Four Rhinelander bowlers compete in Junior Gold National Youth Tournament

The Rhinelander Area Youth Bowling Club was represented at the 2025 Junior Gold National Youth Tournament by four youth competing in various age division over the course of several days last week.

    Rhinelander Bowling Club members Alex Hall, left, and Oren Alsager, right, watch from the stands during the Junior Gold National Youth Tournament opening ceremonies in Green Bay. The two competed in the U18 Boys Division at Junior Gold during the week. (Cory Dellenbach/Submitted)
  

The tournament, held this year in eight bowling centers throughout Green Bay, the Fox Cities and Wausau, drew in more than 3,300 youth. It’s the first time Wisconsin has hosted the event.

Alex Hall made his third Junior Gold appearance, while Oren Alsager, Eli Miller and Natalie Dellenbach were all making their first time trips to the tournament after qualifying for the tournament earlier in the year at various events across the state. 

In the U18 boys division, Alsager came back after a slow start the first two days of qualifying where he shot a 634 series over four games on Monday and then a 604 series the second day. He bounced back on the third day of qualifying with a 773 series, led off with a 223 game. On the final day of qualifying, the soon-to-be-junior shot a 795 series with games of 177, 231, 177 and 210.

Alsager finished 686th out of 1,341 competitors with a total qualifying round score of 2,806 — an average of 175.375. 

“Oren buckled down and did what we know he is capable of. He battled back and threw some nice balls the third and fourth day of qualifying. It was exciting to see him do that in his first Junior Gold,” RAYBC coach Cory Dellenbach said.

Hall, who returned to Junior Gold after missing last year with a wrist injury, had a rough outing this year in the U18 division. The RHS graduate finished with a 606 series the first day and a 580 series the second day of qualifying. On the third day he put away a 611 series and on the final day of qualifying Hall struggled finding the pocket and had a 564 series.

Hall finished 1,264th out of 1,341 with a total qualifying round score of 2,806 (147.56 average). 

“It was a tough one out there for Alex. He was trying his best. It’s tough to see him finish his youth career like this, but making it to three Junior Golds is nothing to bat an eye at,” coach Dellenbach said.

Incoming freshman Eli Miller was making his first Junior Gold appearance competing in the U15 boys division. 

Miller came out firing on the first day of qualifying putting down a 702 series with games of 147, 178, 149 and 228. 

On the second day, Miller finished with a 581 series, while he scored a 587 series on the third day. On the final day of qualifying on Thursday, Miller had a 592 series, finishing the tournament with a 191 game.

“This tournament can be eye-opening for first-time competitors like Eli,” coach Dellenbach said. “They don’t know what to expect. We can try to explain it to them, but it’s not the same as actually being there. The oil patterns and stress can beat you down and I saw that a little bit with Eli. On the fourth day he slowed down a little bit and was able to do some good things to finish the tournament. He’ll be back in the future and with a year under his belt should be able to see improvement.”

Miller wrapped up in 494th place out of 646 U15 boys competitors. He had a total qualifying round score of 2,462 (153.87 average). 

In the U15 girls division, Natalie Dellenbach was also making her first-time appearance at the national tournament, but she was familiar with it having watched her older sister two years ago in Indianapolis. 

Natalie Dellenbach kicked off the first day of qualifying with a 543 series, starting off with a 174 game. She put down a 537 series on the second day and then came back with a solid 610 series on the third day. 

On the final day of qualifying, the soon-to-be eighth grader scored a 596 series. 

“Natalie struggled with some games, but never got down. She fought back and adjusted. She enjoyed her first year competing in the tournament and met a lot of other kids from other parts of the country,” coach Dellenbach said.

Natalie Dellenbach  finished 223rd out of 303 U15 Girls competitors with a total qualifying round score of 2,286 (142.75 average). 

“This was a great opportunity to get a few Rhinelander area kids in a big tournament like this, especially with it being right in our back yard pretty much. For some it was a learning experience and realizing that what they’re seeing out there this past week isn’t what they normally see in league or even middle and high school competitions,” coach Dellenbach said. 

Junior Gold is changing up next year with new age divisions, going from U12, U15 and U18 to a U12, U14, U16 and U18 format, closing up the age gaps. Natalie Dellenbach and Miller will both drop down to U14 divisions, while Alsager will stay in the U18 division — all based on birthdays.

The 2026 Junior Gold National Youth Tournament will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dellenbach, Alsager, Preuss take part in side tournaments 

Two RAYBC members also took part in one of many side tournaments throughout the Junior Gold week.

On Friday, July 18, Natalie Dellenbach was joined by middle school teammate Charlotte Preuss as they competed in the Survivor Tournament, which typically follows the Junior Gold Tournament and is an early qualifier for the next year’s Junior Gold. The Survivor Tournament this year was held at Buzz Social in Green Bay.

It was Natalie Dellenbach’s second time competing in the event — the first in 2023 in Indianapolis — and it was Preuss’ first major tournament she was taking part in. Both girls competed in the U15 age division. 

Natalie Dellenbach finished 87th out of 114 bowlers with a total score of 799 with games of 138, 168, 142, 160 and 191. 

“There was some trouble hitting all of her spares. She was tired after a week of bowling, but still wanted to do the tournament to be there so Charlotte knew someone,” coach Dellenbach noted. “It’s a great thing to do for a teammate who had never competed in an atmosphere like that.” 

Preuss was 114th with a total score of  584 with games of 108, 106, 112, 199 and 139.

“I give credit to Charlotte for wanting to compete in it. She’s still young a bowler and is learning and that’s what these tournaments will help you do. You learn each time you take part in one,” coach Dellenbach said.

Meanwhile across town, high schooler Oren Alsager took part in the DV8 Shootout at Willow Creek Lanes, another tournament held during Junior Gold Week.

Alsager rolled games of 199, 157, 173 and 219 for a 748 series.

“There are a few different tournaments kids can get involved in during the week of Junior Gold. Not only these two, but there’s also a youth/adult tournament as well and the annual National Youth Opens as well,” coach Dellenbach noted. “It can be a very busy week if you decide to do them all. And all of those you don’t need to be a Junior Gold qualifier to do, so that is nice.”