GDUSBC Youth Association All-City Team
Bantam: *Carson Shroyer, Evan Bundesen, Ethan Sorrells, Hayden Senger
Prep girls: *Keirsten Schooler, Audrey Renner, Natalie Hanson, Tatyana Montes, Kailee Palecek.
Prep boys: *Brent Shroyer, Ian Dobran, Michael Donahue, Gabe Taulbee, Drew Sacks
Junior girls: *Jessica Wolfe, *Tacey Ballen, Haley Cummings, Angel West, Hannah McGrew.
Junior boys: *Cole Meredith, Keith Schooler, Evan Adkins, JT Cherpeski, Dylan Dobran
Major girls: *Delaney Hurst, Sierra Kanemoto, Colleen Hines, Jessica Sawmiller, Meredith Marcos.
Major boys: *Kyle Kessler, Michael Kocher, Austin Mahaffey, Brandon Schwartz, Matt Diamond, Ryan Wolfe.
* Indicates captain
Sierra Kanemoto and Kyle Kessler were hopeful but not overconfident.
It soon became clear, however, that they had earned one of the most prestigious awards in the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Conference youth ranks – the Kurt Gostel Scholarship.
“It wasn’t until they mentioned my GPA and valedictorian that I knew for sure,” Kanemoto said.
And once Kessler heard the GWOC Bowler of the Year, he knew he had been chosen as the boys’ recipient.
“I’m so proud to be recognized among the talented bowlers who have won this before me,” he said.
Kanemoto, a Stebbins graduate, and Kessler, a Northmont graduate, were selected from an accomplished pool of local high school bowlers to receive the award that is given annually in the name of the longtime Dayton area bowling coach. It is based on scholastic achievement and community service as well as bowling success.
Kanemoto excelled in the classroom as well as the lanes, graduating as the 2014 Stebbins class valedictorian with a 4.36 GPA. It was an honor she appreciated, but she could have done without giving a speech.
“It was so nerve-wracking, I was definitely freaking out a little while I was waiting for them to call my name,” she said with a smile.
On the lanes, Kanemoto has a career high game of 299 and high series of 790. Her highest average to date is 214. The 18-year old finished as runner-up at the Junior Masters Tournament in May and she and Kessler recently won their respective divisions at the JTBA Dexter Classic in Columbus.
As a member of the GDUSBC Youth Leaders, Kanemoto participated in a variety of service projects and she was also a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Always busy, she was also a member of the school marching band and the Muse Machine. Sibling rivalry paid off for Kanemoto whose two older sisters challenged her on the lanes when she was growing up.
“When you bowl with people who are better than you, you become a better bowler,” she said.
Kessler, also 18, is an honor student who graduated with a 3.27 GPA.
On the lanes, he has posted two perfect games, as well as a 299 and a pair of 290s, a 789 high series and a career high average of 236. He earned the coveted Greater Western Ohio Conference bowler of the year honor this season and helped the Thunderbolts qualify to the state tournament.
While Kessler is proud of this recent accomplishment, he isn’t about to rest on his laurels. The future Wright State University bowler has plenty of items on his bowling to-do list including top finishes in the Junior Gold and collegiate ranks and even with the pros.
“I plan to bowl a few PBA regional events and would really like to make match play,” he said.
About the Author