For two Centerville bowlers, first time is the charm as they win title
It was a last-minute decision that paid off with a state championship for Payton White and Brody O’Brien.
“I called him the day before the tournament to see if he wanted to bowl,” White said.
O’Brien didn’t hesitate and the following day, they were at Capri Lanes competing in the Ohio State United States Bowling Congress Youth Championship. The Centerville High School junior varsity teammates took the lead in the doubles Division C handicap division with 1,636. O’Brien posted a 536 scratch score while White — who came in with a 123 average — rolled 652 scratch.
“He really showed up for the tournament,” O’Brien said of his teammate. “He bowled great.”
“On most days he’s going to beat me,” White said of O’Brien. “I had a very good day.”
But with several more shifts yet to compete, the duo didn’t want to be overconfident in their first tournament appearance.
“It was a good score, but we didn’t know if it would hold up,” O’Brien said.
It did hold up and, much to the duo’s surprise, they won the title. It was a surprise in more ways than one.
“We didn’t know it was a state tournament until after we won,” White said, with a smile. “We thought it was just a tournament.”
The unlikely champions — with less than three years of bowling experience combined — have come a long way in a short time.
When O’Brien tried out for the Centerville bowling team as a freshman, he was averaging 80. Now, the sophomore twohander is averaging close to 200.
White, a freshman, is a recent transplant. He moved to Centerville in January from New Mexico because of his parents’ military transfer. White’s 123 average quickly improved to a 170 average bowling with the competitive Elks squad.
He recently switched to a two-handed release and has already seen improvement in rev rate and ball control.
“His ball roll is already so much better and there is a lot of room to improve,” O’Brien said of his teammate.
“Both Payton and Brody put in the work and it shows,” former Centerville coach Andy Parker said.
Summer vacation will be a break from the books but not the lanes as both seek coveted spots on the Centerville varsity, which won the Division I state title in March.
“Most of the time, I’ll be here,” O’Brien said of his home-away-from-home Poelking South.