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Midlothian teen wins national bowling championship

TL;DR: Midlothian teen Clayton Washington won the 2026 U18 National Junior Gold bowling championship in Minneapolis, finishing first among his age group after competing through qualifying and stepladder finals.

The story

Clayton Washington of Midlothian won the 2026 U18 Boys National Junior Gold bowling championship after competing at the week-long tournament held July 11-18, 2026 in the Minneapolis area. The stepladder finals took place at Cedarvale Lanes, where Washington defeated Brett Biondo of Carpentersville, Illinois to claim the title. The victory came down to a deciding moment on a single 10-pin spare.

The Junior Gold Championships, held for the first time in Minnesota, drew nearly 3,500 young athletes competing across four age-based divisions: U12, U14, U16 and U18. Competitors advanced through qualifying rounds at 10 bowling centers in the Greater Minneapolis area, followed by advancers' rounds, bracket match play, and stepladder finals competition. Washington's performance was significant enough to earn him a place on the Junior Team USA 2027 roster alongside five other top finishers: Brett Biondo of Carpentersville, Illinois; Emmanuel Guevara of Largo, Florida; Braden McDonough of Coppell, Texas; Spiros Schenk of Newnan, Georgia; and Kai Strothers of Maplewood, New Jersey.

Key players

• Clayton Washington: U18 Boys champion from Midlothian, Virginia; selected for Junior Team USA 2027
• USA Bowling: Sanctioning organization for the Junior Gold Championships

Key dates

• July 11-18, 2026: 2026 Junior Gold Championships tournament dates
• July 2026: Clayton Washington wins U18 Boys championship at stepladder finals

Why it matters: The achievement represents a major athletic accomplishment for a Chesterfield County resident, recognizing young competitive bowling at the national level while also securing Washington's selection to represent the United States on the 2027 Junior Team USA in international competition.

Places

• Cedarvale Lanes
• Minneapolis
• Greater Minneapolis area

Related links

• 2026 Junior Gold Championships Results
• USA Bowling Junior Gold Championships

Read the original at WTVR CBS 6 (YouTube) →

Sources

• BOWL.com - National champions crowned at 2026 Junior Gold Championships
• BOWL.com - 2026 Junior Gold Championships set to begin in Minneapolis
• BOWL.com - 2026 Junior Gold Championships Results
• YouTube - Clayton Washington's championship moment