ESTEVAN - A young Estevan bowler's skills recently took her to a couple of competitions in British Columbia.
Kadence Kraushaar was part of the Saskatchewan entries that competed at the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) 10-pin and the Canadian Tenpin Federation's national tournaments.
First was the YBC event in Kelowna, which she qualified for by winning a provincial tournament in Estevan earlier this year. Competing in bantam girls, 12-year-old Kadence finished fifth, with five points on the strength of a 5-7 record. Players received a point for each game they won.
In the girls combo component, Kadence and the provincial champions in the junior and senior events finished fourth as they bowled as a team against the representatives of the other provinces.
She also competed at the Canadian Tenpin Federation tournament in Richmond, B.C., which she qualified for after winning a provincial tournament in Saskatoon. She went 4-2 to finish second.
In the team event, with Saskatchewan champions in the junior, intermediate and senior levels, she was seventh. In the doubles, in which she teamed with the bantam boys' champion, she came in sixth.
Kadence was the only Saskatchewan bowler to medal in Richmond.
Overall, she thought she did really well, but could have been better in Kelowna. There were a lot of pretty good bowlers at the event.
"Her division looked like it was possibly the most competitive of them all. The girls were all evenly matched," said her father Clint.
Kadence has been bowling for three years. She took up the sport because her sister and her cousin were playing.
"They were having fun, and I didn't want to be left out," said Kaydence.
She enjoys the competitiveness of the game, but she is still able to have fun.
Kadence bowls twice a week for league play, but Clint noted she ramped up her practice schedule after she won provincials.
Estevan Bowl has helped her improve a lot, they said. Clint added the lanes are in really good shape and credited the bowling alley for allowing her to practise as often as she wanted.
