WINTER PARK, Fla. – Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, North Carolina, led after Round 1 of match play, averaging just over 226 for her eight-game block and winning five matches at the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Regional Showdown at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park, Florida.
The Junior Team USA member started off the block with the first nine strikes and never slowed down, even shooting a 290 in Game 5 that began with a foul, before sparing the full rack and going off the sheet with 11 strikes.
“I got to the pair, and it was a little slick on my first shot,” said Stull. “I made the adjustment and went on from there.”
Her expectations coming into the event weren’t to win, however, even with a regional win under her belt.
“I came here just to have fun,” said Stull. “I wanted to come out and meet new people, and I guess I bowled better than even I expected,” Stull said with a chuckle.
Plenty of fun was had as she had just two games under 200 and put herself into a good position to make the stepladder finals, and even had some non-bowling friends ask about tuning in to watch this weekend.
“Most of my friends find it fascinating, I go to a high school of all athletes so it’s a different perspective for them and think it’s cool,” said Stull.
Just behind Stull is 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, Junior Team USA member Avery Domaguin of San Diego and three-time regional champion in 2024, Karsyn Lukosius of Jackson, New Jersey, holding the final spot for the stepladder finals.
Competition started Friday morning with one round of qualifying and 53 competitors, vying for 10 spots to advance to round-robin match play, joining the six 2024 regional champions that had an automatic spot in match play.
Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California; Domaguin; Sydney Brummett of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Felicia Wong of Canada; Brooke Roberts of Port Orange, Florida; Lauren Tomaszewski of Franklin, Tennessee; Hannah Brookins of Orlando, Florida; Marisol Dodson of San Antonio, Florida; Elliott; and Haley Youker of Erie, Pennsylvania, advanced out of qualifying.
They joined Stull; Angela Glaser of Lockport, New York; Chloe Herman of Aurora, Colorado; Lukosius; Melissa Voytko of Brunswick, Ohio; and Nicole Wilson of Northville, Michigan, who all won regionals during the 2024 Regional Tour season, in match play. Seeding was randomly chosen before the start of the first round.
The second and final round of match play starts Saturday at 9 a.m. Eastern, where the top four bowlers will advance to the stepladder finals at 3 p.m. Eastern for the Regional Showdown title, a $4,000 top prize and to have all entry fees during the 2025 PWBA National Tour the bowlers competes in covered.
For more information on the Regional Showdown and the Regional Tour, visit PWBA.com/Regional-Tour.
