Andrew Heppner, Kerri Callahan win NSCHSAA boys and girls bowling titles
Kerri Callahan of Kellenberg, NSCHSAA girls bowling individual champion, and Andrew Heppner of Holy Trinity, the league's boys champion, pose for a portrait after their victories at Levittown Lanes on Thursday. Credit: James Escher
Andrew Heppner was unsure of the extent of his bowling abilities, but he proved to himself and everyone watching that he had what it takes to become a champion.
Heppner rolled a 749 over three games to earn the NSCHSAA boys bowling individual championship on Thursday night at Levittown Lanes. The Holy Trinity senior rolled a 290 in his first game, the highest of any bowler at the competition.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really sure I was capable of pulling this off,” Heppner said. “I started bowling with my friends two years ago for fun and it snowballed into a competitive thing. I just came out here expecting to have fun and I was lucky enough to be able to take it home.”
Heppner rolled a 212 in his second game and then had a 247, recording two strikes and knocking down nine pins with his final throw of the 10th frame.
“I never had a game like the first one. That was my highest. It felt crazy,” Heppner said. “I just locked in a bit from there and this was certainly a good time to get hot.”
Kellenberg’s Richard Deem placed second with a 672 series and teammate Connor Volpicello finished third with a 658.
“This is pretty surreal,” Heppner said. “If someone told me when I came to this school that I’d be a bowling champion, I’d tell them they were crazy.”
Fresh off a historic performance in Kellenberg’s team championship a week ago, when she bowled a league- record 298 game and 766 series against St. John the Baptist, Kerri Callahan again topped the girls competition.
The sophomore successfully defended her crown, rolling a 546 over three games to earn a second straight NSCHSGAA individual title. Her 206 in her first game was the highest of the day on the girls’ side.
“It’s really great. I didn’t do as well as last week, but getting the win is still a great feeling,” Callahan said. “I have a lot of confidence and sometimes I think things just depend on my attitude. Have to maintain a positive one.”
Callahan survived a late push from St. John the Baptist’s Alex Martinez, who finished second with a 526. Martinez’s teammate, Lilian Penfield, was third with a 519.
Callahan and Heppner will compete in the state CHSAA championship at AMF Babylon Lanes on March 2. This will be the first state championship for the girls.
“It’s a little scary going up against people you’ve never seen before, but I’ll definitely be practicing over this upcoming break,” Callahan said. “I’m still really excited because this is the first time this is taking place and I know the competition will be great.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
