Friday, January 10th, 2020
Cavs' Bruns bowls 300
By Colin Foster
Entering Thursday, only two players had ever bowled 300 games in West Ohio High School Bowling Conference history.
Coldwater freshman Keaton Bruns became the third.
Bruns rolled a perfect game in Coldwater's 2,984-2,737 win over Celina at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater. He joined Ottawa-Glandorf's Trent Haughn (2008-2009) and Shawnee's Austin Fought (2015-2016) in the 300 club as the third bowler to achieve the feat in the conference's 21-year history.
"I'm still in shock - I can't hardly believe it," said Bruns in a phone interview. "But it's definitely going to help me in the long run. If I ever get in one of these situations again, I won't be nervous."
Bruns had rolled some high games before Thursday. In non-sanctioned competition, he bowled a 279. In sanctioned action, his best had been a 276.
The key to bowling a 300?
"It's about staying focused, hitting your mark, making sure your feet are always the same … I think the big thing that coach (Rick Hartings) has been trying to get me to do is trying to slow my feet down. Tonight, I slowed my feet down and I think that helped a ton," Bruns said.
Boys and girls bowlers from St. Henry, Fort Recovery, Mississinawa Valley and Piqua all competed in Coldwater on Thursday, and many watched Bruns' final frames.
"We had 16 teams, so we probably had 200 fans watching," Coldwater coach Rick Hartings said.
Bruns didn't let the added pressure bother him, though.
"I think it did (increase the pressure), but I knew I had to stay focused and bowl my end game," Bruns said.
The Cavalier bowler followed with a 183 to finish with a 483 series. Hayden Beougher added a 409 series for the Cavs.
Celina's Britt Hole rolled a 256 in the first game and then added a 202 for a team-best 458 series.
GIRLS BOWLING
Coldwater edges Celina
The Coldwater girls handed Celina its first loss of the season, edging them by a margin of 2,699-2,658.
Alison Fox had a 220 and 245 for a 465 series to lead Coldwater. Emily Sudhoff added a 385 series.
Celina's Audree Gray rolled a 246 and 143 for a team-best 389 series. Brianna Henning contributed a 383 series.