Bowling: Karen McCoy tallies repeat win in city seniors event
· Yahoo Sports
Jun. 21—"Totally flabbergasted" was the only way Karen McCoy could describe the win.
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After posting her first-ever city singles title last year, the 78-year-old made it two in a row with a first-place finish in the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress Women's Senior Singles Tournament. McCoy, who competes in the oldest division, tallied a 748 handicap series — the top score in the entire tournament — edging out the bowlers in all four of the age-group divisions.
"I guess I'm not too old after all," she said. "It's a good feeling that I can bowl like that."
The Kettering bowler opened the tournament with a solid 190 game but wasn't overly optimistic.
"I usually bowl one good game and then two bad games or two good games and then a bad one," she said. "So, I didn't know what to expect."
What she didn't expect was to finish 104 pins over her average. McCoy was quick to share the credit with the other bowlers on her lane — Sheri Smith, Amy Baker and Lori Reasoner, all of whom placed in the D Division for competitors 50-59 years old.
"The people I was bowling with were a lot of fun and they rubbed off on me," McCoy said.
At 78, McCoy has had more to contend with in recent years than her competition.
"The body is falling apart," she said.
Multiple surgeries, including a second hip replacement just over a week ago, have sidelined her from time to time, but never kept her off the lanes or out of the office for long. McCoy works as a legal assistant and bowls in two leagues a season.
"I'm a tough old bird," she said with a smile. "People are calling me bionic now."
While there is some rehabbing to do this summer, the now two-time city champion will be back on the lanes by the start of the 2026-27 season. She plans to inform her surgeon of just that.
"The two loves of my life right now are work and bowling," she said. "And I can't see giving up either one of them."
Greater Dayton USBC Women's Senior Singles Champions
At Bowl 10 Fairborn
Division A (70 and older)
Karen McCoy 748
Division B (65-69)
Karen Hobson 664
Division C (60-64)
Margaret Smith 746
Division D (50-59)
Shirley Moon 730