Advertisement

Eckel was one of just four female bowlers from the state of Michigan to represent the state at the National Finals. The process for bowlers to compete took many months. Bowling centers throughout Michigan held league qualifying for two weeks in January, with the bowlers having the highest 3-game handicap series then eligible to advance to the state level of the tournament, which was held at Airway Lanes in Kalamazoo the first three weekends in May.Ê

Seventeen year-old Crystal Eckel of Lapeer was one of those bowlers who qualified from league bowling at Gerlach's Bowing Center. Using her December 31 average of 128 from the Saturday Morning Juniors league, she bowled scores in Kalamazoo of 184, 164, 172, 192, 161, and 204 giving her a six-game handicap series on May 11 of 1461. This score put her in second place for the girls in her age division and 4th place for all the girls age 12 and over, making her eligible to compete in July.

Crystal bowled two 4-game blocks on July 15, finishing with an average of 158. Her scores were 116,170, 155, 225 and then 180, 183, 185, and 172 . The 225 was the highest game Crystal had ever bowled. With 37 pins of handicap each game, the total was 1682, putting her in 14th place. The top sixteen scores in each of the four age divisions continued on with match play on July 16.Ê

The match play scores are with handicap included.

Crystal's first game with her handicap was 216, defeating Katherine Houser from Canada, who had 199. She then went against Yesenia Castillo from Puerto Rico, defeating her, 218 to 202. Next Crystal bowled a 237 to defeat Melissa Eipper from Pennsylvania, who bowled 186.

Crystal then went against Katie Jones from Illinois and lost her first match, 205-157. Her last match was against Carisa Feist from North Dakota, where she was outbowled 258-201. Katie Jones defeated Carisa Feist in the final match 262-179, giving her the first place finish, Carisa came in second and Crystal receives a $1,500.00 scholarship for placing third.Ê

Crystal and her parents, Jeff and Debbie Eckel of Lapeer, attended a banquet for the bowlers at the Troy Hilton after the Pepsi Tournament concluded. On July 20, they attended the Michigan State USBC Youth banquet in Midland and Crystal received her awards from the tournament in Kalamazoo held in May. Crystal also made All Conference for the Flint Metro High School Bowling for 2008.

2008 PEPSI USBC YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunnybrook Lanes
GIRLS
Division 1
(Averages 148-206)
1, Katie Jones, Downers Grove, Ill., $3,000.
2, Carisa Feist, Bismarck, N.D., $2,000.
3, Crystal Eckel, Lapeer, Mich., $1,500.
4, Melissa Eipper, Exeter, Pa., $1,000.

Division 2
(Averages 88-147)
1, Desirea Holmes, Wichita, Kan., $3,000.
2, Berti Jungnick, Liberty, S.C., $2,000.
3, Laura Clair, Albany, Ore., $1,500.
4, Katy Ayers, Kearney, Neb., $1,000.