St. George's Iloa Otuafi defies odds, rolls big in first bowling season
Iloa Otuafi executed to near-perfection a proven blueprint for success in bowling by avoiding open frames, and as a result, he's the newest member of the 700 Club in St. George area bowling.
Otuafi is also the latest of a growing number of talented young bowlers who can turn pins into mincemeat by throwing powerful strike balls. And while he has a silky-smooth delivery and outstanding bowling mechanics which generate a ton of revs, it's still a formidable task to bowl a 700 series in one's first year of league bowling.
But he defied the odds and did so in the Sunday Night Mixed League at Dixie Bowl where he began his milestone achievement with no open frames along with seven strikes and four spares in a clean 226.
Next, he followed with no open frames again in a clean 234, and after doing the math, he realized a 700 was doable, but it would require a 240 effort.
Well, fast forward to the 6th frame where he began a run of four straight strikes and followed with a clutch spare in the 10th frame and seven pins on his fill ball for a 240 game and his first-ever 700 series which featured 20 strikes and only one open frame all night.
He uses two-handed delivery like his favorite bowler, Jason Belmonte, recently began playing some golf and pickleball, is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, and continues to be inspired by the work ethic, determination and other intangible qualities of Tiger Woods and the late Kobe Bryant.
Otuafi, 22, graduated from Desert Hills High School, is employed at Bringhurst Plumbing & Heating, is the oldest of eight siblings, plays the ukulele, and just became a dad with the birth of a daughter, Makiah.
In other pin action, Robert Dickey threw 11 strikes in a 280 en route to a 757 series, and propelled by a 277, Brendan Thomas delivered a 749 set, while Matt Polatis (712-247, 236,229) delivered a great outing with 22 strikes and only one open frame.
Meanwhile, Bruce Breager (700-259) who also plays senior softball had arguably his best outing this season, Nick Mace (641-237) cranked out some good scores, and Darrell Shifflet (601-246) registered his first 600 of the 2022-23 season.
And Chase Evans (739) led single game action with a monster 290 gem, Max Stayrook (646) fired 10 strikes in a clean 279, Larry Rumple (662) racked up10 strikes in a clean 278, and Ron Hanson (632) pounded out 10 strikes in a season-high 275.
Jeremy Turlington (688) had a 6-bagger in a clean 268, Jack Raspberry (627) rolled a standout 266, Jim Mathews (607) also booked a season-high 266, Brayden Brooks (599) shot a 241, and his dad, Daryl, popped a 224.
Saturday morning youth league bowlers Mason Foy smacked a season-high 216, and with a season-high 205 and Tyson Wilkins fell 3 pins shy of topping his season-high 207.
And Susan Hill set the scoring pace in women's action with a 652 series including 17 strikes along and a clean 243, Sharon Reading's 604 included 13 strikes and a clean 197, and Anne Brosier delivered one of her best outings this season with 582 a set along with a 7-bagger in a season-high 242.
Lisa Moss (569-199) smoked Sunset Lanes with some good numbers, Sherril Rasmussen (537-210) delivered a terrific effort, Hailey Bundy mowed down 517 pins, and Jamie Turlington's 505 included a 205.
In single game play, Dawn Thomas (548) uncorked a 214, Pat McLaughlin (547) chucked a 204, Karen Balicki (578) bagged a 201, and Linda Handke (535) racked up a 200.
In senior league play, Dianna Smith rolled a rare all-spare game, and Annette Chugg tossed a 257. And in Saturday morning youth bowling, Jerra Turlington (459) registered a season-high 195, Stacie Phelps (522) rolled a 188 game, and Adi Telford's 507 included a 180 effort.
Oh, bay-bee!
SannDee Lindquist spared the 5-6-10 split ... Keith Jones received a 500 Series Award for a 528 ... Debe Brooks captured a 175 Game Award for a 180 ... Cliff Gallagher snared a 400 Series Award for a 424.
Senior scores
Eric Goldfarb 662-227; Bob Lehnen 638-218; Manny Hartmann 630-234; Bill Schulze 628-244; John Verchota 628-229; Norm Ritchie 625-233; Adam Sedgwick 611-233; Gary Miskowiak 234; Dave Myers 221; Bill Dickey 215; Stan Rasmussen 214; Dave Conklin 209; Tim Swigart 208; Will Hutchinson 207; Ted Kezos 205; Paul Yssell 202; Ann Rasmusen 636-239; Margie O'Neill 628-224; Pat McLaughlin 626-226; 626-226; Annette Chugg 588-257; Joann Fowler 570-204; Pat McCabe 558-204; Pat McCabe 558-191; Kathy Robbins 554-205; Susan Hill 534-202; Shari Swigart 512-212; Candi Myers 508-233. SPLITS: Sandie Ulery 4-5-7 & 5-7, Marge Jensen 6-7-10, Karyn Evertsen 1-8-10 washout.
High scores
John Potter708-254; Alfred Oliveira V 687-235; Skyler Moss 679-238; Mo Davis 674-255; Troy Olaveson 662-258; Tor Lowry 645-258; Russ Harkins 642-243; Gregg Santt 641-222; Scott Bahrke 639-233; Blaine Hartley 637-224; Gary Miskowiak 631-221; Patrick Webster 631-221; Kaiden Klingonsmith 631-228; Cory Choate 627-266; Lew Agius 621-252; Joel Redfearn 620-215; Jorge Grajeda 629-334; Randy James 619-224; Wil Mariluch 616-256; Kyle Kidman 612-214; Ben Stang 611-212; JC Barrow 609-216; Rod Post 609-216; Dave Schmucker 606-216; Jay Strausser 605-213; Kyle Clark 604-212;Ken Schloman 597-231; Trent Nay 257; Dennis Craft 248; Gage Petersohn 248; Tony Van Gestel 237; Lor Lowry 641-236; Shane Wilson 236; Marcus Allen 234; Scott Brosier 233; Jason Mitchel 232; Layton Asmus 237; Duane Sullivan 227; Chris Scott 226; Bill Logan 225; Phil San Antonio 224; Doyle Mouser 224; Kobe Ray 222; Wayne Hoppal 222; Micharl Foote 222; Mike McClure 221; Doug Clarke 219; Jaren Clark 219; Bob Lehnen 219; Travis Ballard 218; Richard Berry 218; Jay Ankeny 215; Jeff Edwards 215; Rick Lesko 214; Will Hutchinson 214; Don Polich 214; Jay Strausser 605-213 Jerry Bundy 213; Dalton Smith 213; Allen Johnson 212; Chris Otuafi212; David Lee 212; Niko Garcia 212; Dave Palmer 212; Bob Hurd 211; Stan Rasmussen 210; Dale Knight 208; Dave Guckenburg 208; Jake Heaton208; Al Oliveira 206;Chance Evans205; Shawn Wonder 204; Chris Ray 204; Jim Bedford 204; Jeff Brown 202; Sherri Snarr 588-210; Tammy Blakely 588-213; Autumn Telford 586-205; Kayla Hammond 578-203; Margie O'Neill 588-209; Mila Thornton 556-1908; Kara Kopf-Rasberry 556-194; Annette Chugg 555-198; Ann Rasmusen 548-209; Ashley Thomas 533-190; Lisa Jones 528-204; Bryeann Barckley 521-193; Sheila Green 519-192; Hailey Bundy 517; Lizzy David 514-200; PJ Redhouse 510; Bev Keeley 505; Pat McCabe 504; Indianna Polatis-Nay; Jan Crawford 519-196; Stephanie Miller 218.
Willie Theis covers league bowling in St. George for The Spectrum and Daily News.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: St. George's Iloa Otuafi defies the odds again with huge series
