Bowling: A clean sweep of city titles for Megan Shell

May 11—Team title — check. Doubles title — check. Singles and all-events titles — check and check.

Megan Shell claimed not one or two, but four Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress titles this season.

Shell recently capped an already successful season by winning the women's city handicap singles title at Strike & Spare Capri Lanes with a 756 series — a second consecutive city singles title. The recent win, paired with doubles and team handicap titles earlier in the season, secured the handicap all-events title for the 28-year-old bowler. She also finished second to singles scratch champion Shannon Pluhowsky in scratch all-events.

"I have been working really hard on my game, and my goal going into this season was to be better than the year before," Shell said. "I feel like, this year, I really focused on me, and I knew what I needed to do for myself and my teams."

Tournament wins aside, Shell has been pleased with the improvement of both her physical and mental game this season. Admittedly, she struggled after returning to the game in late 2022 after a 2 1/2 -year post-college hiatus.

"When I came back to bowling, I think I expected to jump right back into it, and that wasn't the case," she said. "It was difficult to get back to where I was."

And while it's her name that appears on the plaques and checks, Shell is quick to share the credit with her teammates and "Team Cook" — her mother and brother, Penny and Kyle Cook, and husband Ray Shell.

"It's a pretty tight-knit cheering squad," she said with a smile.

Kyle — who is sponsored by Hammer Bowling — has been especially helpful when it comes to equipment.

"I do think I have a lot of good balls in my arsenal," Shell said. "He's been a big help when it comes to getting recommendations, and I can always brainstorm with him during a match if I'm struggling."

While mom might be spotted pacing back and forth on the concourse if the match is tight, she is always the first voice Shell hears when she throws a good shot.

Not one to rest on her laurels, the city champion will head to Columbus later this month for the Women's State Queen's Tournament. She also plans to compete in two PWBA Regional tournaments this summer.

"I bowled in my first one (PWBA) last year, and it was one of those dream-come-true moments to be on the lanes with those bowlers," she said. "It was a lot of fun."