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Windsor’s McMullen bowls them over to claim VPA individual title
Windsor’s Tristan McMullen receives his individual championship plaque from Hartford athletic director Joe James. — COURTESY
Windsor’s Tristan McMullen receives his individual championship plaque from Hartford athletic director Joe James. — COURTESY
SHELBURNE, Vt. – Windsor’s Tristan McMullen caught fire on Saturday and once he got rolling there was no dousing the flames.
The Yellow Jackets senior rolled seven 200-plus games to capture the VPA Individual Bowling Championship at Champlain Lanes.
“All four of our bowlers threw the ball well today but Tristan was lights out,” said Windsor coach Steve Bly. “He stayed calm and rolled over his mark frame after frame. You have the top 32 bowlers in the state so no room to make errors.”
His only sub-200 game, a 181, came in his first game of the day. He combined that with 213 and 209 for a 201 average. That was good for the fifth seed coming out of the opening round of 32 and into the Sweet 16.
The Sweet 16 began the tournament’s head-to-head competition and in that round McMullen defeated No. 12 Brian Cookingham of Essex 224-157. That moved McMullen into the Elite 8, where he fired off another 224. That came against Hartford’s Hunter Brooks, who shot 176.
With the field whittled down to the final four contenders, the tourney shifted to the step ladder finals. With the top three seeds after the round of 32 all advancing, McMullen would go in at No. 4.
In the first step ladder match, he would face No. 3 Kyle Murakami of SB. McMullen won 215-179. That pitted him against No. 2 Jordan Phillips of Hair Haven in a match where McMullen would throw his best game of the day. McMullen smoked the pins with a 278 and Phillips had a 181.
It was now down to the winner-take-all showdown against No. 1 Wyatt Connor of Hartford. It was his closest match of the day, but the red-hot McMullen would not be denied. He rolled a 210, Connor a 199.
Three of McMullen’s teammates, as well as three competitors from Springfield also qualified for the individual tournament.
Representing the Cosmos were Matt Power, Alex Richardson and Haley St. Louis while Devon Campney, Katey Comstock and Brandyn LeBarron were there for Windsor. Four of the six would survive the Round of 32.
“I was extremely proud of how Alex Richardson, Matt Power, and Haley St. Louis bowled in the individual state tournament,” said Springfield coach Mike Mullins. “Having two of the three make the initial cut was satisfying — to see their hard work all season pay off.”
Campney rolled 234, 203 and 165 to move into the Sweet 16 as the No. 6 seed. Power moved on at No. 7 with 167, 204 and 206. Comstock was No. 9 with 181, 197 and 192. St. Louis rolled 189, 149, 180, good for the 14th seed.
Richardson would roll 124, 180 and 203 and barely miss the cut while LeBarron had games of 139, 195 and 159. Richardson finished with a 169 average, just 33 hundredths of a point out of a spot in the Sweet 16. LaBarron, who started bowling just three months ago, finished 20th with a 164 average.
In the Sweet 16, Comstock nipped No. 8 Chris McBain of Hartford, 182-176. Campney lost to Tre Nichols of Essex 257-191, Power fell to Anissa Martin of SB 194-177 and St. Louis lost to Murakami 216-148.
Comstock fell to Fair Haven’s Jordan Phillips 201-189 in the Elite 8.
“I'm proud of all my kids and what they accomplished this season individually,” said Bly. “Now it's time to focus on the team championship this Saturday and hopefully bring home another banner to hang on the gym wall.
The VPA team championships will be held at Twin City Lanes in Barre, beginning at noon.
— Eagle Times
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