VB’s Franco caps first year of bowling with state individual, team titles

n just his first year to bowl, Omar Franco became a state champion individually and as part of a team. So what was the Van Buren junior’s secret to his immediate success in bowling? “Friends that inspire you, friends that can beat you and as well you can beat them,” Franco, named the Times Record’s Athlete of the Week, said. “Friends that brought you in and supported you all the way through.” Franco had been playing soccer before his involvement in bowling. It didn’t take him very long to make a name for himself in his new sport. Last Thursday at the 6A state tournament held at Bowling World, Franco won the 6A individual boys title after rolling a three-game total score of 664 (211-227-226). He was also part of Van Buren’s first state title in bowling since 2010. The Pointers claimed the 6A team title by rolling a total score of 4,190 pins, beating runner-up Conway by nearly 100 pins. “My thoughts are it was a lot of hard work from all of us, including our team and myself,” Franco said. “I’ve been only bowling for a year, and it’s been almost hard work coming out here three times a week bowling. ... I’m really proud of myself and my team for making state and winning it; it’s been a lot of hard work to put into what I do.” As Franco previously stated, it was his friends — who became his teammates — which helped him fuel a love for bowling. They were also instrumental in getting Franco involved in the first place. “After soccer, they brought me in to try bowling with them and I fell in love every time I went bowling with them,” Franco said. ?(Bowling is) always changing. The patterns aren’t always the same, the balls are always different in coming out with new cores and reactions.” The individual gold medal win for Franco was even more amazing because prior to Thursday’s 6A state tournament, he had never medaled in a previous event. Franco had placed fourth at the 6A-Central conference tournament in Conway, which the Pointers also won. “I wanted to pick up more spares (at state) than I did at conference and roll comfortably as much as I can even with me shaking nervously, and my mindset was to roll the best that I can, better than conference,” he said. ?(My approach) was looking to the next frame; the most important frame was the very next frame. ... I think I had a good chance at (every frame), just bowl better than the previous one.” Two more Pointers tied for third place as junior Caleb Jenkins and Steven Dye, the only senior on the squad, each finished with a total score of 630. “Those are my best friends, all of them, and they got me into this sport and we all won it together my first year,” Franco said. With Dye as the only senior, the returning Pointers have a great chance to win state again in 2021. Next season, they will be dropping down from 6A to 5A. Franco — who no longer plays soccer as he is completely invested into bowling — remarked that the key to repeating as state champs for the Pointers is to continue the teamwork which allowed them to win the 6A title last week. In fact, he added he would be completely satisfied if one of his teammates won the state individual title next season as long as the Pointers can come out on top once again. ?(For next season, it’s all about) sticking together, bowling our best, helping each other and supporting each other like we always do,” Franco said. ”(Also) giving each other support to bowl better the next game. “I just hope to do it again next year and hopefully, I would rather step down and let them have a turn at it (winning gold medalist).”

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Van Buren High School Athletics

VB’S FRANCO CAPS FIRST YEAR OF BOWLING WITH STATE INDIVIDUAL, TEAM TITLES

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 2/17/2020

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics