Meet Olivia. She’s ready to bowl the world over

When Olivia Solomon first picked up a bowling ball at eight years of age, the Garden River First Nation girl never imagined she would be competing with other young bowlers at a stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Olivia turned 12 in March, and is now in her fourth year of bowling and second year of competitive bowling, taking part this week in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Junior Gold National Championship.  

“It’s all very exciting,” Olivia said, speaking to SooToday by phone Monday from Dallas, sounding clearly elated.

“I usually bowl in the winter and play soccer in the summer. I like bowling because it’s a more mental than physical sport,” Olivia said, speaking of the concentration which goes into every move.

“It’s awesome with everything going on down here. I feel excited and confident,” she said, preparing for her first game Monday.

Being at such a major championship in another country at age 12 means Olivia has a lot of time ahead of her for many years of competition, right?

“That’s my plan. When I decided to bowl I never thought I would become very successful in it, I thought it would be a one or two year thing, but I ended up in it for four years and three competitions. I feel proud of how far I’ve come,” Olivia chuckled.

Competition started Monday evening, and lasts until Thursday. If Olivia makes the qualifying cut, she’ll bowl in the advancer round Friday.

“She loved the game instantly. I just put her into it initially for a pastime, for something to do on Saturday mornings,” her father Stan Solomon told us.

But it grew from there.

Olivia comes from a bowling family.

Stan also bowls, as does his wife Katie, Olivia’s mother (who was a successful youth bowler).

Katie, in fact, was recognized in Thunder Bay at a provincial tournament last year, still in the record books for one of her best games as a youth bowler.

Both Stan and Katie are in Dallas with Olivia and their older daughter, Amelia, 14, and the Sault’s Ema Bowen, 14, who is bowling at the tournament in the Under 15 division, Stan noting the Sault and area has a lot of young bowling talent.

Olivia keeps up her game by practicing at the Sault’s Northcrest Bowling Lanes.

“She picked it up really quick and the coaches saw something in her, giving her more tips. Ultimately she was the one who decided she wanted to keep improving, and once she realized there were tournaments at the national level she wanted to be in them,” Stan said.

The tournament in Dallas marks her third so far in 2018.

“This year alone has been jam packed with practice and travel. We had to do fundraising to help with the travel costs,” Stan said, indicating the family’s appreciation for community support and sponsorship.

In Calgary in April, Olivia competed in the YBC (Youth Bowl Canada) Nationals, where she finished in fifth place in her first national event, bowling in the age 8 to 12 category.

In Montreal in May, Olivia won a bronze medal at the Canadian Tenpin Federation (CTF) Nationals.

“And now, here we are in Dallas, Texas at the USBC Junior Gold National Championship...there are over 4,300 youth at this championship ranging in age from seven years old up to 20 years old (Olivia competing in the 12 and under category), and her division has 167 girls,” Stan said.

“It’s hard to put into words. To be at three national championships in one year, it’s very overwhelming. We were at the opening ceremonies here, and it’s being held at the American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars play. We were just floored at how huge this event is. Olivia was just in awe, she couldn’t believe how many people were here and that she’s a part of it.”

Athletes from several countries, including Canada, the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom and France are taking part in the tournament.

“To have my daughter be part of it, it’s indescribable. She’s meeting new friends from all over the world,” Stan said.