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O’Connell has gained greater confidence and perspective after a decade of bowling.
“You can’t take things for granted, not in bowling or in life,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell and Kocher were recently named as the 2017 recipients of the Kurt Gostel Scholarship. The award – which takes into account academic strength and community involvement as well as bowling success – honors the longtime bowling coach who taught bowling at the University of Dayton in the mid 1960s and instilled a love of the game in countless young Miami Valley bowlers.
“I had an aspiration of winning this award for many years,” Kocher said. “It means a lot.”
Brittany-Ann O’Connell
A leader on and off the lanes, O’Connell, 18, was instrumental in helping the Beavercreek High School team advance to the state tournament in each of the past four seasons – winning the Division I girls championship in 2014. She has rolled both a 300 game and a 707 high series and earned several GWOC awards during her high school career.
Behind the scenes, she served as president of the GDUSBC Youth Leaders, assisted with city youth and adult tournaments and helped with lane certifications.
She was actively involved in student council and PALS, a group that assists students with special needs, at Beavercreek High School. O’Connell was also a member of both the Spanish and American Sign Language clubs and volunteered at a veterinary clinic, all while maintaining a 3.39 GPA.
She is excited to move on to the next level as a member of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore bowling team.
“I’m really looking forward to the traveling and the competitiveness of college bowling,” she said. “I think it will make me a stronger bowler.”
Steven Kocher
The Northmont High School bowler found success early on as he rolled his first perfect game when he was just 13 years old and won the boys individual D-I state title his freshman year. Kocher, 18, placed in the Top 20 at state the following two years as well. He landed on the GWOC first team all four years and was recognized as the Thunderbolt Athlete of the Week.
His work ethic was equally strong in the classroom as Kocher earned a place on the honor roll every semester throughout his high school career and graduated with a 3.75 GPA. He was always willing to provide academic assistance to fellow students or tutor his teammates.
While academics remain a priority for the Bowling Green State University sports management major, he also plans to bowl on the club team.
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