NHIAA Bowling: Spaulding's Bamford bowls a beauty
February 24. 2018 11:12PM
Spaulding sophomore Xavier Bamford, shown during last week's team bowling championships. dominated the NHAA individual bowling championships Saturday at Strikers East in Raymond. (THOMAS ROY/UNION LEADER FILE PHOTO)
Spaulding High of Rochester's Xavier Bamford had a day of redemption at Saturday's NHIAA individual bowling championship at Strikers East in Raymond.
Bamford, who came in second to his sister Olivia in last year's tournament, took this year's state crown after setting down Stevens of Claremont's Clayton Wadsworth with ease, 258-216, in the finale of the stepladder finals.
"I know I've won a lot, but going against so many that I bowl with around the region ... it's just such a great feeling to know that my hard work has paid off," Bamford said.
The final match was an exclammation point on a dominant effort by Bamford, who set a tournament record with 750 pins in the three-game qualifying round.
Bamford's average score of 250 in the three-game qualifier was 40 pins better than the next best bowler.
Bamford reached the four-player stepladder final with a 259-181 win in his round of 16 match and then a 236-149 triumph in the round of eight.
Joining Bamford and Wadsworth in the stepladder final were Goffstown's Ryan Gentes and Merrimack's Mike Grover. Gentes defeated Grover 209-183 before Wadsworth downed Gentes 189-165.
