2021-22 NewsTribune Boys Bowler of the Year: St. Bede’s Trenton Acuncius

A few years after he started bowling, St. Bede’s Trenton Acuncius saw PBA bowler Jason Belmonte roll the ball two-handed during a tournament on TV.

“Everyone thought it was a neat thing, and I thought I’d try it myself,” Acuncius said.

Acuncius said he kind of figured out the new style as he went, taking his father Eric’s one-handed mechanics and adapting them to the two-handed form.

“It helps with my balance and helps me control the ball a little bit better,” Acuncius said. “The second hand is kind of like a guide hand. It helps with the rev rate.”

Using the unique style – which Acuncius said has become more popular with what he estimates at about a third of high school bowlers using it – Acuncius developed into one of the top bowlers in the area.

This season, the St. Bede senior had the area’s best average (222) by 20 pins, he had a 771 high series, placed third at the Cavalier Classic, finished eighth at the Minooka Regional, took 12th at the Sandburg Sectional and earned an at-large bid to the state tournament where he placed seventh.

For all he accomplished this season, Acuncius is the 2021-22 NewsTribune Boys Bowler of the Year.

“I think I did tremendous,” Acuncius said. “I think I exceeded my goals. I think I was pretty consistent throughout the entire year.

“I couldn’t have wanted (my season) to end any differently, besides coming out with first place. I reached for the goal I wanted, and I was pretty happy with how it came out.”

Acuncius’ journey to the IHSA state tournament began when he would go with his dad to his Thursday night league, which made Acuncius want to bowl himself.

He started bowling when he was around 6 but he began to take it more seriously when he was about 13 or 14.

“I started to mature a little bit and take it a little more seriously,” Acuncius said. “I watched my dad bowl. He’s a former pro. I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”

His dad became a co-owner of a bowling alley a couple years ago, which gave Acuncius more opportunity to practice.

“It helps tremendously because now I get free bowling,” Acuncius said. “It’s a big help for me to be able to practice whenever I want.”

During his senior season, Acuncius improved his average by 25 pins over his junior season, which he credits to “the drive and want to succeed and go further.”

Acuncius’ season almost didn’t go further than the sectional as he was one place and nine pins shy of an individual berth.

However, he earned one of the at-large berths and he made the most of his opportunity.

Acuncius rolled a 1,364 six-game series on the first day of the state tournament and was in eighth place entering the second day.

He opened the second day with a 744 series and finished with a 1,310 to move up a spot to seventh place with a two-day total of 2,,674 – 92 pins behind the state champion.

“It was my second chance, and I just had to take it,” Acuncius said. “I tried my best and I succeeded. I’m glad I got that second chance to show how I can bowl.”

With his high school career behind him, Acuncius has his sights set on a college career.