Pocatello hosts youth bowlers from across the state

Kids hit the lanes in Pocatello Saturday and Sunday as part of the Idaho State Youth Championship Tournament.

Each year, the tournament rotates to a different location in the state and this year, Pocatello is playing host to it.

Around 300 youth bowlers from throughout Idaho will be in town this weekend and next.

The youngest bowlers, called “bumper bowlers,” got the tournament off to rolling start by throwing out the first ball. With a couple hundred kids, and their families, coming to Tough Guy Lanes to compete, it’s a big boost for business.

“With the kids you always get the moms and the dads and all that stuff so it really helps our bottom line, especially since we start getting slow in the summer months,” said Pat Luras, owner of Tough Guy Lanes. “So it’s good to have the tournament. It’s guaranteed money for the economy.”

The bowling alley isn’t the only business that said it’s benefiting from having the tournament in town. Other businesses that see an influx are hotels, like the Clarion Inn.

James West, general manager for the Clarion Inn, said not only does the motel see an increase in business, but money it makes also benefits the city.

“The tax revenue that we make off the rooms helps the community,” said West. “It’s taxes that locals aren’t paying so that’s a big deal.”

Local restaurants such as Perkins also benefit from more people in Pocatello. Perkins general manager, Stan Hales, said he agrees that the benefits are widespread in the city.

“Every event that comes to Pocatello is new dollars infused into our community,” said Hales. “It has that trickle effect. They come here and buy from us, they buy from the gasoline stations and that helps us to go do things in the community. It just has a good trickle down effect.”

“The ultimate goal is to be a part of the community, and to help them out and in the long run, they’ll help us out,” said West. “As a business we thrive on the community just as much as the community thrives on us.”

This year, the tournament also brought a little extra pride to the community as Pocatello’s own 12-year-old Braedon Kelley set a record. He’s now the youngest bowler in Pocatello to roll a perfect 300 game. He credits his dad with helping him reach his first ever 300 game.

“I was really excited when it happened,” said Kelley. “My dad helped me through the lanes, like how they were oiled and so I just played the lanes like he told me to and it just worked out,” said Kelley.

State officials at the tournament also believe he set a state record, too. Tournament officials are still trying to confirm for sure with the U.S. Bowling Congress if it’s a record for Idaho. USBC has not sent confirmation yet.