Brunner was introduced to bowling when she was 4, and now, as a junior at Hamilton High School, she’s one of the top female prep bowlers in the region.

She carries a 167.5 average, the fourth highest in the Greater Miami Conference, with a high game of 207 and a series high of 408 in a team victory against Princeton this year.

The Big Blue bowlers are 1-8 overall and 1-3 in the GMC. Despite the lack of the team’s success, Brunner recently was named one of the GMC’s Athletes of the Week.

Tim Arthur, HHS girls bowling coach, said besides carrying such a high average, Brunner serves as a mentor to the younger bowlers on the team by being “really motivated out there.”

While some high school bowlers don’t take the sport seriously, Brunner always wants to “bowl, bowl, bowl,” her coach said.

“That drive is what pushes her,” said Arthur, in his sixth season at Hamilton where he has served as boys and girls varsity coach and junior varsity coach.

Brunner, 17, said she remembers bowling in Saturday morning leagues, then making the high school varsity team as a freshman. That year she qualified for the state tournament as an individual. She hopes to return to state as a junior and senior.

Until then, she can always try to beat her father, Chris, owner of several 300 games.

“I did beat him once,” said Brunner, whose high game is 256.

Her mother, Michelle, once an avid bowler, said when she watches her daughter bowl, she always wants her to perform her best.

“That’s all any parent can want,” she said.

When the regular season ends, all the GMC teams will compete in the GMC Class Feb. 15 at Western Bowl.

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