THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 1, 1995 TAG: 9508300171
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
PORTSMOUTH HAS TWO youth bowlers on the All-America teams selected by the National Duckpin Youth Association for the 1994-95 season.
Kendra Allen, who became the first local bowler named to the All-America team a year ago, has repeated on the Major Girls (16-21 years old) team.
Ashley Johnson has been chosen on the Prep Girls (7-9) team.
Both were members of the Victory Youth League at Victory Lanes, coached by Raymond Askew.
Allen, 19, has elected to move out of youth competition and compete in adult leagues this year. She plans to bowl in the Monday Nite Ladies League and the Thursday Night Ladies League.
Johnson, who was 10 in December, will advance to the Bantam Girls (10-12) division this year.
Both bowlers were introduced to the game by their grandmothers. Joyce Johnson, Ashley's grandmother, and Jeanette Duncan, Kendra's grandmother, are avid bowlers and usually were in attendance when the youth league bowls Sundays.
Allen maintained a 134 average last season, ranking her second in the nation to Amy Bisson of T-Bowl Lanes in Newington, Conn. Bisson had a 141 average, the nation's best for both girls and boys. Allen had the fourth-highest average among all youth bowlers and was chosen as the No. 1 female bowler in the South Hampton Roads area for the season.
Allen has been bowling since 1984 and has been a member on four state championship and one national championship team.
``I don't remember the years we won,'' she said. ``But I can tell you where each of them happened. We won the National Prep Championship in Hagerstown, Md.''
A second-year student at Tidewater Community College, Allen graduated from Wilson. She plans to attend Old Dominion University and major in sports medicine. She currently works for the Norfolk Tides.
``I've never coached a better bowler than Kendra,'' said Askew, who has been a youth coach for more than two decades. ``She has the potential to be even better.''
Johnson began bowling four years ago. She recently finished at Hodges Manor Elementary and will be going into the sixth grade at Waters this month.
Each year, she has steadily progressed on the lanes. She started with an average in the 70s, moved up to 85 the second season, to 89 the third and to 95 last season.
``My goal now is to go over 100,'' she said.
She was ranked as the nation's No. 3 Prep Girl bowler. Chayressa Wallace of Westview, Md., was No. 1 with a 105 average. Jackie Shipley, also from Westview, was No. 2 with a 96 average.
``Ashley is a very promising young bowler,'' said Askew. ``She was on her way to All-America ranking a year ago when she broke her arm.''
Three other Virginia youth bowlers were picked for the All-America teams. Kalie Roberts of Charlottesville was chosen as No. 1 in the Pee Wee Girls (age 6 and under) division. Rachel McDonald, also from Charlottesville, was selected to the Bantam Girls (10-12) team. Joe Oley of Richmond was on the Bantam Boys (10-12) team. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Kendra Allen, left, is first team Major Girls All-American and
Ashley Johnson is first team Prep Girls All-American. Both were
members of the Victory Youth League at Victory Lanes.
by CNB