Griffith's McCoy sets sights on next year

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You can't blame Ryan McCoy if he didn't feel like talking right after he lost in the singles state finals to Matt Johns of Avon, 236-200.

The Griffith junior had worked so hard to return to Cooper's Sport Bowl in Anderson for a second straight year -- the only Northwest Indiana boy in the 10 years of high school bowling to achieve that feat -- only to lose in his bid to become the region's first individual state champion.

He was a young man of few words in the late afternoon of Feb. 21.

Less than a week later, he knew the magnitude of what he accomplished and was more realistic.

"I'm happy I advanced further and now my goal is to get back," he said.

McCoy finished sixth in the state in 2008, so after moving up to third this year, it doesn't take a math genius to figure out the next step.

In addition to another lengthy state tourney run, McCoy also had the highest regular-season average in the state with 238. Those achievements are more than enough to earn McCoy his second straight Post-Tribune Boys Bowler of the Year honor.

For those younger bowlers hoping to be as good as McCoy, the secret to some of his success comes from simple yet effective advice from Griffith assistant coach Randy Vania.

"Mr. Vania always tells me all you can control is between the foul line and the pins and just make good shots," McCoy said.

He was a little frustrated at some of his shots in the state finals, though. Specifically, he was angry at himself for missing the usually easy 4-7 spare twice.

"The first time I chopped the four-pin because I got mad at my first shot," he said. "The second time I got a little excited, I'll admit, because (Johns) hadn't struck through four frames. I was a little pumped up on that one."

Why was Johns so important to him? Because after two games, McCoy was trailing Johns by two pins to get into the top-four stepladder and Johns was on the same pair of lanes as McCoy.

"I knew what I needed -- I heard them announce it," he said. "I knew I needed a big game and just told myself to make good shots."

And that he did, with 266 while Johns was rolling 244. It was right there in front of McCoy and he never let the pressure get to him while throwing seven consecutive strikes to seal the deal.

Pressure is nothing new to McCoy, who has three career 800 series in league play and has been the Griffith anchor since late in his sophomore season.

And he vows to return to state finals next year as he tries to earn a third straight bowler of the year honor.

Contact Steve Gorches at 648-3141, sgorches@post-trib.com or visit his blog at blogs.post-trib.com/gorches.