2025 JBT Las Vegas Main Event- recap article

singles finalists Ernesto Reynoso, Avery Domaguin, Elias O'Hollaren, Katelyn Abigania, Andrew Wang, Rylen Funasaki

for immediate release

REYNOSO, DOMAGUIN, WANG WIN JBT MAIN EVENT TITLES; $70K+ AWARDED!

          After four days of intense competition by youth bowlers from around the world, it was Californians who came out on top, capturing the coveted singles championships at the 22^nd annual JBT Las Vegas Main Event, hosted by South Point and contested at the amazing South Point Bowling Plaza.

          Scratch singles came down to two talents with endless resumes.  Ernesto Reynoso, Folsom CA, a two-time Team USA member, came up with the big string in the finale to beat 24-time JBT legend Elias O’Hollaren of San Diego for the title and $5,000 top scholarship prize.

          Handicap singles came down to the final frame, as Irivine, CA’s Andrew Wang climbed the ladder from the sixth seed, then calmly struck in the tenth to beat top seed Rylen Funasaki of Pearl City, HI.  They split a whopping $8,900 in scholarships, with Wang getting the $5,200 winner’s share.

          Girls scratch singles was a battle of friends and now Vanderbilt freshmen teammates, Avery Domaguin and Katelyn Abigania.  Both grew up in the same San Diego center (as did Elias- what a hotbed of talent!), and it’s no surprise to anyone following girls bowling to see them play for the title.  After Domaguin scraped out marks on a low scoring pair, a brutal tenth frame open from Abigania made the difference, with Avery escaping for the win, $2,000 top prize, and long-awaited first Main Event singles title.

          Kalin Ogata and Daryus Alo’s 1436 six-game doubles total edged defending champs Brandon Rother and Jason Gootzeit by one pin for the scratch crown, while brothers TJ and Zach Hardy won handicap doubles with 1316. 

          Eight 300 games were fired at the event over the 8,000 lines bowled. 12 year-old Japanese phenom Taiga Minagawa rolled the first and maybe most exciting, while perennial star Kevin Magnuson became the first to roll two 300s in one Main Event, firing two during qualifying rounds.

          Twelve Junior Gold spots were awarded in a separate qualifier, twelve Brunswick brand balls were raffled off, and over $70,000 in scholarships were earned by all ages and skill levels.   Giant thanks to the team at South Point for their fantastic hosting job, all of our sponsors and vendors, especially title sponsors IAM Bowling and the Brands of Brunswick, and of course every family and bowler who attended.  Over $70,000 in scholarships were awarded to all ages and skill levels- come be a part of it at the 2026 Main Event, Dec 26-30, again at South Point, and JBT events year-round!

Scratch finalists

Girls Scratch finalists

Handicap fnalists