EMMITSBURG, Md. (July 24, 2023) – The incoming freshmen trio of Alyssa Balest, Piper Chalmers, and Leah Varela competed this past week at the 2023 Junior Gold Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. The annual event is a tournament you can only participate in by placing high at pre-tournament qualifiers and features the best youth bowlers around the country divided across U20, U18, U15, and U12 male and female divisions. All three Mountaineers competed in the U18 female division.
 
Varela paced the trio, making the cut for both the advancers and final advancers round in route to placing 38th out of 588 competitors. The New Jersey native averaged 186.85 over the course of 26 games on rigorous sport shot conditions and improved from her 65th place finish last season in Grand Rapids, Mich. Chalmers and Balest both finished well within the top half of the field, placing 163rd and 234th, respectively.
 
"Junior Gold continues to be the toughest and most prestige tournament in youth bowling," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "I have witnessed individuals finish somewhere in the 300s of standings and go on to have some of the best college careers the game has ever seen. It is certainly a humbling experience and regardless of where you finish there is always something to learn and takeaway to improve your game. Congratulations to Leah for making it as far as she did and all three showed tremendous, positive signs of what they will bring to our program."
 
The freshmen trio will be on the Mount campus in three weeks for freshmen move-in followed by the returners shortly thereafter. The NCAA Bowling schedule officially begins on October 1 and a schedule announcement for the 2023-24 season will be made soon.