Team USA topped Singapore, 889-807, in the gold medal match to take the top prize for the first time since 2000.
“Coming in here with this team, we knew we had a good shot to bring home a medal, and once we snuck in — in fourth place — we knew we could make a run,” Via said. “Bringing home the gold is an incredible feeling, especially in the team event. This is the one event we wanted most.”
But it wasn’t just the boys who brought home the gold. The Junior Team USA girls, led by Jessica Earnest of Vandalia, Ill., also toppled Singapore in the gold medal match, 850-799.
The pair of Junior Team USA victories makes the United States the reigning world champions in the team event for men, women, boys and girls for the first time. The men won their gold medal in 2010 in Munich, Germany, and the women’s team, including Dayton’s Shannon Pluhowsky, earned its gold medal in Hong Kong in 2011.
Via, a member of the Notre Dame College bowling team, also snagged the final spot in the medal round of the Masters competition and proceeded to take out top-seeded Sam Cooley, of Australia, 246-180 in the semifinals.
In the title match, Via needed to strike twice in the 10th frame but left a seven-pin on his second shot. Sweden’s Daniel Fransson edged him 206-198 to claim the gold medal while Via brought home the silver.
“In the gold medal match, I had a good look but just made a few errant shots that cost me quite a few pins,” Via said. “And he (Fransson) made the shot when he needed to.”
Via’s teammate Marshall Kent, of Yakima, Wash., earned the Masters bronze medal as the Junior Team USA boys closed out the tournament with the most medals in the World Youth Championships, six — two gold, three silver and one bronze. Fransson’s win gave Sweden four total medals.
Contact this reporter at djunie@aol.com.
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