Kayson Stewart, Mason Morris bring home YBC Junior Doubles national banner

Mason Morris, Brandon Morris and Kayson Stewart celebrate their 2026 Youth Bowling Canada (YBC) Fivepin junior boys doubles national championship victory. (Contributed photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Last year in Edmonton, Alberta, Ingersoll’s Kayson Stewart and Mason Morris took measure of the Youth Bowling Canada (YBC) Fivepin junior boys doubles national championship competition.

And before this year’s event, they committed to the work required to rise above it.

“We put in a lot more time, a lot more practice, three or four times a week,” said coach Brandon Morris following the Ingersoll pair’s dominant 2026 Gold Medal victory May 4-6 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. “They were nervous but handled the pressure a lot better this year.”

This was Mason’s second nationals, Kayson’s third, including competing in the 2022 Bantam (up to 10) singles event, where he finished one pin shy of a bronze medal.

“It helped a lot,” said Kayson of that previous and shared experience. Mason noted not one of the competitors they faced this year had been at nationals the year before.

“It really did help us mentally,” Mason said. “We knew a lot more about what was going to come.”

YBC nationals are contested across three days of intense bowling, 21 games in total, six, nine and six respectively. Eight teams from Ontario (Southern and Northern), Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Quebec and Saskatchewan play each other three times. Doubles compete simultaneously in match play against another two-bowler team for a total of three points, one each for individuals head-to-head, and a third for combined score versus combined score. Out of a total of 63 available points (three per 21 games), Stewart and Morris took 50.5. By comparison, silver medallists Alex Brandt and Magnan Hull from the host province finished with 36 points and bronze medallists Kole Pasko and Jaxson Lam from Alberta, 34.5.

Stewart and Morris’ impressive team totals were built on equally impressive individual stats. In 21 games, Kayson averaged 232 with a high of 308. Mason rolled a high of 294 and averaged 234.

By day, their experience began with a comparatively rough start, taking one of three points in their first outing at Dakota Bowling Lanes before settling in and finishing off with 13 of a possible 18.

“It was a bit frustrating,” said Mason. “Then we got the hang of it. Just getting the nerves out of the way.”

Day two moved to Rossmere Lanes, where the Ingersoll duo rolled strongly toward gold, a five-match sweep in games eight through 12 and overall, 24.5 out of 27 points.

“Day two was like moving day,” said coach Morris of zero matches lost and a substantial lead built. “I think we were up by nine.”

Mathematically, the gold medal was not wrapped up at day two’s conclusion.

“But we pretty much kind of did,” said Brandon.

That detail was taken care of on day three at the Polo Park Bowling Centre against then second-place Zayden Ficke and Axl Rachwalksi from British Columbia, a three-point win locking up the title.

“That’s really when we sealed it,” said Mason.

“Me and Brandon both did really well,” added Kayson of his ‘favourite part’ of the experience. “There was a lot of pressure in that game, but we’ve bowled enough to know it wouldn’t bother us.”

“Experience definitely played a factor,” agreed Brandon.

The victory there gave Mason and Kayson three games to enjoy and ‘take it all in,’ said their coach. Mason and Kayson were focused on bowling rather than sightseeing; most of their time was spent at the lanes, eating or sleeping. But they both did very much enjoy the overall experience beyond their gold medal victory.

“It was amazing, met a lot of new people, good people,” said Mason.

“It was really cool to represent South Ontario and meet people from all across Canada,” added Kayson.

Heading into this year, Kayson and Mason had the goal of not only returning to nationals but finishing in the medals.

“It was top three,” said Brandon, “but again, we knew we could do better.”

When they won their nationals qualifier this year, an accomplishment in itself, the team did not celebrate, said the coach.

“It was like we’re after the big one. That was the goal, big as it was, and it was right there.”

Both look to continue bowling next year, when they will move from Junior (11 to 14) up to the Senior (15-19) level. Their junior gold medal victory was celebrated in Winnipeg, but it was laid down in 11 years of experience for each of the 14-year-olds at Ingersoll Lanes, where their national banner, the first earned for the community, will proudly hang.

“This is not just a victory for us,” said Brandon. “It’s for Ingersoll Lanes and everyone who supported these kids, the businesses and families.

“Just a huge win,” he concluded of a satisfying victory many years in the making. “Banners are forever.”