Stan and Katie Solomon are justifiably proud and hopeful of what lies ahead for their daughter Olivia after returning home from the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Junior Gold National Championship in Dallas.
As reported earlier by SooToday, Olivia, a 12-year-old Garden River First Nation resident, has been bowling for four years, competitively for two, and has played well in three tournaments in 2018 alone.
Olivia, who travelled to Dallas with her parents and sister Amelia, 14, and fellow Sault and area bowler Ema Bowen, also 14, finished 111th out of 141 with an average of 129.25, not far off her league average of 131, Stan told SooToday in an email.
Olivia competed in Dallas in the 12 and under category.
“This was an excellent learning experience for Olivia. She had a great time, met some new friends and most importantly created lifelong memories,” Stan wrote.
“Next year she moves up to the junior division and U15, which means she's a rookie now as a 12 year old and will be competing against girls mostly 14 and 15 years old but anything is possible. She's a very determined young lady and now got her first taste of a huge National Championship and wants to return,” Stan wrote.
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.