BY ANGELO VELOTTA
Gazette Newspapers
Jefferson High School student RJ Cotton has been excelling at the alley, including conquering the elusive 300 game this past winter.
“A lot of pressure on 300. I just focused one ball at a time (to) keep my mind clear,” Cotton said.
Once he made history, it was a lot of relief and excitement for Cotton.
“Really exciting; I couldn’t stop shaking,” he said.
Cotton is only one of two bowlers in the history of Falcons bowling to knock down a 300 game.
He’s come a long way since he started as a freshman, bowling a 95 as his average he recalled.
“I was bowling a lot over the summer with Doug Moyer. He helped me out a lot,” Cotton said.
“Everyone has taken him under their wing, guiding him,” his father Ryan Cotton said. In addition to Moyer’s help, Rick Furman and Jacob Cassano, all from Jefferson Lanes, have helped Cotton really excel at bowling.
The father and son duo took third place in the Ashtabula County Adult and Youth Tournament held at El Camp Lanes in Conneaut.
“A lot of fun to bowl with my son. I’ve coached baseball and done a lot of things with kids, but to bowl as a team was really neat,” Ryan Cotton said.
“We’re saving a spot for him in the adult league,” he added.
“A lot of fun. We started out pretty rough, but ended pretty good,” RJ Cotton echoed.
Recently, RJ Cotton placed ninth for scratch, and eighth for handicap in the State Pepsi Tournament. He also works at Jefferson Lanes.
“A really great environment,” RJ Cotton said.
Cotton bowled 188 as his average in 2026, and held 177 as his average in tournament play. He served as the anchor when the Falcons broke two school records: High Baker Game of 257, and High Baker Series of 662. So far, Cotton is a 2-year varsity letter winner, and also earned the Sportsmanship Award of the Northeast League, was named to Second-Team CVC, and First-Team All-County, in addition to being named the captain of the Falcons varsity squad.
Looking ahead Cotton has his eyes on the Falcons qualifying for the state tournament.
Congratulations so far to RJ Cotton, and best of luck in your future.
