Preteen adds to bowling title collection


Greater Dayton USBC Youth Doubles Tournament Champions

Bantam (handicap): Kyle Donaldson/Logan Cherpeski, 1,360

Bantam (scratch): Brent Shroyer/Savannah Gross, 698

Prep boy (handicap): Josh Bishop/J.T. Cherpeski, 1,527

Prep boy (scratch): Paul Lyons/Hunter Schlegel, 1,179

Prep girl (handicap): Jenna Morgan/Raven Cooper, 1,367

Prep girl (scratch): Lauren Pemberton/Skylynn Siens, 970

Prep mixed (handicap): Raven Cooper/J.T. Cherpeski, 1,437

Prep mixed (scratch): Keith Schooler/Sean Martin, 1,169

Junior boy (handicap): R.J. Bishop/Jacob Ryan, 1,515

Junior boy (scratch): Kyle Cook/Zach Foster, 1,332

Junior girl (handicap/scratch): Kira Lade/Delaney Hurst, 1,229/1,539

Junior mixed (handicap): Matt Diamond/Jessica Sawmiller, 1,529

Junior mixed (scratch): Haley Cummings/Ricky Reed, 1,336

Major boy (handicap): Tyler Prich/Joe Snider, 1,498

Major boy (scratch): Zach Grubb/Adam Lupp, 1,417

Major girl (handicap): Stephanie Metzger/Courtney Metzger, 1,405

Major girl (scratch): Kayla Cummings/Kaila Ryan, 1,293

Major mixed (handicap): Jessica Sawmiller/Matt Chandler, 1,436

Major mixed scratch (scratch): Kaila Ryan/Ryan Wolfe, 1,320

Concentration has been the key to success for Raven Cooper.

The focused 12-year-old won two titles at the recent Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress Youth Doubles Championship, taking the prep girls handicap title with Jenna Morgan and the prep mixed title with J.T. Cherpeski. She won a prep girls singles city title earlier this season.

“I’ve been more focused,” Cooper said. “And I’ve been listening to my brother.”

Big brother Daulton has some valuable bowling insights as the Fairmont High School junior has three perfect games and multiple tournament titles on his resume.

“He had his first 300 when he was 13,” Cooper said, smiling. “So, I have another year to get one.”

Cherpeski, 11, also won two titles, adding the prep boys handicap with Josh Bishop. Like Cooper, Cherpeski comes from a bowling family. His dad is his coach and his little brother, Logan, also earned a doubles championship in the bantam handicap division.

“I think you learn so much when you’re in a bowling family,” Cherpeski said. “I don’t usually watch my dad, but when I bowl with him, I watch him and I learn a lot from him. Plus, there’s a lot of communication going on there.”

Siblings Courtney and Stephanie Metzger, of Troy, teamed up for a title in the major girls handicap division.

“It helps that we’re sisters and we know each other so well,” Stephanie said. “We tell each other things in a weird way but we understand each other.”

What they didn’t tell each other, however, is that they won the tournament. Courtney found out weeks after it was over from her mom while Stephanie’s boyfriend shared the news with her.

“Once the high school season started, that’s what we were concentrating on,” Courtney said. “We kind of forgot about it.”

Bowling benefits: A pair of bowling fundraisers will be held on Jan. 7 from 1-3:30 p.m. for Christina Jackson and Corey Cooper. Both died in a violent car crash in late November. Christina's event will be held at Poelking Lanes and Corey's will take place simultaneously at Poelking Woodman Lanes. Proceeds will be donated to the families and help establish the Cooper/Jackson Scholarship, which will be awarded to a senior bowler from Carroll High School. For additional information or to reserve a lane, call Poelking Lanes, 299-5573, or Poelking Woodman at 293-3179.

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