THE 2026 YOUTH NEW MEXICO OPEN

champs & finalists; champs Gage and Grayson with Anthony Albrecht & Rob Ballog of Tenpins

          Gage Baker of Yorba Linda CA and Rio Rancho’s own Grayson Archuleta earned the scratch and handicap titles of JBT’s Youth New Mexico Open, in exciting Mountain Conference action hosted by Tenpins & More.

          Defending champion Aiden Ruiz-Jimenez began the scratch division stepladder finals with a 236-173 win over fellow Albuquerque bowler Xavier Provencher.  Erik Vallejo of Amarillo, TX then announced his presence (having just moved up to scratch) with a 206-182 win over Ruiz-Jimenez to move on to the title match.

          Top seed Baker, last season’s All-Conference Bowler of the Year runner-up, looked strong through five games of qualifying and five more of matchplay, but had his two hands full with a determined Vallejo, who took the match to the tenth frame.  Needing a mark, Gage calmly flushed his first ball in the tenth, keying the 225-210 win and the 15^th title of his outstanding JBT career.

          Archuleta led the handicap event through much of matchplay, but stumbled at the end, barely hanging to the fourth and final seed over Estephan Arriola and Alex West.  Whatever he lost he quickly refound however, putting together a brilliant stepladder beginning with a 257-206 win over Colorado’s Casie Kranz.  He then made it two for two over Colorado ladies with a big 265-216 win over Gabby Panetta. 

          Top seed Adam Easley, Borger TX, went 5-0 in matchplay to grab the number one spot, but was dealing with hand trouble after the demanding weekend.  He bowled well considering that but Grayson was a runway train by that point, beating Easley 248-188 for the title, the first of his JBT career.

          In the girls scratch subdivision, Gabby’s big sister Gianna Panetta beat fellow Coloradoan Naomi Kannady for that win, while Vallejo’s big weekend was capped off with the U17 subdivision win courtesy of a defeat of Zach West in that final.  Three bowlers took home balls of their choice from the Brands of Brunswick, who along with IAM Bowling are proud title sponsors of JBT.

          Over $4,000 in scholarships was awarded to bowlers of all ages and skill levels, thanks in part to a $1,000 addition from Tenpins.   Thanks to the entire team at Tenpins for a great job hosting the event; they’re putting a lot into the center, definitely check it out if you’re in the area!  Want in on all this fun for anyone?  Check out our schedule, tell a friend, and email your reservations today!

Date: Saturday and Sunday September 12-13 (This is ONE tournament that is two days long, open to anyone age 21 & under as of 8/1/25. There are three qualifying squads- two Saturday and one Sunday- trying to get into Sunday afternoon's semifinals.  So, you could skip Saturday and just bowl Sunday morning to try to qualify.  But only bowling Saturday wouldn't make sense, since the finals are Sunday.)

Start Time: Saturday qualifying squads at 8:30 AM and approximately 12:30 PM, Sunday qualifying at 8:30 AM; bowlers can choose to enter any squad, and re-enter as space permits.

Reservations:  Please email director@bowljbt.com to reserve a spot.  You can prepay (not required) at the 'Prepaying' section of this website.  Reservations (paid or unpaid) must check in no later than 15 minutes before start time.  At that time, all bowlers will be taken on a first come, first serve basis until the field is full.

Format: Qualifying round is 5 games.  The top 25% of each squad qualifies for Sunday's semifinals, which begin after Sunday qualifying and re-oil, approx. 12:30 PM.  Semifinals are 5 additional matchplay games, with the top 4 bowling a stepladder finals. Bowlers who qualify can still re-enter if they wish to try and improve their score (since scores do carry forward into the semifinals), we'll take your best qualifying score (re-entries as space permits).

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/26 with a 170+ JBT average is automatically entered in the U-17 side event.   Also, every female with a 150+ JBT average is automatically entered in the Girls Scratch side event.   If this is your first JBT event, or had less than 15 games in JBT competition last season, and you wish to bowl handicap, we will be asking for average info.  In most cases, your highest average from any current form of organized competition of at least 15 games is what we need.  If you don't have 15 games yet this season, we need your highest finishing average from any form of competition in the 2025-26 season, AND any finishing 2026 summer league averages.  If you bowl multiple leagues / clubs, bring everything and we'll sort it out for you.  After your first JBT event, your average is re-rated before every JBT event according to JBT rules.  Please see JBT Rule 13 for complete details.

Points:  This event counts for DOUBLE Mountain and All-Conference points.  Points qualify you for the big money season-ending Invitationals and Touring Players Championship, so get all you can.  Visit the 'statistics' section of the website to check on your points.  As the end of the season, the top 40 in Mountain points advance to that Invitational.

Entry fee: $60 for the first entry ($63 by credit card on-site), $50 for re-entries (as space permits).  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for Brands of Brunswick bowling balls, and our PowerBowl and '31' jackpots, are available on-site. 

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes are $600, $300, $150, $150.  Bowlers must finish in the top 4 twice in this conference this season to qualify for this conference's Invitational, which features $1,000 for first place.  Bowlers who finish in the top 20 in a conference's points race, or the top 120 in all-conference points, qualify for the 2026 Touring Players Championship, featuring $3,000 for first.

Lane conditions: conditions vary from event to event, and are not posted prior to the event (unless otherwise announced).  Some events do not post the pattern until after qualifying.  Be ready for anything- it makes you a better bowler!  Check out previous patterns and corresponding cut scores at the 'lane conditions' section of this website to get an idea of what you might expect.

Dress code:  Anything goes EXCEPT tank tops, gym shorts, clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, or firearms, or excessively ripped or short clothing, subject solely to the director's discretion.  However, bowlers wearing slacks or dress shorts/skirts, and a 'name shirt' or PBA-style 'dye-sub' shirt, or college or high school team shirt, earn an extra 10 points on their season-long points total.  If you're not sure about dress code, check with us.  If you're new to us, the vast majority of the bowlers do dress in the 'bonus' dress code, and those points become very important, so plan accordingly.

RESERVED BOWLERS:

This reservation is an expectation that you will be bowling.  PLEASE do not forget to contact us if you need to cancel or adjust your reservation.  Repeated 'no-shows' may result in you not being able to reserve a spot.  This list may not be updated after the Friday of the event as we travel, etc. 

Entry priority: 1) first time bowlers until the field is full.  2) first time bowlers on a lottery basis until the field is full.  3) 1st time re-entrants who missed the cut until the field is full.  4) 2nd time re-entrants until the field is full.   5) bowlers who made the cut and wish to re-enter, until the field is full.