AKRON — Bowling under tournament conditions is nothing new for Massillon resident Cameron Kilgore.
But participating in an Ohio High School Athletic Association event as an individual participant was a different experience for the Tuslaw High School sophomore.
Kilgore made the most of his first tournament appearance by posting a 670 series and finishing as second-high individual during Friday’s Division II Tri-County sectional at Stonehedge Family Fun Center. His performance earned him a spot in the Division II Northeast District tournament, set for 10 a.m. Feb. 25 at Holiday Bowl in Struthers.
It marked the first OHSAA bowling appearance by a Tuslaw athlete.
“I was really excited about this,” said Kilgore, who bowls out of Wayne Lanes in Wooster and has experience in Junior Tournament Bowlers Association and Team USA events. “I haven’t bowled any tournaments in about four months, so it was great to get out there and bowl some meaningful games against some competition.”
Kilgore’s father, Andrew, said his son took a liking to bowling following a mother-son event. The left-hander, who throws the ball around 17.5 mph (and at spares at around 21 mph), began bowling in JTBA events at age 8 and participated in team competition in a Team USA event at age 10.
He has been assisted in his development by his father along with NorthStar Pro Shop’s Don Hogue and Professional Bowlers Association pro Joe Bailey.
“Don has worked with me on countless things … rolling the ball, ball speed, timing, footwork … everything,” Kilgore said. “It’s the same thing with Joe. We just seem to have a connection that works really well.”
Kilgore will be joined as individual qualifiers at district by East Canton senior Bryce Beadnell, who finished third overall with a 594 series, and United Local sophomore Ethan Hively, who shot 573 to gain the final spot by just one pin over CVCA’s Samuel Cox.
Kilgore learned of the high school bowling program through his good friend and YouTube channel partner Hayden Tarris, who bowls for Old Fort High School in Tiffin. Tarris finished seventh individually in the Division II state tourney last season.
“I saw some of my friends doing it, especially with Hayden,” Kilgore said. “He said I should try it.”
Kilgore first approached high school principal Adam McKenzie about the possibility.
“He thought there was a way I could bowl as an individual, so we talked to the athletic director about it,” Kilgore added.
Both the principal and athletic director David Burkett, who served as Kilgore’s coach for the event, were present to watch his performance. Kilgore started with 254 in Game 1, followed by 212 and 204 to finish nine pins behind individual champion Aaron Knop of Canton South.
“I was expecting to shoot around 650. If I only had around 600 I would have been disappointed unless it was a good 600,” Kilgore added. “I thought 650 would give me the opportunity to advance.”
Kilgore’s ultimate goal is a trip to the state tournament. He hasn’t been there, but he watched Tarris’ performance on a live stream last season.
“We talked about it all weekend … how cool it was,” Kilgore said.
Andrew Kilgore is hoping the performance may spur Tuslaw into adding the sport as a team competition.
“I think just seeing this and the atmosphere, and Cameron obviously bowled well,” Andrew Kilgore said. “I like to see the sport growing. There are a lot of kids here passionate about it even though they may not be on the elite level.
“But just being a part of a team sport is worth it. Maybe this can be a little push to get it into one of the centers for Tuslaw.”
Beadnell will be making his second district appearance after advancing with East Canton as part of the team a year ago. The Hornets just missed a state trip by 59 pins. Hively will be making his first district appearance.
Hively becomes United’s second district qualifier after Austin Sachet advanced a year ago.