Reeths-Puffer bowler Liam Copenhaver saved what might have been the best outing of his career, at least so far, for a very big tournament.
The senior standout rolled a 489 series and coasted to the individual championship in the boys division at Wednesday’s Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tournament at Sherman Lanes.
His performance helped the R-P boys team, which won the team championship last year, finish in second place in the qualifying rounds and advance to the semifinals in the tournament playoff.
Copenhaver won his individual title in runaway fashion, easily outscoring the second-place bowler by 30 pins. His 287 game was the best of his career in varsity competition.
R-P's Liam Copenhaver, who won the GMAA individual championship.
The tournament title was the second of the season for Copenhaver, who also took first place at the Orchard View Invitational. He finished fifth and medaled at the GMAA tournament last year.
“Liam was the star of the show today,” said R-P head coach Craig Alderink. “He jumped out to a huge 50-pin lead after Game 1 and backed it up with a very solid second game. One of the keys to his victory was his ability to convert his spares at the beginning of Game 2, when he wasn't striking. This shows a lot of growth in his game.”
R-P's Tanner Bahr also had a great day, finishing in 10th place and also earning a medal.
Bahr had to work extra hard for his medal, because he finished in a three-way tie for 10th and had to compete in a 9th and 10th frame roll-off. He beat the other two competitors by rolling three strikes in the final frame.
Tanner Bahr, who finished in 10th place, with Copenhaver.
Bahr, like Copenhaver, medaled at the GMAA tournament for the second straight year.
The Rockets did very well in the team standings, finishing in second place in the qualifying rounds, which included two baker rounds and two regular rounds.
They advanced to the semifinals of the tournament playoffs, where they lost to Whitehall 335-286 in a two baker round format.
The R-P boys have been a rebound team all year, and that pattern continued on Wednesday. They had a rough outing on Tuesday, falling to Byron Center 21-9 in a conference match, before turning in the strong performance at the GMAA tournament.
Carter Hekkema had R-P’s high game against Byron Center with a 215.