Slowik, Moyer earn titles
Bowler of the Year tourney
Trending
The sign-in time frame for the annual Altoona Mirror Bowler of the Year Tournament Thursday night was from 6-7 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Recreation Center. John Slowik, one of the area's top bowlers for some time, didn't arrive until late, after most everyone else in the field had signed in.
It seems Slowik knows what he's doing because he didn't capture the 2022 title until the final game of the evening.
Trailing by 37 pins behind Frank Goss and Artie Fink, Slowik rolled a 277 on his way to an impressive comeback and a 909 series for the title.
"I was just trying to focus on my game and make good shots," Slowik answered when asked what was going through his mind before that final game began "I knew I needed probably a 250 game to have a chance, and I just wanted to put myself in that position."
Kira Moyer held off Bree Hoover for the women's title.
Goss wound up second with an 858 after a 237-209-223-189 night. He was in the lead at the halfway point and at the end of three games.
"I kind of was (in the zone) for awhile, but then I caught a bad pair, no carry … missed a spare and that was that. Then he had the front eight so that was that, too," Goss said.
Goss had to worry about Fink -- who finished third -- who was in second at the time with a 664 score three-fourths of the way through. Slowik was in third at 632.
"I just wanted to be top three," Slowik said about his expectations going into the event.
He had set the city series record during the regular season with an 875 score.
"You always think it could happen but there are lot of good bowlers out there so you just try to have fun and throw the competitiveness out the window. Then the next thing you know, you're having fun," Slowik said.
Goss said he had no regrets after the 189 score.
"You bowl and see what happens," he said. "He got hot at the end and I didn't."
Moyer, who started with a 153 score, was not hot at the outset.
"The first game I was awful," she said. "I was way under my average but the next game, I pulled it up to a 235 and then I knew I had a chance from there."
Hoover was first after one game with a 203, and it was pretty much her and Moyer down the stretch. Moyer bowled 153-235-191-197 for a 776 while Hoover went 203-179-164-149 for a 695.
"I have been bowling pretty consistent all year so I felt like this was a good year for me (to do this)," Moyer said.
Hoover trailed Moyer by 13 pins going into that final game.
"I was paying attention," Moyer smiled when asked if she was trying to watch Hoover while she herself was competing. "I was watching. I am always watching. If anything, it is a driving force to make sure you do better."
Hoover was just happy to be able to compete considering she had knee surgery on Feb. 3 and didn't start bowling again until the end of March, right before the state competition began.
"I wasn't even sure I was going to make it, but I think things went pretty well," Hoover said. "I am not back to where I should be or where I want to be. My dad always taught me to just worry about your game and nothing else, but as I have gotten older, I have learned to keep an eye on what the others are doing so I kind of knew where she (Moyer) was sitting."
Tourney notes: Of the 34 men who qualified to compete, 17 showed up. Of the 21 women who qualified, eight showed up. … Terri Turiano and her son, Michael Turiano, competed in the event. Mom finished with a 651 while her son rolled a 757. … Justin Horton, the 2021 men's winner competed and finished with an 816. Heather Partner, the 2021 women's winner, did not compete.
WOMEN
Kira Moyer 153-235-191-197: 776; Bree Hoover 203-179-164-149: 695; Julie Fox 156-178-188-149: 671; Christine Clever 141-197-175-156: 669; Elizabeth Rhodes 189-153-154-163: 659; Terri Turiano 146-158-145-202: 651; Beth Monahan 166-145-187-152: 650; Nikki Watt 158-192-150-135: 635
MEN
John Slowik Jr. 215-216-201-277: 909; Frank Goss 237-209-223-189: 858; Artie Fink Jr. 197-208-259-171: 835; Justin Horton 210-196-202-198: 816; Nick Weidlich 180-209-162-239: 790; Marshall Dick 185-236-165-201: 787; Todd Mash 118-171-146-241: 776; B.J. Troutman 148-213-215-195: 771; Chip Helsel 202-191-173-199: 765; Michael Turiano 199-162-194-203: 757; Hippo 191-165-199-198: 753; Dan Maher 147-217-178-196: 738; Tim Wilk 251-153-169-165: 738; Drew Saylor 177-162-175-185: 699; Matt Taddy 141-192-180-177: 690; Keil Hickman 149-140-211-162: 662; Tim Noye Jr. 159-157-162-175: 653; Jeff Yothers 168-171-170-143: 652