Boys bowling: Andrean’s McCoy’s confidence on the rise

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Andrean's Jake McCoy heads into this week's Fort Wayne Semistate after winning his sectional and regional titles. | Steve T. Gorches~Post-Tribune

Updated: March 8, 2012 8:12AM

Just two weeks ago, Andrean junior Jake McCoy was conservatively shooting for being one of 15 local bowlers to reach Saturday’s semistate meet in Fort Wayne.

But after capturing the WestLake Sectional title and Michigan City Regional title in succession, McCoy is exuding plenty of confidence as he prepares to compete in an even tougher field with the next goal of qualifying for the state meet on Feb. 18 in Lafayette.

“I was just worried about getting out of sectionals,” McCoy said. “So winning that gave me the confidence that I could also win regional. Now I have so much confidence, and yet I still have to deal with some nervousness because there are great bowlers at semistate. But I made it to semistate last year, and I’m confident in my ability to advance to state this year.”

To be sure, McCoy has had the potential all along, being the younger brother of former state meet qualifier Ryan McCoy. But Jake’s recent climb — winning sectional and regional titles in the same postseason — came rather fast.

The sectional crown came with a victory over Lake Central’s Nate Maciejewski 226-184. At regional, McCoy tied Chesterton’s Jacob Hollingshead for the top qualifying spot with a 629. McCoy lost the roll off, but he edged LaPorte’s Nate Nieto in the semifinal 192-188 before ultimately defeating Hollingshead for the title.

“Losing the rolloff actually helped me,” McCoy said. “While I was practicing I really didn’t know what (shot) I was playing. So if I didn’t have that semifinal match to find my shot, I don’t I know if I would have found a shot in the finals.

“When I got those three strikes in 10th frame to win (against Nieto), I just made the best shot I could. Thankfully I was able to carry that momentum over to the championship match.”

According to McCoy’s coach, his father Tim McCoy, Jake also made an adjustment before that 10th frame which was independent of his coaching.

“That move in the 10th which was totally his own, and it paid off for him,” Tim said. “Even losing the rolloff didn’t bother him because of the confidence he gained winning sectional.

“He started the season slow, and then he rolled a couple of 279s and lifted his average up to 212 in the last month. With all he’s done in the past couple of weeks, he’s just throwing the ball real well.”

And yet, Jake admits that he’s still a perfectionist who is trying to refine his own mental game — though he credits his brother, who bowls at Calumet College, for much of his improvement.

“My brother helps me a lot,” Jake said. “He’s a fantastic bowler, and he knows more than I’ll ever know. But I’m getting better.”