Winter means plenty of activity at bowling lanes across the state, with high school keglers working to be at their best for the state finals.
DIVISION 1
Teams to watch statewide: boys―Jackson, Mona Shores, Salem, Heritage; girls―Davison, Macomb Dakota, Walled Lake Central
Top local teams: boys―Heritage; girls―Davison
Preview:
boys―Todd Hare of Heritage would like to think that his team, which was state runner-up last year, can go all the way this season. “We always set two goals every season, and that is to win our conference (SVL) and to qualify for states,” he said. “I know we can have a great team, but it will take hard work and dedication by every member of our team to achieve our goals.”
Top players in state: boys – Brad Wozniak, Traverse City Central; Alex Zarbaugh, Belleville; girls―Barbara Lawson, Grand Ledge
Top local players: Tyler Scott, Ben Kastros, Derrick Norman, Morris Pruitt, Heritage
State finals prediction: boys―Heritage over Jackson; girls–Walled Lake Central over Macomb Dakota
DIVISION 2
Teams to watch statewide: boys―John Glenn, Lapeer West, Sturgis; girls―Ionia, Northwest, Charlotte, Bay City Western
Top local teams: boys― John Glenn, Charlotte, Bay City Western; girls―Ionia, Charlotte, Bay City Western
Preview: Lapeer West looks strong for the boys, but John Glenn will have something to say about it. Ionia and Bay City Western are two strong teams for the girls.
Top players in state: boys―Alex Ouelette, John Glenn; Collin Fox, Charlotte
Top local players: boys―Alex Ouelette, John Glenn; Collin Fox, Charlotte; girls―Claudia Gielda, Bay City Western
State finals prediction: boys― Lapeer West over John Glenn; girls― Ionia over Bay City Western
DIVISION 3
Teams to watch statewide: boys― Corunna, South Haven, Fremont; girls―Pennfield, Flat Rock, Ishpeming
Top local teams: boys–Birch Run, Freeland; girls―Ovid-Elsie, Swan Valley, Belding
Preview: It should be a competitive division for both boys and girls. Corunna, Fremont, and South Haven hope to go for the top boys’ spot, and Pennfield and Flat Rock could take home the honor for girls.
Matt Fabus coaches both boys’ and girls’ Ovid-Elsie teams and likes their prospects. For the boys, “we should place first or second in the conference, do well in regionals, to make it to states,” he said. “We have three seniors back and should have a strong season.
“The girls were 9-1 for first in the conference, second in regionals, 10th in team state. We have three seniors back for a strong team and should do well in conference, regionals, and states, plus tournaments.
Top players in state: boys―Sam Brandt, Fremont; girls – Adrianna Jackson, Caro
Top local players: boys―Cody Bodrie, Garber; girls―Hannah Chase, Alma
State finals prediction: boys―Fremont over South Haven; girls―Flat Rock over Pennfield
DIVISION 4
Teams to watch statewide: boys―Jonesville, Rogers City, Sandusky; girls―Ithaca, Calvin Christian, Vandercook Lake, Sandusky
Top local teams: boys―Alma, Ithaca, St. Louis; girls―Ithaca, Sandusky
Top players in state: boys― Bailey Budnik, Rogers City; girls ― Rebecca Bannasch, Rogers City
Top local players: boys― Zach Fenby, St. Louis; girls―Meghan Ludu, Hemlock
State finals prediction: boys―Rogers City over Sandusky; girls―Sandusky over Ithaca