By BILL SNIER
snieronbowling.com
CANTON — Canton South High School senior Trevor Gore has been on a roll during his final year competing in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference.
After finishing the 2022-23 season with a 192 average, the 17-year-old right-handed two-hander and second-team All-American Division pick a year ago is averaging 218 this season to top the division.
What changed?
“When we were bowling league at Eastbury, a senior player stopped me when I was going through my approach,” Gore said. “He told me on my approach I was yanking the ball back really quick and throwing it forward really quick.
“He told me to slow it down taking it back and then release it. Whenever you come forward is when you really want to push it down the lane. That’s what led me to being more consistent.”
Gore doesn’t remember the man’s name, but it has led to him reaching one career milestone this season.
During a Dec. 20 match against Lake at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Gore started with the first 300 game in school history. He followed that up by throwing the next eight in a row en route to finishing with 265 for a 565 series, which ties him for fifth all-time in the conference’s 22-year history with former Perry player and coach Alex Lincoln.
Lake did win the match 2,507-2,433, with junior Zac Abbott shooting a 504 series for the Blue Streaks with 267 in Game 2.
“There was a lot going through my mind. I was really shaky and my adrenaline was going,” said Gore, who used a Motiv Iron Forge for his milestone. “My coach (Brian Gates) came up to me and said ‘you’re there, just breathe.’ I did that, got through it and shot it.”
He followed that with his run in Game 2 before leaving a 2-4-7 spare in the ninth.
“I just hit a puddle and the ball slid,” Gore said, “but I made the spare.”
He added another spare in the 10th for his final count.
“The closest I ever came before was getting into the seventh or eighth frame, but that seemed to be my sticking point,” Gore said. “But I exceeded that this time.”
His accomplishment also gained Gore SARTA Athlete of the Week honors from The (Canton) Repository.
Gore began bowling as a fifth-grader, but started out one handed. But his brother, Kevin, four years his senior, began bowling two-handed in high school. Gore then converted, with the help of Gates in middle school.
“My coach got a video (of the 300) and I couldn’t stop watching it throughout the night,” Gore said. “That feeling never left me. It was really exciting.”
His second-half goals? Exceed his high series.
“I’ve already got the highest game I could have,” Gore added, “but I want to keep trying to go higher in series.”
H.S. RESULTS FOR JAN. 3
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
BOYS
MINERVA 2,502, LOUISVILLE 2,462
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: Louisville 1,797 (Beard 150, Horn 189-126, Geisey 161-220, Emerick 202-243, Glaser 190-170, Huff 146); Minerva 1,863 (Meadows 155-209, Eller 199-171, Eckstein 186-198, Frazier 211-159, Hawk 185-190).
Baker System: Louisville 168-169-180-148; Minerva 161-190-143-145.
CARROLLTON, 2,531, CANTON McKINLEY 2,221
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: McKinley 1,772 (Barth 180-181, Cavett 165, Halm 166-214, Tucker 225-134, Waggoner 181-203); Carrollton 1,956 (Johnston 220-198, Taylor 174-197, Huston 196-170, Eckinger 224-166, Oberlin 189-222).
Baker System: McKinley 148-170-157; Carrollton 131-180-138.
GIRLS
CARROLLTON 2,094, CANTON McKINLEY 2,011
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: McKinley 1,607 (Leggett 225-242, McClelland 129-118, Parker 137-122, Sweet 176-137, Wise 137-184); Carrollton 1,624 (Natcher 121-163, Rummell 195-152, Elliott 135-198, Ulman 167-166, Russell 188-139).
Baker System: McKinley 126-170-108; Carrollton 148-170-157.
MINERVA 2,157, LOUISVILLE 1,997
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: Louisville 1,559 (Wenger 127, Crock 156-166, Adkins 163-164, Lopez-Cruz 191-149, Miculan 186-150, Kennedy 107); Minerva 1,640 (Worrell 183-0174, Leach 189-144, Henderhan 183-170, Genet 123-175, Wood 209-140).
Baker System: Louisville 150-129-159; Minerva 174-217-176.
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN 1,746, RAVENNA SOUTHEAST 1,532
(at Spins Bowl, Akron)
Two-game series: Lake Center 1,357 (Griffith 113-149, Zink 146-199, Green 127-150, Ebie 112-98, Woodberry 140-123); Southeast 1,177 (A. Smith 146-146, Seem 95-131, Clelland 114, Clint 115-138, Wood 105-114, Caole 73).
Baker System: Lake Center 131-135-123; Southeast 110-120-125.
SCHSC STATISTICS
Here are the average leaders after five weeks in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference. More information can be obtained on the conference website at: https://www.schsbc.org/