Natalie Cortese of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Travis Moyer of Anchorage, Alaska, overcame the pressure of competing in front of ESPN television cameras Sunday to win national titles in the Denny's All-American High School Championships.

Moyer and Cortese each earned $3,000 scholarships by defeating their opponents at Brunswick Zone Carolier after the conclusion of the 65th Denny's U.S. Open telecast. The high school championships are scheduled to air on ESPN on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Cortese threw seven strikes, including five consecutive, as she defeated Samantha Santoro of Reinholds, Pa., 239-193 to win the girls title. Santoro matched Cortese's seven strikes, but a pocket 4-9 split and missed 10 pin were the difference in the match.

"This is a tournament I really wanted to be a part of and it feels amazing to win," said Cortese, who is headed to the University of Central Missouri to bowl collegiately. "There aren't many opportunities like this for high school bowlers, so I would definitely tell anyone who is going to be a senior to apply next year. The trip and experience I had this week tops everything else."

Moyer built an early lead and was propelled to a 237-172 victory over Kevin Tatrow of BelAire, Kan., by striking on nine of 12 shots in the boys championship match.

"It felt great to come out here and win some scholarship money," said Moyer, a four-year member of the National Honors Society. "Bowling out here under the lights was phenomenal and a lot of the friends I made this weekend were supporting me."

To wrap up Sunday's finals, Moyer and Cortese teamed up with a couple of PBA stars in a doubles showdown. Cortese and Kelly Kulick defeated Moyer and Tony Reyes 215-194.

The Denny's All-American High School Championships showcases 32 varsity high school athletes from 18 states. All players competed in eight games of qualifying Saturday morning before the field was cut to the top eight boys and top eight girls, who competed in round robin match play to determine the four players on the TV finals

For their second-place efforts, Santoro and Tatrow each received $2,000 scholarships, bringing the total awarded at the event to $10,000.

Denny's, the PBA and the United States Bowling Congress joined together to create the tournament for recognized varsity level high school bowlers. The 32 participants were selected based on their bowling skills as well as personal and academic achievements.

DENNY'S ALL-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, NJ
Sunday's Results

BOYS
Championship
Travis Moyer, Anchorage, Alaska, def. Kevin Tatrow, BelAire, Kan., 237-172.

GIRLS
Championship
Natalie Cortese, Hoffman Estates, Ill., def. Samantha Santoro, Reinholds, Pa., 239-193.

DOUBLES SHOWDOWN
Cortese and Kelly Kulick def. Moyer and Tony Reyes, 215-194.