COLUMBUS — Hurling bowling balls down a 60-foot lane at between 16 and 19 miles per hour, high school bowlers from across Ohio met at HP Lanes in Columbus on Saturday for the high school Division II State Championship.
Among the individual hopefuls was Fredericktown junior Jordan Moore and his assortment of 15-pound bowling balls. After the final gate dropped, Jordan registered a 566 series and finished, according to his coach, Shaun Stephen, “in the middle of the pack.”
Final results were not available at the time of publication at the OHSAA website.
Prior to rolling the first frame, Stephen said he has been with the Fredericktown program almost since Day One.
“We have had the program for eight or 10 years and I have been with it all but one,” the coach said.
In sports like football, basketball and the occasional baseball game, coaches may be seen loudly instructing their players from the sidelines and even helping an official with their job.
In bowling, very little of that is witnessed. Coaching bowling is a bit different.
“It is mainly about keeping focus,” Stephen explained. “It’s more the mental game, maintaining pace.
“Don’t go too slowly or too fast, that’s the crucial thing.”
As for Moore, the coach thinks the skill may be in the genes.
“Jordan kind of grew up at Trio Lanes (in Fredericktown) he has had a lot of talent from a very young age,” Stephen said.
He went on to explain that More’s grandfather owned the bowling alley in the young man’s formative years. Presently Moore’s uncle and aunt own Trio, so it remains a family affair.
Jordan said that this is the culmination of a lifetime of work.
“It’s been hard, I have worked hard for it and it is nice to finally get my shot,” Moore said. “I’m just going to work harder for next year.”
Stephen said his bowler had a superb winter on the lanes, that culminated at state-level competition.
“I’m very proud of him, he had a very good year,” the coach said.