Manheim Township grad Shawn Mertz receives pair of bowling scholarships

Shawn Mertz followed in the footsteps of his brother, John, as the recipient of the Marty Summer $1,000 Scholarship at the annual Lancaster United States Bowling Congress Association's Junior Bowling Awards Banquet in the Revere Tavern on Sunday.

As nearly 200 banquet attendees applauded, the 2016 Manheim Township graduate notched a second $1,000 scholarship, in the first year of the Glenn Montgomery award.

"Shawn has been active in sports —bowling for 12 years, a youth leader for five years, served on the junior bowling board for three years, and helped coach bumper bowlers," said LUSBCA junior bowling committee member Donna Pannebecker.

In addition, Mertz played baseball for eight years and cross country for one, as well as the marching band for four years.

"This Marty Summer scholarship is weighted heavily on your bowling years, on what you did and accomplished plus other activities you have done outside the bowling community," Pannebecker noted.

She added that Mertz volunteered his time with the Water Street Rescue Mission and with special needs bowlers.

Eric Montgomery, the son of the late Glenn Montgomery, said, "My mother (Darlene) and I discussed doing something for someone who embodied the sport, as my dad did, so we are pleased with Shawn as our first recipient."

The Montgomerys are owners and managers of 222 Dutch Lanes, near Ephrata.

The Manheim Township grad plans to attend Penn State Harrisburg, majoring in civil engineering.

"All my hard work paid off, and the idea that other people recognized and appreciated it was very gratifying. I'm honored to receive these scholarships," he said.

His mother, Rhonda Mertz, summed up the evening with one word — "pride" — in her two sons.

Another award presented was the Edie Miller Award, for the bowler who posted the most improved average from 2015 to 2016.

The recipient, Jared Fry, pushed his average 46 pins higher, from 91 to 137.

According to LUSBCA youth manager Donna Gribble, "Our program allows all bowlers at any level of ability to feel a sense of accomplishment by establishing their own averages and improving them with small incentives along the way."

The veteran of 35 years working with juniors noted that the participants make lifelong friendships with bowlers — not just those from their own neighborhoods.

"It's a sport that they can do for the first time at any age," she said.

Pannebecker, who helps coordinate the county's scholastic bowling program, believes that the Saturday morning junior and the high school programs complement each other.

"The young kids see how much the high school bowlers get excited about their teams and they want to experience that kind of high school team spirit," she said. "They encourage each other."

A full list of awards follows:

Average: Major Division - Ben White 219, Olivia Farwell 215; Junior Division - Isaac Erickson 209, Paige Boyd 191; Prep Division - Brandy Wiggins 165, Laney Blevins 165; Bantam Division - Andre Piermattie 128, Taylor Miller 123.

Series: Major Division - Jonathan Pleger 800, Brittany Ritzman 782; Junior Division - Cameron Zwally 762, Ashley Sham 711; Prep Division - Brady Wiggins 608, Josh Hammons 594, Laney Blevins 643, Julee Getz 536; Bantam Division- Andre Piermattie 457, Cameron Getz 446, Taylor Miller 423, Kayla Washe 382.

High Game: Major Division - John Mertz III, Nick Mease and Olivia Farwell 300, Brittany Ritzman 299, Allison Hresko and Samantha Heindel 279; Junior Division - Cameron Zwally 300, Patick Hoffmaster 280, KC Miller 268; Prep Division - Josh Hammons 226, Brady Wiggins 222, Zach Fetter 220, Laney Blevins 257, Julee Getz 233, Alaina Tlenko 219; Bantam Division - Jack Sofillas 184, Taylor Miller 156, Kayla Wasche 152, Jocelyn Sweigart 145.

USBC Youth Singles Tournament Trophy winners

Scratch - 1. John Mertz III and Ryan Graham 672, 2. Jonathan Pleger 618; Class A - 1. Tyler Lappa 681, 2. Austin Allison 624 3. Jared Bigley 705, 4. Patick Hoffmaster 700; Class B - 1. Nathan Barnica 540, 2. Jacob Whitton 514, 3. Matthew Iseman 496; Class C - 1. Jack Sofillas 436, 2. Aiden Sofillas 422, 3. Bradley Enck 409, 4. Anthony White 391.

Scratch - 1. Brittany Ritzman and Katelyn Martin 579; Class A - 1. Randi Rambo 682, 2. Katelyn Musselman 659, 3. Hailey Petrosky 657; Class B - 1. Tana MacFeat 559, 2. MacKenzie Bender 535, 3. Cassandra Hatfield 534; Class C - 1. Emalee Getz 428, 2. Rhiannon Kott 383, 3. Eva Brubaker 377.

Scratch - 1. Celmer (Zach Bowers, Ryan Graham, Shawn Mertz, John Mertz III) 2552; Class A - 1. Strike (Tyler Miller, Angel Almodovar, Brandon Henry, Dylan Smith) 3086; Class B - 1. Pin Snipers (Owen Walker, Jimmy Mahler, Tyler Lappa, Nick Mease) 2142; Class C - 1. Legal Nation (Kaleb Sweigart, Bryce Carvell, Nick Sweigart, Liam Ulrich) 1601.

Scratch - 1. 190 Plus (Janae Haller, Olivia Farwell, Allison Hresko, Katelyn Martin) 2424; Class A - 1. Cheetah Girls (Megan Lappa, Briana Bracero, Emily Scheurich, Lauren Sterner) 2718; Class B - 1. Incredibowls (Tana MacFeat, Andrea Gribble, Kitiara MacFeat, Morgan Long) 2006; Class C - 1. 5-7 Split (Emalee Getz, Delaney Reitnauer, Kimberlie Ziegler, Julee Getz) 1664.

Scratch - 1. Flambos (Randi Rambo, Bryanna Young, Shawn Mertz, John Mertz III) 2581; Class A - 1. Rocky Bowlers (Angel Almodovar, Rygo Kingsley, Kylee Clare, Mark Smith) 2811, 2. Metal Heads (Meghan Lappa, Tyler Lappa, Emily Scheurich, Lee Enck) 2591; Class B - 1. The Misfits (Lexi Miller, Drew Jazuith, KC Miller, Tana MacFeat) 2127, 2. Pickle's Clan (Riley Weaver, Sam Heindel, Zach Reigh, Dylan Winkler) 2119; Class C - 1. Silent But (Makayla Burkhart, Danny Farina, Catey Sides, Spencer Brendel) 1756.

Seniors (15 and over) John Mertz III 1949, Randi Rambo 1838; Juniors (12 - 14) Isaac Erickson 1868, Ashley Sham 1778; Preps (9 - 11) Nathan Barnica 1435, Julee Getz 1359; Bantum (8 and under) Kaleb Sweigart 1013, Taylor Miller 1107.

Source: Manheim Township grad Shawn Mertz receives pair of bowling scholarships