Photo for the Mirror by Matt Michelone 2023 Altoona Mirror Bowler of the Year Tournament award winners Thursday night were (from left): Kelsey Brown, women’s runner-up; BJ Troutman, men’s runner-up; Bree Moore, women’s champion; and Artie Fink Jr., men’s champion.

Sometimes, there are days where you may not have expected to compete in a tournament event for a wide variety of reasons.

There are situations, though, where those circumstances change, and you end up having a great performance as a whole.

That’s exactly what happened for the winners of the 2023 Altoona Mirror Bowler of the Year Tournament Thursday night at Holiday Bowl.

Starting on the men’s side, Artie Fink Jr. — who has been known to be near or at the top of the leaderboard following local golf tournaments — hit the course earlier in the day.

He didn’t think was going to be free in time to play and ended up making the decision to participate after he finished up his round. That was before rolling 248-279-254-203 to finish with a 984.

“I got done at 6:30, and I thought what the heck, I’ll run in and give it a whirl,” he said. “I didn’t even have my bowling balls with me. I had to call my dad to tell him to bring my bowling balls and bring them to the bowling alley. That’s how little I expected to bowl.”

He usually is done by this point in the year, but had been competing recently in state tournaments in the Reading area.

Men’s runner up B.J. Troutman was the runner-up on his way to recording a line of 258-246-217-228 for a 949.

“Just hopefully I was throwing the ball better, that’s all,” Troutman said of his goals entering the tournament. “I dropped down to 14 (pounds), so trying to get into rhythm with it. I was happy with (my performance). I didn’t know where I was placed until I went up and looked after game three.”

Leonard Weyandt took third (179-230-243-262 for 914) to round out the top three.

On the women’s side, Bree Moore wasn’t planning to compete because she wanted to take an opportunity to enjoy watching a family member in their sport.

“I was at my son’s baseball game,” she said. “I wasn’t real thrilled about having to leave. My dad wanted me to be here, so I was here. I came out of the gate swinging with a 255, 169 which is kind of a hurt to the ego. You can’t let one game phase you. It’s a four-game set.”

Moore ended the night firing an 876 (255-169-213-239) after listening to her father when it came to leaving her 8-year-old son’s contest.

She was followed by Kelsey Brown who racked up a 780 (204-213-193-170) to take second place.

“I started out good, by the end of the last game,” Brown said. “I didn’t think I had a chance. (Bree Moore)’s a hard one to beat.”

Elizabeth Rhodes rounded out the top three putting up a 751 (185-155-220-191).

MEN’S SCORES

Artie Fink Jr. 248-279-254-203: 984; B.J. Troutman 258-246-217-228: 949; Leonard Weyandt 179-230-243-262: 914; Dan Tremmel 187-256-229-227: 899; Todd Mash 178-207-229-266: 880; John Slowik 201-184-276-214: 875; Craig Delozier 177-259-260-173: 869; Bill King 212-149-268-236: 865; Mike Anderson Jr. 225-191-178-267: 861; Tony Mazzetti 232-202-1923-226: 853; Matt Johnson 203-188-207-244: 842; Joe Hite 216-201-212-212: 841; Harry Pellegrine 217-229-187-207: 840; Tom Bickel 187-215-225-205: 832; Justin Horton 178-216-211-217: 822; Derek Fink 201-193-155-255: 804; Chris Rhodes 180-181-166-247: 774.

WOMEN’S SCORES

Bree Moore 255-169-213-239: 876; Kelsey Brown 204-213-193-170: 780; Elizabeth Rhodes 185-155-220-191: 751; Kira Moyer 214-280-176: 742; Saundra Feathers 199-161-173-204: 737; Julie Karka 200-201-148-186: 735; Nikki Watt 181-191-169-168; 709; Leah Smith 178-175-105-147: 605; Christine Cleaver 126-152-143-179: 600.