Boys State Bowling: Andrew wins team title, individual crown to Sandburg’s Kopera

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Sandburg boys bowler Joey Kopera. | File photo

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:16AM

District 230 rivals Andrew and Sandburg were celebrating together Saturday night after the Thunderbolts and Sandburg’s Joey Kopera turned in final-game heroics to bring home bowling state titles.

Andrew rallied in the 12th and final game of the two-day state meet to capture its third state championship in eight years, edging Vernon Hills 12,821-12,652 at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon.

Kopera, meanwhile, tossed a 257 in his final game to rise from fourth to first individually, finishing with 2,733 pins to top Herrin’s C.J. Kirchner by three for the title. That completed a remarkable comeback from 17th place entering the final three-game session.

“I didn’t think it would be possible to win,” Kopera said. “I was just trying to finish in the top 12 and get a medal. This feels amazing.”

“It seemed a bit of a stretch that he could come back, but I knew if anyone could do it, he could,” Sandburg coach Jeff Kwilose said. “I’ve been saying from the beginning of the year that he’s the best bowler in the state.”

Kopera was 70 pins behind Kirchner entering the final game, when Kirchner tossed a 184. Thanks to some scoreboard watching, Kopera knew he needed two strikes and at least an eight in the 10th frame. He struck out.

“I really don’t like looking at the scoreboard, but it was killing me,” he said. “After I threw that last ball, I knew I had a shot.”

Kopera averaged 236 Saturday, peaking with a 265.

Andrew led entering the final session, but after consecutive sub-1,000 games fell to second, 38 pins behind Rockton Hononegah.

The Thunderbolts responded by putting up a meet-best 1,196 in the final game.

“It was an emotional roller coaster,” Andrew coach Mark Lobes said. “It was so close between first and fourth place all day. The kids roared back in the 12th game and showed how bad they wanted it.

“At one point, we had 13 straight strikes in the last game. The other teams looked at our scores and were deflated.”

Josh Powell (4th, 2,704) and Josh Dory (7th, 2,671) were medalists for the T-bolts. Kyle Krol (2,537), Kyle Damon (2,458) and Justin Finnen (2,451) also contributed.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our team,” Powell said. “We did it together and it feels really good.”

Orland Bowl is the home for both Andrew and Sandburg, and Kopera said there was “camaraderie” between himself and his friends on the T-bolts.

“I was cheering them on and they were cheering me on,” he said. “We had the loudest cheering section in the place.”

Richards (12,007) finished ninth, led by David Walker (19th, 2,574) and Andrew Byland (28th, 2,522).

Lincoln-Way East’s Brandon Nathan (2,534) finished 25th, Southland College Prep’s Perry Sibby (2,519) 29th and Argo’s Gerald Regep (2,498) 33rd.