Rocket bowlers earn national awards

Five Conotton Valley Rocket bowlers placed in the top 100 high school bowlers in the nation at the United States National High School Bowling Championships held June 16-19 at Beaver-Vu Lanes in Beavercreek (a suburb of Dayton).
Four Rockets participated in the girls single competition: Daphne Stuber, Lilah Williams, Mackenzie Willoughby and Mylie Galigher. All four advanced from the first round of 259 bowlers to the second by placing in the top 100 with Williams in 19th, Stuber 21st, Willioughby 86th and Galigher 94th.
Stuber and Williams advanced to the third round of 40 bowlers by placing 21st and 37th respectively. The two fell shy of the final cut of 16 for the championship round. Stuber was one place shy of qualifying for the championships with a 17th place finish, five pins shy of the cut. Williams finished in 31st place. Willoughby wrapped up the tournament in 55th place and Galigher in 65th place.
“Mylie and Mackenzie had great games, but it wasn’t enough to make up the deficit from the previous games,” said Robyn King, an assistant Rocket coach.
In the boys individual competition, in a field of 376 bowlers, Bobby Brennan placed 123rd and Robert Myer 244th.
Team competition
In the girls division, 24 teams qualified out of the first round of 37 teams from across the United States. The Lady Rockets advanced in 13th place. The next cut was to the top 16 teams. The Rockets again advanced in 13th place. The next cut was to the top eight, which knocked the Rockets of the competition, placing 14th in the nation. The squad was the top finishing Ohio team, which included Division 1 and 2 teams.
The Rockets were unable to field a five-person team for the boys competition. Brennan, Myer and Spencer Bernhart completed in the team event, but had to take 0’s for the two team members they were shy.
“They did great for the situation they faced,” noted King. “We are super proud of our bowlers and the effort they put forth!”