A Utica High School junior is celebrating a state championship bowling title that was nearly 16 years in the making.
And, in the end, Ava Mazza earned the title in the last frame of the final game in the state bowling champion.
“The feeling is indescribable because this is everything I have worked so hard for,” she said.
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For Ava, the hard work began when she was two years old as the daughter of professional bowler, who also is her coach.
“As a coach, I’m very happy to have success once again brought to the school as we will showcase another State Title,” said her father and coach, John Mazza said. “As a Father naturally ecstatic for Ava as she has worked very hard to put herself into this position and to finish it off was as good as it gets.”
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During those years, Ava continued to develop her skills at the alley and, over the past few years, has been practicing four of five days a week.
But to be a state championship bowler takes more than practice, she said.
“Bowling is such a mental game ,” she said. “You have to surround yourself with the right people and I’ve been really lucky.
Mazza said she has been close to realizing her life’s goal of a state title. The finals feature 60 of the state’s best bowlers and takes four victories to make it to the title match.
It was a match that went to the very final frame, where Mazza bowled three straight strikes to claim the title.
“It was very exciting, but I just remembered to breather, like my coaches told me,” she said. “I visualized a good shot and trusted my training.”
As a junior, Mazza said a repeat of the championship is a goal for next year. She is also looking into the future, where she has already committed to play bowling at Wichita State University.
“There are still other things to check off the list,” she said.
It is a sentiment shared by her coach.
“She is a very determined and focused young lady,” John Mazza said. “Anything is possible to be honest."
Superintendent Robert S. Monroe
Http://www.uticak12.org
Source: Utica Community Schools
