Dave Kipperman broke the 15-year-old Connecticut state bowling record with a score of 895 at Brunswick Lanes in Wallingford, surpassing the previous record of 886 held by Christopher Merchand. Kipperman bowled games of 297, 300, and 298. His proud father Andy, himself a Connecticut State Hall of Fame bowler, had introduced Dave to the sport at age 14 and was thrilled by his son's achievement. The previous record holder, Christopher Merchand, congratulated Dave and expressed excitement that the new record was set using a Brunswick ball.

1. PublishedbyHartford Courant on October 19th
, 2013
Young BowlerBreaks FifteenYearOld ConnecticutRecord
It was withwateryeyesanda heartbrimmingwithpride thatAndyKippermancalledhisson
Dave last Tuesdaynight,congratulatinghimforcapturingthe title of highestbowlingseriesin
Connecticuthistory.
The fifteen yearrecord,previouslyheldbyChristopherMerchand withascore of 886, was
brokenbythe Dave Kipperman’s895at BrunswickLanesinWallingford inamatchfor the Dave Ginter
BusinessIndustrialBowlingLeague. Kippermanbowleda297, a 300, and finallya298, finishingamere
five pinsshyof a perfect900.
“I honestlydidn’tevenknowaboutthe record,”He said.“I’m alwaysconcernedaboutshooting
goodshot aftergood shot and the restwill come.”
Aftershootinghisnineteenth300 inthe secondgame,however,Dave tightenedhisfocus.
“I was shootingreallywell inthe thirdgame,andwhenIhita strike inthe tenthframe IknewI
mustbe approachingthe countyrecord,but wasn’tevenaware of the state record.”
By thistime,all eyeswere on the twentysevenyearold,whofinishedwithapairof strikes and
an eightcount,cementinghisplace inConnecticutbowlingandreceivingcountlesshighfives,patson
the back, and handshakes.
His team,ConnecticutHome Insulation,uses only fivebowlerspermatch,withAndyKipperman
beingthe oddman outfor hisson’sincredible night.
“He wasactuallythere forthe firstseries,”explainedDave.“Whenhe heardaboutthe 300 he
actuallychose notto come backfor superstitiousreasons.He wasproud,impressed,andemotional
whencallingme immediatelyafter.Itmeantalotto him.”
Dave was a product of hisfatherafterall,whointroducedhimtothe game.Andy Kipperman,a
ConnecticutState Hall of Fame Bowler,boughthissonhisfirstbowlingball atthe age of fourteen,and
made it apparentthatthiswouldbe a huge commitment.
“He saidif I wantedhishelpinbowlingIcouldn’tactout or be stubborn,”Dave said,chuckling.
“I had to listentohimforonce andbe willingtolearn.”
The teenagerwasmore than willing,becominghookedinstantly,practicingincessantly,and
gettinghisfirstjobat HamdenBowl He eventually wentontobowl for SacredHeart University,where
he graduatedwitha Bachelor’sinMath and a Master’s inComputerScience.

2. Dave finishedasanhonorable mentionforAll Americaninthe 2009-2010 season,afterplacing
top 50 out of over65,000 bowlersatthe 2010 UnitedStatesBowlingCongressChampionshipinReno,
Nevada. The performance earnedhimasponsorshipfromBrunswick, andhe hasbeensportingtheir
balls,bags,shoesandt-shirtseversince.
Dave currentlyrunsa league atNutmegBowl inFairfieldonMondays,playsinWallingfordon
Tuesdays,andison the Board of Directorsforthe New EnglandBowler’sAssociation.
“Bowlingismylife,”saidDave,smiling.“It’sjustbusinessasusual going forward,tryingtodo
whatI do and throwas many goodshotsas possible,whichiswhatgotme here.”
Aside fromhisbeamingfather,the youngbowlergotanothercall aftereclipsingthe fifteenyear
record.In a showof greatsportsmanship,Christopher Merchandspoke withDave,congratulatinghim
for breakinghisrecord,comparingstories andtalkingbowlinginthe process.
“He washappy forme andevenmore excitedthatthe recordwasbrokenwitha Brunswick
ball,”saidDave.
That Brunswickball now sitsonDave Kipperman’snightstand,officiallyretired.Kipperman,on
the otherhand,is a longway fromretirement, strivingtoaddmore ballstothiscollection,especiallythe
elusive 900.