The 2020 Junior Hall of Fame Tournament was cut to just a scratch division due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so there was no way it could award anywhere near as much in scholarship funds.

The tournament at Bowlero Wauwatosa — which is sponsored by 900 Global, I AM Bowling, Milwaukee Area USBC and Hall of Fame and Bowlero — still awarded more than $5,500, as I detailed in this story.

There were 64 teams for the 15^th annual JHOFT this year, with 24 scratch and 40 handicap as that division was added back. Prior to 2020, the field was 84 teams, with 24 scratch and 60 handicap.

And tournament director Shannon Labinski reported that $11,330 in SMART scholarship funding was awarded between prize money and brackets.

Phil Brylow provided webcasting of the scratch division finals, and the archive is here.

The special guest professionals this year were Amanda Vermilyea and Erik Vermilyea.

“The JHOFT was such a fun weekend!” Amanda Vermilyea said. “Shannon Labinski and her volunteers run such a great event with auction items, 50/50 drawings which all go back to the youth and overall this tournament gives our youth bowlers another opportunity to compete. I want to thank her and 900 Global for asking me to attend as it was truly an honor to be there! I hope I can come back next year.”

Bobby Jakel, a USBC Open Championships Eagle winner and one of the PBA Tour’s tournament directors, loves coming to the tournament, even though he recently moved from the Chicago area to Michigan.

"I think Shannon and her staff do an incredible job giving youth bowlers an opportunity to showcase their talents on the lanes,” Jakel said. “I look forward to volunteering every year if my schedule allows it. I’m surprised more adult volunteers aren't jumping at the opportunity to bowl with these kids — they are missing out.”

Jakel, who bowled a perfect game during qualifying, was the adult on a 2021 JHOFT championship team, and his team earned the new Chuck Eberhardt Award for the Handicap division that is for leading qualifying.

Chris Hill and his team earned the new Chuck Eberhardt Award for the Scratch division that is for leading qualifying.

“This year at the Junior Hall of Fame event I was paired up with a couple of exceptional young players, both seniors in high school,” Hill said. “Mackenzie Mattice who attends Racine Case High School, and Jade Oelke, a student at WI Dells High School. Their positive attitude and teamwork was obvious from the start and their demeanor was calm and consistent all day. The two of them communicated, made decisions together, and supported each other all day. I try to be approachable for advice, if desired, but they did not need me. They deserve all of the credit for our performance. Our team got off to a decent start (660-ish) and then we really got it going and kept it going from there. All in all, we got to plus 408 for the qualifying round. Jade led the way for all junior ladies, and Mackenzie was right on her tail. We were fortunate to have finished as the top qualifier-we took home the inaugural Chuck Eberhardt team award for being the top qualifiers. Really cool honor, we were all smiles and it was a fun moment getting those pictures taken. This event is a really neat experience to cross paths with young people, and it always provides a life-long memory. This is one I won’t soon forget. Thanks to Shannon Labinski and her staff for providing this opportunity-these are the moments where the sport is so rewarding and makes the hard work feel worth it.”

Dave Beres, who rolled a 300 game in the first JHOFT and has competed in almost every one, was part of the scratch team champion this year.

“I always look forward to the JHOFT because it's such a great event,” Beres said. “I've been very blessed in my bowling career and this is a great way for me to give back a little and pass on some knowledge to the next generation of bowlers.  Hopefully they continue with the sport long term and enjoy the game for a lifetime.”

Labinski reported that Bobby Corragio won the JHOFT as a youth bowler in 2011 and finished third this year as an adult.

As is tradition, the Saturday evening before the JHOFT is the 2021 Celebrity Charity Bowling Event at Classic Lanes Greenfield.

Labinski made this Facebook post about the event:
“Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2021 Celebrity Charity Bowling Event on Saturday at Classic Lanes Greenfield!! We awarded $2,000 in Tournament Prizes and Raised $2,500 + $7,500 Anonymous Donation for Down Syndrome Awareness, Foundation Fighting Blindness and JDRF!!!  
Special thanks to our Celebrity Bowlers Amanda Vermilyea, Erik Vermilyea, Dave Beres, Hank Posnanski, Jen Grisham, Derek Eoff, Charly Boelter and Chad Kloss - We always receive positive feedback about the celebs and we couldn't have this event without you!!
Thank you Sponsors!! 900 Global I AM Bowling Tavolino MKE Classic Lanes Greenfield Storm Bowling Roto Grip Amanda Vermilyea Professional Bowler
Thanks to everyone who donated to the Raffle Prizes!!
Thank you to my Tournament Staff: Carrie Conner Crystal M. Trejo Jeanne Douville Catania and Sarah Ann Hirsch!!
Congratulations to our winning teams!! 
1st Place Scratch - Team Ron Wallenkamp Jr
1st Place Handicap - Team Kim Kenney
2nd Place Handicap - Team Warren White
3rd Place Handicap - Team Melissa Geurtsen
Thank you to our Team Captains Ron Wallenkamp Jr Kim Kenney Warren White Jr. Melissa Nichole Ericka Gregorek Justin Jd Mike Schroeder Steven Labinski Mike Labinski Howard Graff Jaelynn Hoehnen Tom Mettille Bryon Graff Jeff Selec Kenny Ray Sharkey Gina Pouros Daroszewski”

The JHOFT weekend for 2022 will be Nov. 12-13, Labinski said.

Here was my preview story for the 2021 JHOFT.

2021 JUNIOR HALL OF FAME TOURNAMENT
HANDICAP DIVISION

1st Place: $1,000/Team & 900 Global Bowling Ball & $50 I AM Bowling Gift Certificate
Bobby Jakel, Benjamin Gnewuch & Dylan Nissen

2nd Place: $800/Team & 900 Global Bowling Ball
Brian LeHouillier, Sergei Varvil & Artyom Varvil

3rd Place: $600/Team & 900 Global Bowling Shirt
Harley Aumann, Victor Morrow & Joseph Leonard

4th Place: $400/Team & 900 Global Bowling Shirt
Bennie Cooper, Wyatt Walker & Adrian Webster

5th-10th Place: $300/Team
James Seelig, Noah Grande & Jonah Last
Jaelynn Hoehnen, Adan Guerrero & Will Hudson
Jay Heinzelman, Andrew Frazier & Jesse Hawkins
Mike Meifert, Eason Taylor & Paxton Bauer
Ron Buxbaum, Nolan Valerine & Lucas Will
Zack Woelfel, Genevieve Labinski & Bryson Wallenkamp

11th-15th Place: $200/Team
Jesse Burt, Adriana Spalsbury & Kaya Czekay
Dondrey Cockerham, Aubin Williams & Bryce Irwin
Steve Dekerf, Gina Klamik & Josh Davey
Ron Vokes, Kasey Hughes & Brennan Borman
Stephen Hoehnen, Steven Florian & Jerry Florian

16th-20th Place: $100/Team
Tim Felsinger, Payton Davis & Jayden McDonald
Steven Monson, Brayden Champion & Ian Kloss
Glenn Schwandt, Jacob Krutina & Alexis Aumann
Steve Mertins, Sakinah Thomas & Aaliyah White
Cassie Hoehnen, Mercedes Labinski & Sariya Davis

Jennifer Krueger Award - $100 Scholarship Prize Money & Trophy
Kaya Czekay +151 over average

Adam Schultz Award - $100 Scholarship Prize Money & Trophy
Adrian Webster +161 over average

Chuck Eberhardt Team Award - $100/Team & Trophy
Bobby Jakel, Benjamin Gnewuch & Dylan Nissen

SCRATCH DIVISION

1st Place: $1,000/Team. JHOFT Trophy, 900 Global Bowling Ball & I AM Bowling $50 Certificate
Dave Beres, Aiden Walter & Dylan Smith

2nd Place: $800/Team & 900 Global Bowling Ball
Chris Hill, McKenzie Mattice & Jade Oelke

3rd Place: $600/Team & 900 Global Bowling Shirt
Bobby Corragio, Rory Stubler & Justin Gmach

4th Place: $400/Team & 900 Global Bowling Shirt
Jacob Boresch, Eric Roberts & Braden Schuld

5th Place: $300/Team
Melanie McDaniel, Joseph Napierkowski & Joshua Hawkins

6th-8th Place: $200/Team
Matt Hibbard, Dake Titus & Devin Titus
Nicole Burt, Braden Mallasch & Luke Winter
Cotie Holbeck, Travis Tock & Leland Beniger

Jennifer Krueger High Series Award - $100 Scholarship Prize Money & Trophy
Jade Oelke – 885 Series

Adam Schultz High Series Award - $100 Scholarship Prize Money & Trophy
Devis Titus – 935 Series

Chuck Eberhardt Team Award - $100/Team & Trophy
Chris Hill, McKenzie Mattice & Jade Oelke