Senior’s choice to finish season brings triumph

Natallie Kowalski could have easily given up bowling last year, and not one person would have faulted her.

The Palo Verde senior lost her father to cancer in May and had all of her bowling equipment stolen from her car two days after Thanksgiving.

"Family was my biggest support," Kowalski said. "And so was Coach (John) Read. I actually told myself, 'Let's finish the year out.' I love bowling, and this will probably be my last year. They didn't force me to. They were always there."

Kowalski was rewarded for her commitment Thursday, when she won her second consecutive Division I state individual title after rolling a 642 series at The Orleans.

"It feels good to finish my senior year out like this," Kowalski said. "I wish (my dad) could be here. But I know he's here. I did this for him. He really wanted it for me, and he didn't see me win it last year."

Kowalski, who entered Thursday's finals as the No. 5 seed out of the Sunset Region, improved on last season's winning score by 10 pins.

She rolled a game-high 240 in the opening game to take a commanding lead and ended up 35 pins ahead of second-place Leah Glazer (607) from Bishop Gorman. Shadow Ridge teammates Leanna Orlando (573) and Alexia Cassman (545) rounded out the top four.

"I am so thrilled for her," Read said. "I wanted this so bad for her, with all the stuff she's gone through this year. I'm on the verge of tears just sitting here and watching her do everything she did. ...

"This is the stuff you see in movies and (television). She is so strong inside. And she's got the greatest attitude ever. I know deep down she was hurting, of course. But she never showed it. She always had a smile on her face and was always there. She's a star."

Kowalski, whose dad was a professional bowler, believes last season's tournament helped calm her nerves this time around.

"Competition is what gets me," Kowalski said. "Last year I was the underdog, too. I came in sixth (in qualifiers), but I came out and won it. So this year I was like, 'As long as I make the top six.' It was a good experience last year. It helped mentally. You never want to come out and say you're nervous, but I was nervous. Once I found my place, I kept going with it."

Green Valley's Joe Gerencser won the Division I boys title. The junior was the only bowler to eclipse the 700 barrier, as he rolled a 734 series. Arbor View's Marco Ramirez-Buckles was second with a 697, followed by Liberty's Terrance Rock (662) and Desert Oasis' Matt Dobs (643).

"It was just a lot of practice," Gerencser said. "It makes me feel good being the first one from the school. Hopefully there will be more."

Tech's Brendan Lindsey won the Division I-A boys final with a 651 series, edging Mojave's Trevor Maple (639), Boulder City's Teagan Smale (583) and Sierra Vista's Joseph Ongtawco (542).

"I'm still shaking," Lindsey said. "That was really nerve-wracking. It was close. I was worried with that split I left in the eighth frame. I thought it might cost me. … After the first two games, I was feeling pretty good. I had a nice little safety net. I didn't realize the other people were having some trouble. I felt pretty confident."

Del Sol's Jazmyn Eubanks won the Division I-A girls side with a 606 series. Tech's Emi Leong was second with a 596, Clark's Beatrix Aquino was third with a 584 and Tech's Eri Leong fourth with a 565.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson