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By TYLER RALEY | Special to the Reporter

HOOVER – The Spain Park Jaguars have a veteran face gaining national attention after they themselves are coming off of a historic season in 2024.

Senior bowler Luke Eaton was named as a nominee for the 2023-24 All-USA TODAY HSSA Boys Bowler of the Year award on May 9, one that does not come as a surprise to many around the state.

For Eaton, he feels positively about the attention, enjoying knowing that his hard work is being recognized.

“Last year, a great year, I wasn’t selected for any of that, except for the First Team All-State in the state of Alabama,” Eaton said. “It feels great to be known as one of the best bowlers in the country.”

Eaton helped lead Spain Park to a Class 7A state title in boys bowling this season as it defeated Thompson down at Bowlero Mobile in February. The win capped off a 20-2 season for the Jaguars.

He earned big honors the day before the team’s championship victory when he claimed the individual title. Eaton bowled a combined score of 663 over the three-round tournament, placing him on top and 63 points over the next closest bowler.

He credits his big win and award nominations to the hard work that he put in each day, knowing that that is what it took to be the state’s best at the bowling alley.

“Consistency. It all comes down to consistency,” Eaton said. “Taking two hours to three hours out of my day to go into the bowling alley and practice and work on getting one shot down right and then going out there and bowling, it makes a huge difference.”

Eaton’s desire to win the award is high, but if he becomes the bowler of the year, he knows that it is for more than just himself and instead for the massive support system around him.

“It would mean a lot to me,” Eaton said. “I’m doing it for those people who aren’t here anymore and that should be here to see me do this.”

After his graduation from Spain Park, Eaton is off to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, where he will continue his bowling career and pursue a degree in sports management.