Local bowler earns gold

Published 11:17 am Friday, July 26, 2013

Megan Coburn, 17, stands before lanes where she played in Christiansburg last weekend in a bowling tournament. Coburn's wearing the gold medal she won for her category. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Megan Coburn, 17, stands before lanes where she played in Christiansburg last weekend in a bowling tournament. Coburn’s wearing the gold medal she won for her category. SUBMITTED PHOTO

BOYKINS—Megan Coburn recently added gold to her collection of bowling medals, and she’s not stopping there.

The 17-year-old Southampton High School student played at the Subway Commonwealth Games of Virginia this past weekend in Christiansburg. She’s already earned silver and bronze in the past two years respectively.

For 2013, the website results show that Coburn bowled 132/220 at the bronze level, then 137/225 at the silver before earning her top spot in the category of girls 16-19 handicap.

“I want to go back next year,” she said.

Meanwhile, Coburn is preparing for her next challenge, which comes up at the Pennsylvania Junior Bowlers Tournament Series during early August. She practices by bowling two to three times a week at the Franklin Bowling Center.

Her interest began 10 years ago when she was seven years old, said her sister, Desty Heikens of Carrsville.

“She went one day and fell in love with it,” Heikens said, and added with a smile, “I’m a cheerleader.”

Coburn confirmed said and she took to bowling right away, but acknowledged that developing confidence and skill took awhile. She added that meeting new people has been a side benefit to playing the sport she loves.

To get an idea of how far she has progressed in bowling, imagine bowling seven strikes in a row.

“I started freaking out,” Coburn said with a large grin about a practice run she did last Friday.

When she’s not at the lanes, Coburn splits her time with their father, Wayne, in Carrsville, and mother, Susan, in Boykins.