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Canfield’s Letscher named Rookie of the Year
By Greg Gulas
When Canfield High School’s highly decorated bowler Andrew Letscher made the decision to enroll at Pikeville University last fall, his goal was to earn second-team All-America honors.
Deep down however, the hope was to help lead the tradition-rich Bears to a Mid-South Conference title and NAIA national championship.
His freshman season has been one for the ages as he helped UPike to the MSC title. UPike finished 38-2 overall and ahead of runner-up Martin Methodist — which finished 34-6 — and a runner-up finish at last weekend’s NAIA championships.
For his efforts, he was named NAIA “Rookie of the Year” and in two weeks at the Intercollegiate Championships in Baton Rouge, La., remains a finalist for national “Rookie of the Year” honors.
“It has really been a fun run and one that you hope doesn’t end any time soon, but the truth is that it has been a lot of work,” Letscher said. “Several times over the course of the season I was passed by some really excellent bowlers, so I found myself having to fight my way back.”
As a freshman, Letscher’s 211.5 average was tops on the Bears team and was awarded Mid-South Conference “Top Freshman” laurels.
“My biggest adjustment came in having to relearn my place. As a freshman, you just want to fit in, but it I had to prove myself all over again and especially with such a phenomenal bowling program,” Letscher said. “There are so many talented bowlers from all parts of the country on the team, but I was eventually able to find my niche and become a team leader.”
Scholastically, Letscher helped the Cardinals to the state title as a freshman, was honorable mention all-state as the team finished ninth his sophomore campaign while earning first-team all-state honors his final two seasons with runner-up and third-place team finishes.
His initial collegiate campaign includes a 279 roll and 1,333, six-game block at the 48th annual Hoosier Classic in Indianapolis back on February 11-12.
He also has an 1,125, five-game block to his credit, that coming at the Wright State University Orange and Black Classic in Beavercreek.
Letscher notes that the Bears’ schedule is very challenging.
“Week in and week out the schedule is really tough as we play some of the very best competition around,” he noted. “We also bowl on some incredibly tough oil patterns, which also present a challenge.”
UPike head coach Kyle Wilson said Letscher has adjusted rather quickly to the college game.
“When I singed Andrew, he told me that he wanted to win a national championship so I knew right from the start that he was something special,” Wilson said. “As a freshman he has made a tremendous impact on his teammates and coaches, having raised the bar since his arrival. He’s already been named NAIA Rookie of the Year and to me, placing in the top five in all categories means there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be the national rookie of the year.”
UPike finished runner-up to Webber International University at the NAIA championship and will once again go head to head against the Warriors at the ITC Championships.
The ITC, which is set for April 19-22, also features top teams from the NCAA, NAIA and club sport ranks with the top-16 teams qualifying from four different sections of the country.
“We qualified in Smyrna, Tennessee and will face top teams like Wichita State and Notre Dame College out of Cleveland,” Letscher said. “The NAIA is very tough when it comes to bowling and we will go up against some of the very best teams nationally. Coach Wilson has prepared us for this moment, the school has supplied us with all of the tools in order to be successful and we have very loyal supporters. We’ll just concentrate on getting ready now for the ITC.”
UPike qualified third out of their section right behind Calumet and Urbana College’s, and ahead of the McKendree University Bearcats.