VIDEO: Michael Coffey Is Teen Masters Champion, National Collegiate Bowling Coaches MVP

By  //  April 27, 2017

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME


ABOVE VIDEO: Michael Coffey was the 2014 Teen Masters champion, continued his winning streak in college, winning 36 and counting, international bowling medals in his quest to earn his spot in the Professional Bowlers Association upon graduation.

EAU GALLIE HIGH GRADUATE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Michael Coffey has kept his eye on the ball – bowling ball, that is – since he was 10 years old.

Now all of 22, Coffey has already reached heights in the sport than most mortal bowlers can’t even imagine.

The Eau Gallie High School graduate, who was the 2014 Teen Masters champion, continued his winning streak in college, winning 36 and counting, international bowling medals in his quest to earn his spot in the Professional Bowlers Association upon graduation.

His can-do philosophy is admirable.

“I know I can do basically anything I want,” he said. “I just have to stay calm and make good shots.”

He is certainly not short on awards, but some of his most cherished distinctions are earning the Most Valuable Player kudos by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association for his 2015-2016 college bowling season and being honored as College Player of the Year by the International Bowling Media Association.

Eau Gallie High School graduate Michael Cofffey was the 2014 Teen Masters champion, and continued his winning streak in college, winning 36 and counting, international bowling medals in his quest to earn his spot in the Professional Bowlers Association upon graduation.

TEEN MASTERS CHAMPION

Most of us know much less about competitive bowling than other sports such as golf. At a tournament, bowling competitors are met with a set of lane conditions in which the amount and pattern of surface oil spread on each lane varies.

The types of equipment can vary as well. At his 2014 Teen Masters win in Ft. Lauderdale, an event which earned him a $7,500 scholarship, Coffey and his adversaries were limited to a single urethane and a single plastic ball.

2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country ClubRelated Story:
2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country Club

In golf, this would translate to showing up for a tournament at an unknown course and beings allowed to bring just two clubs.

With this comparison in mind, consider that Coffey started his Teen Masters final in 2014 with a turkey, meaning the first three balls were strikes for 30 points in the first frame.

A similar comparison in golf would be showing up to the unknown course and sinking three holes-in-one…with just a sand wedge.

ABOVE VIDEO: In 2016, Michael Coffey was named NCBCA First Team All-American and MVP. Coffey was also named IBMA’s Bowler of the Year. He made 9 ATT’s out of 14 tournaments on the year, while winning 3 of them and averaging almost 218 on the year.

NCBCA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The Melbourne resident currently attends Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, where he is a mainstay on the NCAA Division II Lions Bowling Team.

As the 2014-2015 NCBCA Rookie of the Year, Michael averaged 217.9, placing him second overall in the nation. He collected three individual wins, four runner-up finishes and nine top-five performances.

The pride of Shore Lanes bowling alleys in Palm Bay and Merritt Island, Coffey is also a Space Coast favorite son, an outstanding athlete who inspires us to do our best in whatever we choose to do.

MICHAEL COFFEY has been a bowler since he was 10 years old, and now at 22, is among the best in the college ranks. The Eau Gallie High School graduate, who was the 2014 Teen Masters champion, continued his winning streak in college, winning 36 and counting, international bowling medals in his quest to earn his spot in the Professional Bowlers Association upon graduation.

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The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame was founded by Space Coast Daily in 2011. The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple

THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced, Induction Ceremony Set May 12

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, Assistant Editor Alan Zlotorzynski, local youth sports advocate and promoter Mike Cadore, Friday Night Locker Room Founders Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison, Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and AAU Vice President Rusty Buchanan.

“The list of inductees for 2017 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.

ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, LeadersRelated Story:
ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, Leaders

INDUCTION GALA & SPORTS AWARDS SET FOR MAY 12

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 12 at the Cocoa Beach County Club.

The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty, dinner and the induction proceeding which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple..

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES:  Joe Kohlbrand, Football; and Cory Philpot, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jason Arnold, Baseball; Michael Coffey, Bowling; Reggie Hannah, Basketball;  Paige Kearns, Swimming; and Charles Wilson, Football.

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Kristen Gordon, Softball; Ray Herring, Jr. Football; Katie Jackson, Soccer; and Hunter Pingston, Football.

• AMATEUR/REC CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Richard Chapman, Little League; Todd Erickson, Softball; Al Genchi, Youth Soccer; and David Kilgore, Running.

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Skip Arrich, Soccer; Tom Dooley, Baseball; Chuck Keener, Tennis; Steve Lamontagne, Golf; and Mike Soliven, Basketball.

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEES: Jeff Carr, Eastern Florida State College; and Steve Englehart, Florida Tech.

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Linda Anderson, Athletic Director; and Les Stafford, Volunteer

• SPORTS OFFICIALS INDUCTEES: Neely Dunn and Bob Walton.

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Hillard Grossman.

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE : Gary Gregory, PAL Boxing.

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics – Coach Cindy Dropeski, Athlete Chuck Conway and Volunteer Kathi Madden.

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa High School 2016 Football State Champions.

• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Jim Grimes, Basketball, Eastern Florida State College

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame is located in the main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus of Eastern Florida State College. Portraits and biographies of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices. Memorabilia items and related sports artifacts will be added to the display over time. (Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame image)