When most sports fans think of April, the major athletic event that comes to mind is the Final Four. However, an often bypassed sport with major events in the month of April is bowling.
The Denny's PBA High School All-American Bowling Championship, part of the Denny's PBA tour, took place in New Brunswick, N.J. the first week of April, concluding April 6 with the final matches in the girls' and boys' divisions.
Various preliminary and qualifying matches took place throughout the week leading up to the championship, pitting eight semifinalists against each other. In the end, four high school seniors from across the United States faced off in the final games. In the girls' match, Samantha Santoro competed with Natalie Cortese, and in the guys' match, Kevin Tatrow went head-to-head with Travis Moyer.
All competitors are known not only for their bowling skills but also for their educational success. By using their athletic skills in this competition, the students were able to gain assistance with their education. The runner-up in each division was rewarded a $2,000 scholarship, and the winners received $3,000.
Cortese, from Hoffman Estates, Ill., won the girls' championship 239-193. From the second through sixth frames, she bowled five straight strikes and had seven total strikes for the entire match. Her high score during the qualifying rounds was 268, and she has an average score of 209.06.
Following high school she plans to attend the University of Central Missouri.
Santoro, the runner-up, is from Reinholds, Penn. She averages a score of 217.5 and has had 12 career 300 games. She is the co-captain and letter winner of Cocalico High School's bowling team, and was the 2007 Pennsylvania State Singles' Champion.
Santoro plans to attend Arkansas State for her post-secondary education.
On the boys' side, Anchorage, Ala. native Moyer defeated Bel Aire, Kan. native Tatrow 237-172. Throughout the championship match, Moyer had two hambones, which are sets of four straight strikes.
Moyer is the captain and a three-year letterman of the West Anchorage High School bowling team, and he averages a score of 199.06. Despite Anchorage's small size, it is a large bowling community. Moyer bowls on the viper oil pattern often, which is the same oil pattern as the PBA High School All-American Championship.
With a 4.1 weighted G.P.A., Moyer currently does not know where he will be going to college in the fall, but his desire is to attend Wichita State. However, he has not yet been accepted because the university lost his application earlier in the year. Moyer also plays alto and soprano saxophone in West Anchorage High School's symphonic band.
Tatrow, who has been bowling since he was 9 years old, led his Wichita Heights High School team to second place in the Kansas State Championship, a city league championship, and two regional championships. He has had one career 300 game and averages a score of 200. Throughout the preliminary rounds of this competition, his highest score was 255.
Taltrow plans to study chemistry and/or physics at Wichita State, which is only seven minutes from his hometown. In addition to bowling, he has also played soccer and is a member of National Honor Society.
Following the championship, Cortese and Moyer had the opportunity to play a doubles match with professional bowlers Kellie Kulick and Tony Reyes.