Izzie Jones, third from right, won the Girls 12-and-under Junior Gold National Championship Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is joined by, from left, her grandmother Beverly Mahoney-Corum, sister Lexie Jones, mother Kylee Jones, sister Emmie Jones, father Chris Jones and sister Ellie Jones.
Submitted photo
Izzie Jones can call herself a national champion.
After finishing third in 2023 and 10th in 2024, the Edinburgh resident and incoming seventh-grader at St. Peter’s Lutheran went through the bowling competition in becoming the champion in the U12 Girls Junior Gold Nationals.
Jones defeated Caitlin Stahl from Minnesota 213-196 in the championship match Sunday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“It still hasn’t fully set in yet. I walk home, see that trophy and I can’t believe it,” Jones said. “I put in a lot of practice, especially before I left. A lot of people helped me along the way. I had great coaching, and I felt like I could have done more. I was really excited, really happy, but it hasn’t fully set in yet.”
Jones began bowling when she was as young as 3 years old and has been practicing at Columbus Bowling Center.
It was more than a year ago that Jones suffered a setback. During practice, she felt sudden pain in her knee. After putting ice on it and caring for it at home, the injury lingered. A week later, she decided to visit an orthopedic doctor. After getting an X-ray, it was discovered that her kneecap was out of place.
Jones went through several weeks of therapy. When she went back to the doctor for a checkup, it was discovered that her patella had developed scar tissue, and surgery was recommended. She had the surgery a few days after the high school season bowling season ended.
Jones healed quickly following the surgery and was back on the bowling lanes in only 12 days.
“It wasn’t too long, but seeing people at the bowling alley having fun with their families and having a great time, it was kind of sad,” Jones said. “All I could do was sit there and couldn’t do a whole lot.”
Izzie Jones won the Girls 12-and-under Junior Gold National Championship Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Submitted photo
After finishing 10th last year, Jones was determined for better results. She was the top seed heading into this year’s tournament. She made it all the way to the championship match.
In the championship match against Stahl, Jones started off with four strikes, but then ran into some trouble in the seventh frame when her first shot went into the gutter. That gutter opened the door for Stahl, but she was unable to convert. Stahl recorded a split in the final frame, giving the championship to Jones, who came back with strikes in the eighth and ninth frames.
“Sitting in the chair waiting for (Stahl) to bowl her tenth frame, and she left the split, I looked over at my sister and started immediately putting my head in my hands and started bawling my eyes out,” Jones said. “It was crazy. I went to my competitor, gave her a hug and immediately went over to my parents like, ‘I did it.’ It was so amazing!”
The championship match will air at 7 p.m. Tuesday on CBS Sports Network.
It was a long journey for Jones and the ultimate redemption after the disappointment last year.
“She’s really advanced herself as a 12 year old bowler. I always see the upside she has. She’s been pretty tough when she’s bowling against other 12-year-olds,” said Chris Jones, Izzie’s father and coach. “It’s been a long process, for sure. It’s a great feeling for her to step up her performance.”
