LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University junior-to-be men's bowler Jeremy Kinealy (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) recently earned an automatic qualification spot for the 2023 Junior Team USA following his performance at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships that was held on July 11-15 at Fairlanes Bowling Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
Kinealy earned his automatic spot on the 2023 Junior Team USA following a second place finish after 26 games of qualifying at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships. At the 2022 Junior Gold Championships, the top four qualifiers after 26 games of qualifying, the event champion and the event runner-up all earned automatic qualification for the 2023 Junior Team USA.
 
After 26 games of qualifying, Kinealy recorded a total of 5,492 pins and averaged 211.23 per game and that earned him the No. 2 seed in the U20 Boys Division Bracket. In Bracket play, Kinealy fell 437-377 in the first round to fall into the elimination bracket.
 
In the elimination bracket, Kinealy picked up a first-round win over Nolan Blessing, 343-327, before falling in the quarterfinals of the elimination bracket to Nick Dischinger, 407-378.
 
Kinealy opened play at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships by sitting in sixth place after the first four games of qualifying as he recorded a total of 925 pins and averaged 231.25 per game. In the next four games of qualifying, Kinealy moved up one spot to fifth after recording an 850 to push his grand total through eight games to 1,775 (221.88 per game average).
 
Three games of 200 or better helped Kinealy move into third place following the third round of qualifying. In the third round, he recorded an 850 to push his 12-game total to 2,625 for an average of 218.75 per game.
 
Kinealy would remain in third place following the fourth round of qualifying as he recorded a total of 854 pins to push his 16-game total to 3,479 pins for an average of 217.44 per game.
 
Following 16 games of qualifying, Kinealy moved into second place following five games in the Advancer Round 1. In the Advancer Round 1, Kinealy recorded four games of 200 or better and tallied 1,037 for five games to push his 21-game total to 4,516 pins for an average of 215.05 per game.
 
Kinealy would record three games of 200 or better in the final five games in the Advancer Round 2 to finish qualifying in second place. In the Advancer Round 2, Kinealy recorded 976 pins to push his 26-game qualifying total to 5,492 pins for an average of 211.23 per game.
 
The Junior Team USA, which was coached by McKendree Director of Bowling Bryan O'Keefe from 2017-20, competes in several prestigious events all over the world, such as the World Youth Championships. The team is comprised of 18 boys and 18 girls. O'Keefe is currently the head coach of Team USA Bowling. 
 
Joining Kinealy as automatic qualifiers for the 2023 Junior Team USA are as follows:

Spencer Robarge, Springfield, Mo. (first after 26 games of qualifying)
Julian Salinas, Richmond, Texas (third after 26 games of qualifying)
Nathan Smith, Noblesville, Ind. (fourth after 26 games of qualifying)
Justin Bohn, Jackson, N.J. (2022 Junior Gold Champion)
Ryan Barnes, Denton, Texas (2022 Junior Gold Runner-up)