HAMDEN, CT—The 2025 Theresa Belniak Memorial Tournament at Johnson’s Lanes delivered thrilling competition, standout performances, and an emotional victory for the top-ranked female bowler in the state, Kristen Cochefski. It was her first tournament victory since 2023. Held January 18-19, the handicapped singles event saw sixty bowlers battle for the title, but it was Cochefski who emerged victorious with an 865 total, narrowly edging out Andy Godek (861) and Ty Turcotte (860) in a tight finish.

Cochefski, a 29-year-old inside sales team lead from Cromwell, bowled games of 153, 146, 130, 166, and 150 to claim the championship. This victory holds special significance for her, as the tournament is named in memory of her aunt. “Besides my pro tour win, this is one of the best,” she shared. Her consistency and clutch marks in the final frames sealed the deal.

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Her father and Connecticut duckpin legend Roy Cochefski, who bowled alongside her in this event, described the win as both gratifying and nerve-wracking. “Even though she ended up winning, it felt like it wasn’t going to be enough,” he admitted. “She left a little out there, but she ground it out. It was just a solid performance, not letting some bad breaks or balls get her down.”  Maintaining her composure and confidence made the difference in an exciting and crucial end to the final game.  The proud father went on to say, “She had a double and a couple of spares in the last five boxes. Any win is special, but it’s even better when it’s your daughter.”

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The tournament also featured a historic performance from Kyle Shaw, Connecticut’s top-ranked male bowler, who delivered a jaw-dropping 245 game—the highest single-game score of the event. Shaw’s remarkable run included six strikes in a row to start.  In the end, it was a personal best score and a near-house record. “It was awesome that my parents were there to see it, and finally getting that six in a row felt like a huge relief,” Shaw said. He finished with a scratch total of 802, the highest of the tournament.

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Before this, Shaw had started a game with five strikes five times, but he had never reached six in a row. “When I hit the pocket well and the headpin came right off the wall perfectly to take the 5 pin last for the six-bagger, that was a world of relief.” Scoring a “perfect half” had been one of the accomplished bowler’s remaining goals. Shaw rolled a nearly identical ball in the seventh frame, but the headpin messenger narrowly missed the 5 pin.  Even with this achievement, he acknowledged just how elusive perfection remains in this sport. When asked if he thinks anyone will ever roll a perfect game in duckpin, Shaw thought, “The first 300 game remains a ghost.” The 279 single-game score achieved by Pete Signore, Jr., in 1992 is still the closest anyone has ever come.

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With a tight finish, a historic performance, and a heartfelt victory, the Theresa Belniak Memorial once again proved why it remains a must-attend event in the duckpin community. For Cochefski, it was more than just a title—it was a tribute to family and perseverance, making this win one to remember.

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