What better place to get it than the boys Division I state bowling championships on Saturday? The left-hander qualified for the tournament as an individual after placing fifth at last week’s district tournament with 234, 239 and 256 for a 729 series.
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“I haven’t had a 300 yet this year so I’m hoping to do it at state,” said Rogan, who finished 13th in the Greater Western Ohio Conference with a 211.9 average.
Rogan has state experience, which should help. The state tournament atmosphere at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl is loud, crowded and just a little crazy. Rogan experienced it as a freshman when the Wildcats qualified as a team in 2016.
This year’s trip will have a different feel. Instead of bowling with teammates Rogan will be sharing a lane with strangers.
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“You just don’t have the same camaraderie you’re used to having,” Springfield coach Ray Davis said. “You’re in an uncomfortable situation with people you don’t know. Usually everyone is pretty friendly. But depending on the personalities it can be a difficult situation. Cullen tends to make friends quickly.”
“I wish we went as a team, but I feel like I’ll be okay as an individual,” Rogan said. “I’m going to miss my team supporting me, but I feel like I’ll be able to make friends with the other guys there.”
As for the crowd, Rogan is on good terms with that, too.
“I enjoyed the rowdiness. I feel like it helped,” he said.
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Rogan wouldn’t mind getting the spectators even more riled up with a 300 game. His high scores are 279 and 269 this season. In one game he had one spare and the rest strikes. In the other he had one open frame and the rest strikes.
Coming that close seemed far-fetched as a freshman when Rogan started bowling competitively. He used the traditional one-handed style but struggled. Davis taught him the two-handed approach and it was, well, right down Rogan’s alley.
“It helps a lot with control for me. I was really inconsistent one handed so I would never hit my mark,” said Rogan, whose career-high series is 783.
He likely won’t need to do that again to win state, but it wouldn’t hurt. At district a record eight bowlers set a tournament record by rolling a 700 series. Vandalia Butler junior Drew Sacks won the D-I title last season with 690.
“If Cullen can do what he did at district he has as good of chance as anyone,” Davis said. “He’s bowling with the best now. We’ve always knew he could. … He doesn’t make big mistakes. He stays pretty straight and doesn’t swing the ball real far. When you stay straight you can adjust to the lanes better most of the time.”
Rogan is still chasing that third goal. But soon after the district tournament he added a fourth.
“I was more nervous at district,” he said. “Now that I’ve qualified for state I’m going to go and have fun.”
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