THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260286
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
KENDRA ALLEN, All-American.
The 18-year-old Portsmouth bowler has been named to the first All-America youth duckpin bowling team, chosen by the National Duckpin Youth Association.
The NDYA embraces all sanctioned youth leagues in the country.
Allen was chosen on the Major Girls team, which includes bowlers between the ages of 16 and 21. Only five bowlers were selected. It was based on averages.
She was the only southern Virginia bowler picked on any of the All-America teams, which include Preps (7-9), Bantams (10-12), Juniors (13-15) and Majors for both boys and girls.
``I'm very pleased about that,'' said Allen, a freshman at Tidewater Community College and a June graduate of Wilson High School. ``I am hopeful of continuing in youth bowling for a few more years until college may keep me away.''
Allen expects to enter the University of South Carolina after two years at Tidewater Community College.
``South Carolina is the only college on the East coast that offers sports administration and management with an internship in the senior year,'' she said.
This past season, Allen carried a 126 average, the highest mark among youth duckpin bowlers in Hampton Roads.
Actually, she bowled even better the previous season when she averaged 132. This was the highest average ever posted by a local youth league bowler.
Her coach in the Victory Youth League, Raymond Askew, said the decline was not due to any drop in her talent.
``Kendra was just going through a growing stage, getting taller, and it caused her timing to be off a little.''
The 5-10 1/2 Allen, a 128-pound right-hander, grew about an inch during the past year.
``She has more ability than anyone I have ever coached and she definitely will be among the top bowlers in the country when she decides to enter the adult leagues,'' added Askew.
Askew rates her as being comparable to former Chesapeake bowler Kathy Spindler, who was a youth league star before Askew became a coach but who has been ranked nationally (as high as No. 2) as an adult bowler.
``We've never had a youth league bowler carry the average that Kendra has,'' added Askew.
Enrolling in college last week, Allen met part of her expenses with a $500 scholarship she won in bowling earlier this year. She qualified to compete in the 21st annual Coca-Cola Youth Duckpin Championship in June at Newington, Conn.
In that tournament, she registered the highest scratch three-game series by a girl bowler (393) to win the grant.
Her team, which won the state championship, finished third in the Major Division of the tournament.
This past school year, Allen was a student athletic trainer at Wilson.
A former athlete herself, Allen threw the discus for two years at Cradock High School. As a junior and senior, she was on the volleyball team at Wilson.
She plans to help Wilson girls volleyball coach John Thomas this year as a volunteer assistant.
A once-a-week league bowler who only practices when she is scheduled to compete in tournaments, Allen plans to make a career in sports - but not as a bowler.
``I would like to become either a college athletic director or work in the front office of a professional baseball or basketball team,'' Allen said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Kendra Allen, 18, has been named to the first All-America youth
duckpin bowling team, chosen by the National Duckpin Youth
Association.
by CNB