The bantam boys Lincoln Lanes fivepin Youth Bowling team are ready for the 4 Steps to Stardom National Championships at Polo Park Bowling Centre in Winnipeg.
The boys earned their ticket to nationals, which start Saturday, with a four-game total of 2,460 pins at provincials in Chiliwack back in March.
The four-man team consists of Drew Fiset, Michael Hoyland, Ryan Sarantos, Kohl Killingbeck and they are coached by Bob Dumont.
“I wasn’t shocked that we won, these kids love to bowl and love to compete,” said Dumont.
Dumont has been coaching since 1990, working with every age group.
“It is easy to be around these kids. They love to joke around, but they also know when they need to get serious about the games,” said Dumont.
This marks the third year in a row that Hoyland and Killingbeck represent B.C.
“I am excited to go to Winnipeg, I have never been there,” said Hoyland.
Hoyland is peaking at the right time. He feels like he wasn’t at his best in Provincials, but bowled a personal best 313, two weeks ago.
“It just wasn’t my day. I’m excited I get another weekend to bowl,” said Hoyland.
Killingbeck attends Beairsto Elementary and plays lacrosse for the Legends when he is not bowling. Killingbeck is a very steady bowler, averaging 175 pins.
Fiset, 10, has been bowling for five years, admits he got into the sport because of his grandma.
“My grandma was a big bowler in the 70s. I wanted to be a bowler like her,” said Fiset.
The lone southpaw on the team, Sarantos already has visions of winning nationals.
“I think we are going to win it all, come back and we are going to have a big pizza party,” said Sarantos.
The format in Winnipeg is scratch match play, team score against team score.