Fulton youth places in bowling nationals

12-year-old Isaiah Mackley follows through on a strike at Fulton Bowling Center Monday. The boy took 13th in the International Family Tournament with his grandfather in Jupiter, Fla., and gold at the Show-Me State Games with his stepfather, Jim Boone.
12-year-old Isaiah Mackley follows through on a strike at Fulton Bowling Center Monday. The boy took 13th in the International Family Tournament with his grandfather in Jupiter, Fla., and gold at the Show-Me State Games with his stepfather, Jim Boone.

A 12-year-old Fulton boy has bowled his way to 13th place out of 32 at the International Family Tournament in Jupiter, Fla.

Isaiah Mackley and his grandfather Bob earned a spot in the tournament after winning the Family Doubles Tournament in Doniphan. The duo bowled a 2,691 in six games at The Jupiter tournament July 27. Though they didn't rank high enough to advance to the next round of frame the following day, the younger Mackley went home with an $800 scholarship, which he hopes to use one day at a college with a good bowling program, such as the universities of Kansas or Nebraska.

"I am a very excited parent," said Isaiah's mother, Kenesha Boone. "I didn't think he would be into it as much now, but now he wants to go into Junior Gold and is talking about tours and wants to get a sponsor, and he's wanting to take it all the way."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.