By Steve Morris

Abigail Alm is what you call a talented athlete.

In her first year of competitive bowling she won the state title for her age group at the Minnesota Youth Bowling Singles State Tournament.

Right: Abigail Alm became a state champion in bowling after her first year in the sport.

The eighth grader at North Branch Middle School was crowned champion at the state meet at Maple Lanes in Fridley Jan. 12-13.

Her journey to the top started when she qualified for regionals at the in-house qualifying tournament at Stars and Strikes in Wyoming.

From there, she advanced to the district tournament in Aitkin and then to the state finals.

In winning the tournament, she earned herself a $500 college scholarship. (The state finals featured more than $16,000 in scholarship money.)

Alm bowled in the 86-105  division and bowled a 144, 154 and 152 in the finals.

Helping Alm along the way was Casey Colbett, a first-year youth bowling coach at Stars and Strikes.

Alm participates in a youth bowling league at Stars and Strikes each Saturday where she gets coaching from Colbett.

Colbett noted Alm is mature for her age and is always ready to improve. When asked what single trait helped Alm advance so far, Colbett said it was her consistency.

“She seems to have a good concept of it all,” he said. “She’s a good student and listens well.”

Alm is not done with the bowling season yet. She is currently competing in the Pepsi Youth State Tournament.

The irony of it all is bowling isn’t Alm’s favorite sport. She plays soccer, basketball and runs track in the spring.

Regardless of what sport his daughter likes the most, her father, Dave Alm is proud of her accomplishment.

“She handled the pressure very well,” he said. “After the first shot at the finals all the pressure was gone.”

Dave Alm is unnerved with the idea his 14-year-old daughter is good enough to beat him. Her high score is 182.

“That is right up there with me,” he said.

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