After being blanked at the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association bowling tournament a year ago, Pennsylvania College of Technology returned to the winners' circle over the weekend with two state championships.
Penn College's men's team of Paul Bouchard (Montoursville), Travis Rupert (Lock Haven), Ian Hickey (Middleburg), Eric Kennedy (Lewistown), Tyler Weaver (Catawissa) and Aaron Smith (Waynesboro) combined in singles, doubles, team and Baker events to knock down 10,116 pins and claim the overall title by a 343-pin margin.
Bouchard took the men's all events (singles, doubles and team) with a 1,917 and, for the fourth time in five seasons, coach Debbie Vincenzes was named the Coach of the Year.
"Paul was just amazing. He just excelled," Vincenzes said of Bouchard.
"The team overall, they just supported each other. Part of this team went to states last year and they already had the chemistry but the addition of Paul Bouchard and Tyler Weaver rounded the team out," the coach continued. "The two new guys just seemed to fit in and they all rooted for each other. It was a real great team effort."
Also among the leaders for Penn College were Hickey, who tied for second in men's singles with a 598, and Bouchard and Kennedy, who finished third in men's doubles.
The Penn College women's team of Brianne Burkland (Danville), Rebecca Rudy (Lancaster) and Evelyn Furman (Montoursville) finished third with a 5,846. Rudy was fourth in singles with a 492 and Rudy and Burkland were fourth in doubles with a 915.
"The women had a rough tournament. They were a little disappointed," Vincenzes said.
Reflecting on the overall season, Vincenzes said, "It was an excellent season. It was just a great season with a great bunch of kids. They all worked together. They all connected with each other to come together."