LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The top high school bowlers from across the country were in Lancaster County this weekend and showcased their skills in the rapidly growing sport.
The 2024 U.S. High School Bowling National Championship was held at Leisure Lanes in Manor Township, Lancaster County, where several central Pennsylvania schools competed.
FOX43’s Ryan Ye was at the U.S. High School Bowling National Championship on Saturday as central Pa.'s bowlers got to watch some of the best.
"It's always exciting to see the best bowlers in the country," said Michael Nyitray, tournament director and president of the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation. "This is what's going to set up college bowling, and possibly professional bowling."
Schools from a tournament record 24 different states, rating from as far as Alaska and Hawaii, participated which created a unique opportunity for schools here in central Pennsylvania.
"The opportunity is a one-of-a-kind. Not everybody gets to have that chance," said Frank Telenko, Elizabethtown Bowling's head coach. "Even just to sit and talk to all the different teams that are around you and find out how their path was, was pretty incredible."
For the bowlers, it was a chance to face top-tier competition and stack themselves amongst the best as they looked at the next step of their bowling careers.
“I feel like it's a very cool experience because you get to meet different people from different states. It's cool to be here, being one of the top in the nation," said Taylor Miller, a junior on the Warwick Bowling Team. "It's cool to see the other competition that is around because I plan on bowling collegiately. So I might see some familiar faces when I get up there."
It's an event that also helps create buzz around a rapidly growing sport.
"It's absolutely a huge sport and growing," said Telenko. "You just know that you're part of a community and to have that unique bond with that they all have together is pretty special."
"The growth is continuing and hopefully representation here [at this tournament], gives it a little more buzz for high school bowling locally," said Nyitray. "That's another reason why I think it was important for us to come [here]."
The tournament is a unique opportunity for the central Pennsylvania community that is giving just as much back to its best bowlers.
"We always talked about we wanted three things that happen with everybody that comes through Elizabethtown bowling," said Telenko. "Number one, I want them to have fun, number two, I want them to make new friends, and number three, I want them to become better bowlers. I think we've hit all three of those things. No matter what way we walk out of this place, I'm still proud of these kids."
The 2024 U.S. High School Bowling National Championship continues through Monday, June 10. More information can be found here.