Marion’s Monica Coppa aims for a third state bowling trip this season

MARION — Monica Coppa is two for two.

She’s hoping to end her bowling career three for three.

A Marion senior, Coppa is the girls’ bowling team’s top-scorer. Through six games, she’s averaging 207 per game — good for second in Class 2A, picking up right where she left off last year.

“I put in a lot of practice over the summer,” Coppa said. “I was really working on my mental game and I feel like it has gotten so much better.”

As a sophomore, Coppa claimed the individual Wamac Conference tournament title and qualified for the Class 2A state tournament. She repeated those feats as a junior.

“It was awesome (winning the Wamac Conference tournament), especially last year because I had won the year before,” Coppa said. “Two times in a row is pretty great.”

But a third time? That would be the tops.

“It’s probably the top goal,” she said. “That, and qualifying for state.”

How’s she managed so much late-season success?

“ I think a lot of it is repetition throughout the year,” Coppa said. “When you travel so much, you get to see many different kinds of lanes. You get to make a mental note of each lane.

“Like last year, the Wamac tournament was here (Cedar Rapids Bowling Center, Marion’s home center), so I knew the lanes really well. The year before it was in Independence and we’d just had a meet there … it definitely helps having those small tournaments before you have a big tournament.”

Coppa has never experienced missing out on a conference championship or a trip to state — an impressive feat, especially since she didn’t bowl as a freshman.

“I was going to bowl freshman year, but I picked basketball over it because that was my main sport growing up,” Coppa said. “Bowling was more of a side thing growing up. But then I didn't really like basketball freshman year, so I decided to try bowling it. And I'm obviously still here, so I liked it a lot.”

As a home-schooled student, Coppa's outgoing nature has allowed her to build strong bonds with her teammates over the years, earning their respect as a leader.

“It was a little nerve-wracking going in because I didn't really know anybody,” Coppa said. “I definitely would consider myself an extrovert. I love talking to people. But, I mean, everybody was just so welcoming, so it was so easy to talk to everybody and really feel welcomed on the team.”

“Her teammates like her a lot,” Marion Coach Ashely Bys said. “I'd say she's not so outspoken, but there for everybody when they need her and steps up into a leadership role. They also realize that she's been bowling a lot longer than them, so they do definitely look at her as a leader.”

Coppa’s strong start this year has Bys excited for what’s ahead.

“Her first year, she started a little slower. The scores weren't amazing the whole season,” Bys said. “It really kind of ramped up at the end and she did really well those last few meets. Last year, she was solid all season and got stronger at the end.

“This year, she’s already started so strong. It's exciting to see where things will go.”

Marion’s season continues Jan. 6 at Maquoketa. The Wamac tournament will take place Feb. 14 at Berry’s Lanes in Vinton.