OVIEDO, Fla. — Winter Springs High School's Richard Dannelly is one the best bowlers in the state. He’s been practicing and competing in for almost 10 years, and going into his senior season, he has a higher level of focus every time he approaches the pins.

"My mindset when I go to approach the pins is clear mind space, deep breath in and out, go throw the best shot I can make," said Dannelly.

What You Need To Know

  •  Winter Springs High School's Richard Dannelly has been bowling competitively for nearly 10 years

  •  Going into his senior year, he says one of his main goals is to bring home a state championship

  • After graduating, Dannelly says he plans to join the U.S. Air Force

This past summer Richard had an opportunity to compete on the national level for the first time. In July, he bowled at the Junior Gold Championships in Detroit, which featured the top youth bowlers in the nation.

"I placed 115th out of 1,032 in the country," he said.

He’s achieved a lot in bowling, but it isn’t the only activity he’s received awards for while at Winter Springs. He participates in the JROTC program and last April he won the Military Officers Association of America award for the Central Florida chapter. It’s something he worked hard for.

"I did almost every single thing they had to offer last year, along with working along the bowling schedule and my own personal schedule, so it means a lot that my work has paid off," said Dannelly.

That discipline and dedication on and off the alley will help him after high school.

"After I graduate, I plan on going into the United States Air Force and attend UCF for their Air Force ROTC program so I can go back into to the Air Force and recommission as an officer," he said.

But before serving his country, there are more awards Dannelly is trying to achieve, including a state championship. The boy’s Winter Springs team is off to a fast start this season, defeating many of their rivals in the process.

"We took out our usual three competitive schools that usual that give us a problem — Oviedo, Lyman and Hagerty," said Dannelly. "Some of us got together this summer and practiced a lot, some of us practiced on our own this summer and we have naturally gotten better with time over practice. Hopefully, we can make into states and make the cut and see how far we can go."