournament.

“Oh man, it was the greatest feeling in the world for me,” he said. “I can’t even explain how I feel right now.”

Janet Lynch, the organizer of the junior bowling league and coach of both teams, is ecstatic with the squad’s accomplishments on the state level against teams from larger areas.

“All of them did very well,” she said. “They put their heart into it. They all love to bowl.”

It took around a week for the results to become official. While Lynch knew both teams did well and that Ray’s Waves had a shot at the title, it was a bit anxious for her and the team members to await the news on how they did.

Both squads are true teams and work well together, she said.

“They feed off each other,” she said. “If one does well the other one has to do well. The kids really banded together.”

Spencer Gullickson is the youngest member of Ray’s Waves at 13, but has been bowling since he was 5. Competing against teams from larger areas, Gullickson said it was nice to show that there are good bowlers here.

“We have a good chemistry,” he said. “Coming from a smaller town you don’t expect to do as well. You’ve got to work your way up.”

Sousa hopes that more kids will join the bowling league and that people realize there are more sports to enjoy than just basketball and football.

“There are other sports and there is talent in these sports here,” he said.

Members of the Ray’s Waves are Justin Cramer, Spencer Gullickson, Matt Mattz and Scott Sousa.

Members of the Tsunami Strikers are David Calleja, Gabino Calleja, Robert Krivanek and Tanner Walker.

Sign-ups will take place for the Tsunami Bowling League on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. at the bowling center, 760 L St. Anyone 5 to 19 years old is invited to sign up.

The cost is $17 for a bowling association card and $6 each week to bowl. The league will bowl each Saturday at 10:45 a.m. from September to April. For more information, call the bowling alley at 464-4323.