Aidan Furukawa #afurukawa_bowling

Double tournament weekend!! 🚨Long Post🚨

Started off bowling the 7-12th grade doubles championships on Saturday at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. Bowled with Tim Campbell for the first squad and Brendan Tahsler for the second shift. Tim and I started off hot with a 278 but couldn’t get much else going. Had a tricky right lane while the left lane was good to us. Finished +59 for 8 games which unfortunately wasn’t enough to cash.

Second squad with Brendan went a little better. Started slow but finished strong with a 280 to go +183 which was enough to place 8th and get some scholarships. Had a great time bowling with both of them this weekend.

Day two was the last regular JTBA event of the season before the tour championships. Qualifying went pretty good for me, +109 for 5, which put me 4th going into match play. Used the Journey, Attention Star, and DNA Coil during qualifying.

During match play, I stuck with what had been working for me all day using the DNA Coil. Bowled a great match one to advance. Then got a super tricky pair for match two. Lanes were super tight and any miss was a big miss. Made a ball change to the Infinite Physix. A huge 2-4-8-10 split conversion solidified the come from behind victory to advance. Got to bowl my good friend Kyle Dunne for match 3 for the first time in a JTBA. Got quite a few good breaks to help me get through to the finals. In the finals, I bowled good but my opponent just bowled crazy good. Finished 2nd shooting a 444 to a really solid 508 series.

Not much you can do except give hats off to a really good match. Even though I didn’t get the win, I felt like I threw the ball really good and I made very few mistakes. Great ball changes at the right times and just really good manipulation and control. Overall a really good weekend and not much to critique.

Here are a few clips with a mic - enjoy!!!

Got to bowl in the National Youth Team event this year on Team Yes Ball with good friends Joe Merz, Cadyn Pranger, Carson Shroyer, Curtis Swezey, and Nick Weidenbach. For our four individual games we bowled on a 33ft 1:1 pattern and I didn’t bowl the greatest. Shot 731 for 4, missed 3 makeables, and just split too much. Team was sitting in 2nd going into our first set of bakers on the short pattern. We struggled a bit and went -342 for 12. However, that was good enough to stay tied for 2nd overall.

On day two, we bowled 12 more bakers on a long 49ft 1:1 pattern, before cutting to top 4 overall. We bowled much better and went -124 taking the overall lead headed into match play. Unfortunately, we got stumped in match play with some missed spares and unfortunate breaks. 3rd place overall with the team, which is not bad, but ultimately not where we wanted to be.

Thank you to coach Launi Swezey and coach Jason Pranger for being there and coaching us all weekend. Thank you also to the parents for taking us all and for the support. Had a blast bowling and growing some friendships.

Balls used:
(Storm) Ice
(Storm) Proton Physix
(Storm) Fast Pitch

Finally with High School season officially at its end, tournament season starts right back up. First JTBA of 2024 today at palace lanes. Bowling on an old 2018 SYC pattern, 7.26:1 ratio. Started out really good going clean through 30 including a nice little 793 in there using my absolute power. Finished qualifying off with a 1,211 (+211, 242.2 avg) series putting me at 3rd. Scoring pace was high as cut was +125 after 5 games. I was able to pretty easily get by my first match to move on to bowl my good friend Bobby Brennan. it was a somewhat close one but I was able to move on to the semis where I ran into some carry troubles and that would unfortunately end my run.

Overall though a 3rd place finish to start out isn’t to bad. To add since getting back onto challenge/sport shots my lowest 3 games series since has been 680. Others have been 743, 728, and 793. Spares were really good when it mattered today and only missed a couple make ables. Finally feel like I’m getting back to where I want to be.

Balls of choice today
⁃ Storm Absolute Power
⁃ Storm Pink Physix
⁃ Roto Grip Nuclear Cell
⁃ 900 Global Eternity Pi

After placing first in sectionals last week, the Big Walnut Boys High School team took home their first-ever Division I Central District title today. This comes a year after the Boys team advanced to State for the very first time. On to the 2024 OHSAA Division I State Championships next week!

On top of that, I was able to defend my 2023 Division I Central District Boys Individual title shooting 743 today. The 900 Global Eternity Pi and Roto Grip UFO Alert did most of the damage today.

Huge thanks to Coach Conner, Coach Zach, my teammates, parents and friends for an incredible season. Special thanks to Jo Dimond, Gary Joyce and everyone involved in organizing and running the competitions.

On to next week to hopefully go out with a bang and wrap up my high school bowling career.

🐝

Two Current, Two Incoming, and One Former Bowler Earn Spots on Team USA - Savannah College of Art and Design Athletics LAS VEGAS, Nev. – SCAD men's bowlers Julian Salinas and Justin Bohn have earned spots on Team USA and Junior Team USA. SCAD Alumnus Alex Glinski also earned a spot on Team USA, while incoming freshmen Christian Liquori and Aidan Furukawa earned spots on Junior Team USA.

Exciting week in Vegas!

2024 commits Aidan Furukawa and Christian Liquori along with Sophomore Justin Bohn and Junior Julian Salinas all earned spots on 2024 Junior Team USA

Julian was name the 2024 US Amateur Champion and was joined by SCAD Bowling alum Alex Glinski as part of Team USA 2024

We’re proud of our bees 🐝

I am happy to announce that I have committed to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to continue my educational and bowling career. It has not been an easy path to come to this decision but I am beyond excited for the future. I want to thank all my friends and family for the support, my parents and coaches for helping and guiding me to where I am to have this opportunity. 🐝⚫️🟡

Bowled my first NWIJTPA event of the 2023-2024 season in Lafayette, Indiana. Bowled 5 games of qualifying on a higher volume, 35' 1:2.8 pattern. Then cut field and bowled 3 more games before final cut to match play. Top two qualifiers after 8 games received a first round bye for bracketed matchplay.

It was a bit of an up and down day. Shot 1003 for qualifying which had me leading going into the first cut. After 8 games total, I ended up -25 which was good enough for a solid lead over 2nd to give me a first round bye. First round of matchplay for me was the semifinals. I was able to sneak out a win to move on to the finals with 181. In the finals, the lanes were just touchy and was dealt some really bad breaks. I only missed the pocket once (the first frame). Ultimately a missed 7 pin cost me the win losing 193-203. Two pocket 7-10’s and a stone 8 in the 11th didn’t help either but can’t make excuses.

Physically, I didn’t throw the ball as well as I wanted to and I missed way too many spares throughout the day. However, the effort was there and I did what I needed to give me a shot at the win. Unfortunately, in the end, it was another 2nd place finish.

Having said that, this was third event out of the past five where I've led qualifying. I'm doing what I need to give me a chance...

Balls of choice were:
Storm Fast Pitch, !Q Tour, Infinite PhysiX, Nova
Roto Grip Exotic Gem
900 Global Zen Gold Label

My family and I are thankful to have gotten a chance to meet you and will always remember you making us feel so welcome while visiting Storm HQ. RIP, Mr. Chrisman.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Bill Chrisman, the esteemed co-founder and CEO of Storm Bowling. With profound grief, we bid farewell to a visionary leader who dedicated his life to revolutionizing the sport of bowling.

Read more: www.stormbowling.com/in-loving-memory-of-bill-chrisman-co-founder-and-ceo-of-storm-bowling

Entries are now open for the SYC - Rhode Island ➡ bit.ly/SYCRhodeIsland

Posted this on Instagram right after I won the 2023 Junior Gold Championships:

(Long post) I can’t even express how this feels, coming into this year it was my first u18 and I just wanted to make final advancers. Now I’m sitting here calling myself a national champion. Qualifying was the most consistent bowling I’ve ever had, +95, +99, +122, and +79 to put me first after 16 games. Advancers round was tough and I started to fry a little bit but with the help of some friends I stayed in the moment and only dropped to 2nd. Final advancers was another grind and I would end up qualifying 3rd for match play also securing my spot on JR TEAM USA🔴⚪️🔵! I won all 4 of my matches including a very close 3rd round that secured my spot on the show and winning the 4th round to be the number one seed. On the show I proved why spares are important, not having a single double and only 4 total strikes I won clean 197-181 against a good friend to secure the deal. Can’t put into words how this feels. Got to join along side Carter Street and Jenna Stretch to bring it home to O-HI-O!!!

Thank you to my parents for enduring this long stressful week and driving me around everywhere. Thank you to my coach who while he couldn’t be there picked up the phone every day and night that I called. Super special thanks to Tim Mack who not only helped me but had the belief that I could win, but called it a month ago when I first met him. Also lastly… thank you to everyone who supported me the entire way through matchplay and on the show. I couldn’t be more thankful to have the best crew in the world and we definitely made some noise out there. Thank you to Storm for making the best equipment available for me to throw. And thank you to the USBC for running this every year. (Balls that made the bag: DNA, !Q Tour, Infinite PhysiX, Pitch Black, Ice)

One seat there in that crowd during the TV finals that I wish was filled by someone special. I wish you were still here to see what I’ve accomplished and I love you so much!! I guess that it’s fitting that this is the year I win…

https://www.facebook.com/reel/840115057119013

Here is a look behind the scenes of what went on during the CBS Sports Network telecast that you won't see. Interviews, full player introductions, warm ups, and my Junior Team USA presentation.

Tune in tonight...CBS Sports Network, 9pm ET.

TONIGHT at 9 p.m. Eastern! Tune into CBS Sports Network to watch the U18 finals from the 2023 Junior Gold Championships!

The girl's championship finals will feature Gianna Brandolino, Karina Capron, and Kaitlyn Stull, and the boy's finale will include Aidan Furukawa, Daniel Robertson, and Andrew Robitaille.

Came in clutch with the cheese heads! another great tournament by storm!!!🎳🎳

Here is a story on the 2023 Junior Gold Championships and making Junior Team USA!

Big Walnut bowler Aidan Furukawa earns spot on Junior Team USA by winning U18 title Big Walnut senior Aidan Furukawa won the U18 title at the 2023 Junior Gold Championships on Saturday to earn a spot on Junior Team USA.

The fourth round of qualifying has concluded 2023 Junior Gold Championships. Competed back at Western Bowl bright and early. Started off rough choosing the wrong ball. I quickly woke up, made the necessary adjustments, and finished +79 for the block (219.75 average). As all U18 boys squads are now complete, after 16 qualifying games across 4 difficult patterns across two centers, I sit +395 overall (224.69 average) which hangs on to the top spot by a slim 15 pin margin. The field has now been cut to the top 188 from the original 1,313 field.

Job isn’t done yet as there is still plenty of bowling left to go! 10 more games of qualifying tomorrow across two new patterns, which typically are even more difficult. Then hopefully on to match play where the Top 16 compete for the overall title.

2023 Junior Gold Championships third round of qualifying is complete for me. This morning was again at Expo. I had a good look playing multiple angles on this pattern during the practice session. My ex*****on was again solid, but like the past two rounds, I did leave a few pins out there. After shooting +122 (230.5 average) today, I’m currently sitting at +316 overall. As of this post, that leads the U18 boys division with the late squads still to compete.

On to round four tomorrow...still a lot more bowling left.

Second round of 2023 Junior Gold Championships qualifying is complete. This afternoon was at Expo. My goal for the round was to go +100 and get to +200 overall. I came close going +99 for the day. Ex*****on was solid, but I did leave a few pins out there today that prevented me from reaching the goals. Overall, I'm sitting 4th place overall at +194 (averaging 224.25). Pretty happy with the results so far, but there is a lot more bowling left ahead.

On to round three tomorrow...