Campbell's Harvischak on a roll

Campbell Memorial's Robert Harvischak has been in the Mahoning Valley High School Bowling Conference's high-average rankings all season.
As of Jan. 25, the 16-year-old junior had 220. The regular season concludes Wednesday.
Spending his Saturdays in the junior leagues at Bowladrome since he was 10 years old may have helped make Harvischak better.
"People don't bowl down there because they say it's too hard," said Harvischak. "I enjoy the challenge. If you do well there, it carries over to other houses. That's what happened to me."
Harvischak doesn't just bowl at Bowladrome, he works there two nights a week.
For example, last week, the honor student had an after-school match at Kay Lanes in Girard, then went to work and got home about 11 p.m.
That's a long day for any high school student, but Harvischak seems to handle it well. He entered his junior year tied for No. 1 in his class with a 4.069 grade-point-average. His best subjects are mathematics and science.
You'd think bowling gives him an opportunity to use his mental capacity to figure out the right lines. Not so. He depends on his coaches, Phil Trgovac and Carl Hurd.
"I tend not to think when bowling," he said. "I leave the thinking to them."
Leads by example
Trying to help a team that had a 5-7 record through last week's matches is Harvischak's goal. He leads by example.
"We lost six seniors after last year, so it's been a rebuilding season. It's a coming-out party for me -- coming out or stepping up and doing more than I did the last two years."
Campbell's only seniors are Mike Hagens and Deanna Black, one of four girls on the squad.
Robert, the son of Don and Sue Harvischak, had a 190 average as a freshman and 198 last season. His high single this season has been 289.
He said he's better at strike balls this year than spares. "I try to base my game on spares, but I've been able to carry a lot more this year on my strike ball."
Joining Harvischak in the lineup during a high school match most likely would be Brian Zackasee, Victor Harris, Mike Hagens and Anthony Nicalaou. Black, Jon Perry, Reese Boyd and Drew Janek are others.
The Red Devils reached the district level the last two season, but Harvischak isn't making any predictions this time.
"We have a chance to get past sectionals this year at Bell-Wick. I like that fact," he said of his familiarity with Campbell's home alley.
Friends got him bowling
He started bowling at the urging of friends, David Havrilla and Robert Merva, and is also on Campbell's golf team.
Beyond its competitive nature, bowling gives Harvischak a chance to meet new people and friends. "It's a fun sport," he said.
Yet he enjoys the serious side.
"I've learned not to overpower the ball, to let the ball do all the work. I've learned to play different lines at different houses under different lane conditions. I've learned when to change balls and when not to."
His favorite ball is a Freak-A-Zoid by Track. "It's versatile. I'm able to use it on a lot of conditions."
Although he's a better strike-ball bowler this season, Harvischak strives to comply with his coaches' motto: Strikes give you high scores and spares help you win matches.
"I've taken that more and more seriously," he said.
Clipse, Smolko have 800s
Matt Clipse had 300-816 to lead Camelot Outdoorsmen on Jan. 11, and Bob Smolko had 812 in Sunday Night Mixed Bankers at Holiday on Jan. 15.
For Smolko, it was his eighth 800 set, but a rare feat in Mixed Bankers.
Smolko bowls on the Our Ringer team, a name given because his talent is beyond the Mixed Bankers norm.
Smolko, whose average at Wedgewood last season was 229, joined Bankers because it accommodated a change in his schedule.
"I had to pick up a league or not bowl," the 24-year-old Struthers resident said.
Joe Steiner had his second 300 game of the season in UAW-1112 Lucianno's Restaurant Men at Wedgewood on Jan. 4.
Bell-Wick's Kelley-Robb Classic had a pair of 300s on Jan. 19 when John Doughton III and Neal Rodemyer were perfect.
Last frame foils Lucente
Rob Lucente had 11-in-a-row 290 and Paula Pecorelli's 717 topped women, both in Lucianno's Restaurant Mixed at Wedgewood on Jan. 14.
Erin Fairchild's (738)-961 led Wedgewood Ladies Trio on Jan. 17, when Michaelene Omerzo's 266 was high single.
Frances Taylor's 267-715 was tops in G.E. Mixed at Wedgewood on Jan. 9.
Justin Nelms' 254-723 paced the 13-18 age group of Bell-Wick's Jr. Optimist League during the 18th of 34 weeks.
First-half winner of the Four Co's League at Boardman was Treemen Industries.
With a 52-4 record at Holiday, W.W. Heating won Fuzzy Toman Memorial's second quarter with Jim Koenig, Don Kegarise, Tim Massie, John Pavlina, Hank Sadinski and Mike Minnie.
bassetti@vindy.com