KING FERRY - The Byrn's Junior Masters bowling tournament reached its championship round Sunday at the King Ferry Bowling Center as the final four competitors bowled off in both the boys' and girls' divisions.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Rebecca O'Donnell bowls a 526 to beat out Briana Gomez in the final round of the Byrn's Junior Masters at the King Ferry Bowling Center Sunday afternoon.
Chris Sears, 17, of Skaneateles took first place in the 38th annual boys tournament.
Taking top honors in the 26th annual girls tournament, was Rebecca O'Donnell of Auburn, who beat,13 year old runner up and high-qualifier award recipient (171.7), Briana Gomez, twice to win the championship.
For O'Donnell, this victory has been a long time in the making.
O'Donnell said she began bowling when she was 3 years old and has been a participant in the Byrn's Junior Masters since she was 11.
"It keeps my nerves going," O'Donnell said. "Every year it sort of keeps going on. It is exciting. It all depends on who bowls what. Here anyone can win."
O'Donnell has been a seven-time qualifier and a three-time runner up in 2001, 2003 and 2004 which made this victory satisfying. "I kept telling myself, I could do this, this is my year," O'Donnell said. "I just tried to keep my head in the game and not get mad."
Before and during the tournament O'Donnell worked hard for her success.
She said on top of her regular league bowling and open bowling with friends, she also participated in bowling clinics to improve her game.
"They gave a lot of tips," O'Donnell said. "It helped out a lot during the games for what to do and helped me do my best."
O'Donnell said this championship has come at a perfect time in her bowling career. She has plans to move onto the women's division next year.
This year, she had her first 700 series and won this tournament.
"It is great," O'Donnell said. "I won something I wanted forever. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who helped me out, friends, family and Starlite Lanes."
O'Donnell said Gomez was a tough competitor.
"She does really well," O'Donnell said. "She is really good. She can go far."
Their match went to an extra series where O'Donnell won 526-405.
"I was up in the first and down in the second and up again in the third," O'Donnell said. "I just kept telling myself, 'I can do this. I can take this.'"
Earlier, O'Donnell beat 14-year-old Julie Janusz 563-450 to reach the finals.
Sears, like O'Donnell came back from the loser's bracket to make the championship round against Mike Lumb, where he won in an extra series, 642-568.
"I just had to stay on top and follow through," Sears said. "I had to stay ahead and keep focused to keep winning."
Sears defeated Todd Moore 616-515 to reach the championship.
Sears is a two-time tournament qualifier and averaged 212.8 for 33 games.
Sears said he was something of a latecomer to bowling when he began seriously at 12 years old.
"I've been bowling for five years," Sears said. "My friend Ryan Charles got me started in a league at first it was just something to do."
Sears said his approach has changed little since then.
"For me I like to talk to people," Sears said. "I like to stay free to talk to friends and focus on things other than the game."
According to long-time tournament director Tom Ostrander, Sears is the first person he has seen to lose the first series and come back to win.
"He came back to win nine straight games," he said.
Sears said that for him the key to the tournament was simple consistency. After losing his opening match, he won nine straight.
"I think I did pretty good," Sears said. "I just tried to always throw the ball the same."
Sears is a regular bowler at Cedar House Lanes as well as a member of the travel league in Syracuse.
"It is fun bowling with people you know," Sears said. "I bowl pretty much every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday."
For Sears, it was a great honor to win the tournament, but he said his focus is already on to the nationals, which will be held in Indianapolis in July.
"I went two years ago to watch with a friend," sears said. "Now I'm going to play. The top bowlers in the nation are going to be there."
Sunday's victory may be the highlight of Sears' career in junior league bowling.
He plans to be bowling in college next year.
"I might come back next year," Sears said. "It depends on if I'm at college. There are scholarships for bowling and I'd like to bowl at Mohawk Valley."
Ostrander thanked Mike and Rose Wilczek, owners of Byrn's Trophy and Sports for their sponsorship of the tournament.
Taking top honors in the 26th annual girls tournament, was Rebecca O'Donnell of Auburn, who beat,13 year old runner up and high-qualifier award recipient (171.7), Briana Gomez, twice to win the championship.
For O'Donnell, this victory has been a long time in the making.
O'Donnell said she began bowling when she was 3 years old and has been a participant in the Byrn's Junior Masters since she was 11.
"It keeps my nerves going," O'Donnell said. "Every year it sort of keeps going on. It is exciting. It all depends on who bowls what. Here anyone can win."
O'Donnell has been a seven-time qualifier and a three-time runner up in 2001, 2003 and 2004 which made this victory satisfying. "I kept telling myself, I could do this, this is my year," O'Donnell said. "I just tried to keep my head in the game and not get mad."
Before and during the tournament O'Donnell worked hard for her success.
She said on top of her regular league bowling and open bowling with friends, she also participated in bowling clinics to improve her game.
"They gave a lot of tips," O'Donnell said. "It helped out a lot during the games for what to do and helped me do my best."
O'Donnell said this championship has come at a perfect time in her bowling career. She has plans to move onto the women's division next year.
This year, she had her first 700 series and won this tournament.
"It is great," O'Donnell said. "I won something I wanted forever. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who helped me out, friends, family and Starlite Lanes."
O'Donnell said Gomez was a tough competitor.
"She does really well," O'Donnell said. "She is really good. She can go far."
Their match went to an extra series where O'Donnell won 526-405.
"I was up in the first and down in the second and up again in the third," O'Donnell said. "I just kept telling myself, 'I can do this. I can take this.'"
Earlier, O'Donnell beat 14-year-old Julie Janusz 563-450 to reach the finals.
Sears, like O'Donnell came back from the loser's bracket to make the championship round against Mike Lumb, where he won in an extra series, 642-568.
"I just had to stay on top and follow through," Sears said. "I had to stay ahead and keep focused to keep winning."
Sears defeated Todd Moore 616-515 to reach the championship.
Sears is a two-time tournament qualifier and averaged 212.8 for 33 games.
Sears said he was something of a latecomer to bowling when he began seriously at 12 years old.
"I've been bowling for five years," Sears said. "My friend Ryan Charles got me started in a league at first it was just something to do."
Sears said his approach has changed little since then.
"For me I like to talk to people," Sears said. "I like to stay free to talk to friends and focus on things other than the game."
According to long-time tournament director Tom Ostrander, Sears is the first person he has seen to lose the first series and come back to win.
"He came back to win nine straight games," he said.
Sears said that for him the key to the tournament was simple consistency. After losing his opening match, he won nine straight.
"I think I did pretty good," Sears said. "I just tried to always throw the ball the same."
Sears is a regular bowler at Cedar House Lanes as well as a member of the travel league in Syracuse.
"It is fun bowling with people you know," Sears said. "I bowl pretty much every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday."
For Sears, it was a great honor to win the tournament, but he said his focus is already on to the nationals, which will be held in Indianapolis in July.
"I went two years ago to watch with a friend," sears said. "Now I'm going to play. The top bowlers in the nation are going to be there."
Sunday's victory may be the highlight of Sears' career in junior league bowling.
He plans to be bowling in college next year.
"I might come back next year," Sears said. "It depends on if I'm at college. There are scholarships for bowling and I'd like to bowl at Mohawk Valley."
Ostrander thanked Mike and Rose Wilczek, owners of Byrn's Trophy and Sports for their sponsorship of the tournament.
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