Published: October 18, 2006 12:19 am         

Summer Jasmin named youth bowler of the year

Former Woodrow Wilson High School and current Marshall University student Summer Jasmin was named the 2006 West Virginia USBC Bowling Association Major/Senior Youth Bowler of the Year at the annual WVSUSBCBA awards dinner.

“It was a big surprise,” Jasmin said. “I was in Florida for a big national tournament and the guy who was trying to contact me called the youth league director at Leisure Lanes trying to get a hold of me. She told him I was in this bowling tournament and it was kinda funny just knowing that he was calling me for a bowling award and couldn’t reach me.”

Jasmin was presented with a plaque and $1,000 scholarship by Michael J. Carroll, president of the United States Bowling Congress, and retired pro bowler Dave Davis.

“It’s a bowling award for all the youth bowlers in West Virginia,” she said. “They choose people based on volunteer work and school and outside activities. You also have to send in an essay.”

Her bowling accomplishments include 1996 BPAA/YABA state champion, 2000 state prep team champion, second place 2002 state youth junior team, West Virginia Pepsi Tournament girls scratch division champion (2003, 2004 & 2006 — bowled her highest certified game of 289 and highest certified series of 711 with games of 211, 279 and 221), 2005 state major team tournament champion, second place girls scratch 2005 West Virginia Pepsi Youth Tournament, 2005 state high school handicap mixed champion and 2006 high school scratch division state champion (bowled her first 700 series — 703 with games of 248, 233 and 222).

While 289 is officially her best score, Jasmin bowls well out of competition, too.

“One time I bowled a 290 in practice,” she said. “That’s really about it. In practice, I never really keep track of scores seriously.”

Jasmin started bowling at the age of three at Leisure Lanes in Beckley.

“My parents bowled before I was born,” she said. “After I was born, they would take me to the bowling alley and put my seat up on the table. As I got older, I watched them bowl. They bowled like five days a week. When I was old enough, I got started bowling in the pee-wees with the bumpers, and as I got older, I progressed through all the different divisions.”

She has continued bowling over the years because of the friendships she forged on the lanes.

“Just hanging out with my friends,” Jasmin said. “I bowl every Saturday morning at Leisure Lanes in Beckley. You grow up with most of the people that bowl there, especially the ones that continue bowling. As you get older and you bowl in more tournaments, there is more scholarship money involved and it really pays off once you decide you want to go to college and stuff like that. It’s also like different challenges you can face each time that you bowl.”

Her school, social and civic activities that helped her achieve her award include Woodrow Wilson High School valedictorian, vice president of the National Honor Society, varsity volleyball, member of the 2003 Class AAA volleyball champions, first-team all-conference volleyball (2004-05), second-team all-state volleyball, varsity basketball and a member of the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.

Jasmin entered Marshall University this fall and is majoring in biology. The daughter of Ida and Artemio Jasmin, she plans to further her education and specialize in sports medicine.

— E-mail:

rjett@register-herald.com