◆ Dinner and fundraiser event is Friday, April 7 in the Thayne Community Center.

Nine athletes with Star Valley’s Jr. Bowling League have qualified for the prestigious Jr. Gold National Tournament and are working to raise the funds to attend the ten-day tournament event in Indianapolis in July.

As part of the fundraising campaign, the athletes and their parents and coaches are hosting a fundraising event Friday, April 7, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Thayne Community Center Gym. They have planned a baked potato dinner, a silent auction, raffles, mu- sic and more. The big-ticket raffle item is a chance to win two tickets to the Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers game. The tickets are for seats 24 and 25 in section 526, row 20. The NFL doesn’t release game dates until May, so winners will need to plan for flexible scheduling.

All proceeds from the fundraising event will go to benefit the bowlers’ trip to the national tournament. According to Amy Hansen, a parent and coach for the junior bowlers, athletes qualify by bowling in at least five tournaments during the season and placing high enough to earn the necessary points. This group of bowlers has bowled throughout Wyoming and competed in Eastern Idaho as well.

“The money [we raise] is to help them get to the national tournament, and while we are back there, we plan on doing a couple of other tournaments,” said Hansen in an interview with SVI News last week. “These kids put a ton of time into doing the bowling and the scholarships that come out of it are fantastic.”

College level bowling team recruiters attend the Junior Gold’s tournament to watch for quality athletes and entice them to sign as a bowler with their institution. If a bowler gets picked up by a college team, it could mean that college is completely paid for.

“Not all kids get the opportunity to go,” added Hansen. “The kids put so much time into it and have worked so hard to get to this point.”

The team of athletes qualified for the Junior Gold’s tournament includes seniors Hunter Suter and Auderie Hansen as well as Ryann Kallgren, Jenn Mortensen, Justus Dudley, Bryce Freazell, Tynlee Robinson, Porter Ludwig and Brooks Jenkins.

“It’s a fun sport,” concluded Hansen. “You are competing against yourself, not other people. The more practice you give it, the better you get at it.”

For reservations, contact any qualified junior bowler or call Hansen at 307-413- 8177. Dinner tickets are $10 and can also be purchased at the door.