Striking down pins is a family tradition in the Arnett household in Prince George.
The Arnett family has bowled for decades at the Black Diamond Lanes and on Saturday three members of the clan will take their stances to Vernon and Kelowna for the 2013 Youth Bowling Canada five-pin Four Steps to Stardom provincial championship.
Jordan Arnett will represent B.C. North (Zone F) in the junior boys single division in Kelowna while his sisters will be in Vernon with 10-year-old Jesslyn competing with the bantam girls team and eight-year-old Jadyn representing the zone in the bantam girls singles competition.
"It's been in a tradition ever since my dad was a kid," said Jesslyn. "My mom used to bowl. My aunties used to bowl. My uncles. Ever since my put me in when I was like three I've been getting better and better each year."
Jesslyn will be bowling with teammates Kaitlyn Harris, Holly Thurston and Jocelyn Meise in Vernon on Saturday afternoon. Only Jesslyn and Meise have had experience at the provincial level in the past. For Jesslyn it's her third time making the Zone F team. Last year both Jesslyn and Jaydn were on the bantam girls team which is a little too much togetherness for the sisters at times.
"We can fight if she gets a better score then me or I get a better score then her," said Jesslyn. "But it's pretty fun to compete against each other."
The sisters competed for the bantam singles spot last December with Jesslyn falling short. The older sibling rolled her way to provincials about three weeks ago in the team competition.
"I guess that day I wasn't feeling it," said Jesslyn about losing to Jaydn. "She did pretty well. She bowled in the 190s. We may fight but I'm proud."
With her 145 average Jesslyn earned the highest score in the team competition putting up 687 points while Jadyn scored 758 to win the singles berth. For Jadyn, who has a 147 average, it was an unsettling experience when she found out she would represent the zone in the singles category.
"They called my name but I didn't hear it," said Jadyn. "Everybody was looking at me. I felt a little bit weird."
Both Jordan and Jadyn have represented Black Diamond Lanes twice before at the YBC provincial championship. Jordan, a Grade 8 student at D.P. Todd secondary school, said he's determined to use his past experience to his advantage.
"I know what to look for," said the 13-year-old with the 186 average. "I feel ready. I just have to stay focused, clean up all my spares and stay in the middle."
A couple years ago Jordan missed out on qualifying for the national championship by seven points.
"I learned that you can't throw any balls away, every one counts," said Jordan.
The success the Arnett kids have had in qualifying three times for the provincial championship gives them some family bragging rights since dad Chris never made it that far.
"It's pretty cool we get to rub it in his face," said Jordan. "I can beat him but he's a good bowler. He gives me little tips on how to go slow and how to really focus."
The top 30 bowlers in Vernon and Kelowna will advance to the nationals in Surrey, May 4-6.
Jesslyn said it would be cool to go to Surrey and if she makes it she knows who would be responsible for helping her achieve the dream.
"I've never made it to nationals so I want it pretty bad," said Jesslyn, who has a team bronze medal from a previous trip to the provincial tournament. "I would thank my coach and thank my team. Most of all I'd thank my dad for supporting me. He's awesome."
