Michele Rutigliano reached new heights Sunday in the Oregon Junior Classic Tournament of Champions.

And Rutigliano's bowling prowess produced the Division A singles championship at Sunset Lanes in Beaverton.

Division A is for bowlers with a 156-to-179 average.

The 16-year-old Central Point bowler averaged 214 for eight qualifying games, 200 pins higher than the second-place qualifier.

In the five person match-play stepladder finals, Rutigliano defeated Sean Mock from Roseburg, 211-207 to capture the title.

Rutigliano, who entered the tournament with a 173 average, needed two strikes in the 10th frame to overhaul Mock.

I got it, said Rutigliano, and they were both Brooklyns.

During qualifying, the 1999 Roxy Ann junior bowler of the year had a career-high series of 674 with games of 213, 235 and 226.

I was just on fire, said Rutigliano. I couldn't explain what was going on. I've never bowled that well in a tournament before.