CLEVELAND (August 1, 2017) – One current and four incoming members of the Franklin Pierce University Bowling programs competed at the 2017 Junior Gold Championships from July 15-22, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Junior Gold Championships is an annual national tournament for the top male and female youth bowlers in the United States. The tournament awards scholarships and youth bowlers competing in the U20 and U15 divisions also have the opportunity to earn a spot on Junior Team USA. The tournament has six divisions – U12 Boys, U12 Girls, U15 Boys, U15 Girls, U20 Boys and U20 Girls.  

Competitors in all divisions bowled 16 qualifying games over four days before the field is cut. Bowlers in the U20 and U15 divisions bowled an additional five games before a second cut is made, and those making the second cut bowled another five games to determine the 16 bowlers for match play. In the U12 division, after the initial cut, competitors bowled an additional four games before the field is cut to the top eight for match play.

120 U20 female bowlers made the cut, which was a 2,956 total pinfall and a 184.75 average. Rising sophomore and 2016-17 East Coast Conference Second Team member Krysta Peirce (Lenox, Mich.) finished in 245th place with a 2,841 pinfall and a 177.56 average. Incoming freshman Skyler Mulligan-Brown placed three spots behind Peirce at 248 as she knocked down one less pin (2,840) and had a 177.5 average. Cydnie Beaulieu was the final incoming women bowler to compete in Cleveland as she dropped 2,582 pins and recorded a 161.38 average.

On the men's side, 201 U20 male bowlers made the cut which was a 3,002 pinfall and a 187.63 average. Two incoming Ravens William Clukay and Benjamin Drogue chalked up pinfalls of 2,897 and 2,661 respectively as Clukay and Drogue each averaged 161.06 and 166.31.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce bowling apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).