Trail bowler Jacob Plett is taking his game to a new level as he gets set to compete at the National Five-Pin Youth Bowling Challenge in Hamilton, Ont. this week.
The four-day event begins Thursday and Plett will compete on a team comprised of the top three male and female rollers age 13-18 in B.C. playing against the best Canada has to offer.
The 16-year-old J. L. Crowe student has been bowling for almost nine years, excelling at regional and provincial events, but this will be his first trip to a national competition.
“I’m really excited, pumped for sure,” said Plett. “I love it, I’m addicted to it.”
Plett qualified for the event after taking silver in the B.C. Youth Challenge in Port Coquitlam Jan. 18, throwing a 263 average to finish just 26 pins behind first-place winner Brett Mero of Quesnel.
Plett, whose average score hovers around 250, joins Trail bowler Tim Flack as the only other local bowler to qualify for the event. Flack was part of the B.C. Team that competed in the nationals in 2010.
In addition to Plett and Mero, Team B.C. is rounded out by Michael Dicks, Dakota Heth and Kylie Herman of Port Coquitlam, and Tiana Tecson of Prince George.
“I know most of them from competing against them and going to bowling school,” added Plett.
And as for his team’s expectations at the event, Plett is confident.
“We’ll try our best, and get first hopefully.”
The Youth Bowling Challenge gets rolling in Hamilton on Thursday and goes until Sunday.