Fran Miller ready for OHSAA sectional event at Camelot

Fran Miller is certain of one thing: It’s easier to bowl a 300 game blindfolded than it is to make everyone happy.

As tournament manager of the OHSAA sectional tournament at Camelot Lanes Feb. 17, Miller won’t be surprised to hear some complaints about crowding, noise, discomfort or access.

“I tried to find a place to accommodate the expected number of schools, with a concourse area and bowling area,” Miller said of the event that attracts several hundred fans and participants.

With 20 people — eight bowlers and two coaches per team — crammed into one pair of lanes, Miller attempted to secure a facility large enough to execute her obligation.

“Between bowlers and audience, I have heard all the complaints, so I try to make people happy,” said Miller, who has been sectional manager for the past five years.

“I’ve gone about it the same way. After you do a few, you start to find out what works and what doesn’t.”

With 23 boys teams and 22 girls teams at the sectional, her job becomes more difficult because of logistics.

“Moving from lane to lane is a nightmare,” the director said of the format comprising three regular games and the first Baker game on the starting pair of lanes before shifting to another pair to bowl the remaining Baker games.

All Mahoning Valley High School Conference teams, plus Fitch and Boardman of the Federal League, are entered at 40-lane Camelot facility. The school with the longest drive will be Buckeye Local from Rayland.

This is bowling’s second year as an OHSAA-sanctioned sport, said Miller, who is also Chaney’s girls coach.

“The coaching is part-time, but I do scheduling and stats for the MVHSBC schools and I also work as an OHSAA rules interpreter,” Miller said. “The winter is my busy time. Aside from that, I’m just a stay-at-home mom.”

Miller is assisted by Barb Baker.

Although several more regular-season matches remain for area teams, the OHSAA permits competition until the state tournament commences.

“Last year, we didn’t schedule after the sectionals and those teams that advanced [to the district] were looking for a match to stay fresh. To avoid that problem, we’ve scheduled through sectionals and districts. We extended the schedule that week between the sectionals and districts.”

Admission at the sectional is $6.

The district is the following weekend in Wickliffe.

On Feb. 15, Camelot Lanes will be the site of a junior varsity bowling tournament at 9 a.m.

Entries are still being accepted by calling (330) 758-6626.

Highlights

Jim Bryant and Adam Barta had 300s on the same night in the same league Jan. 28 during Spiech Classic action at Bell-Wick.

Dave Ellis’ 300-793 and Rob Vukovich’s 290 paced Belchyk/Ferkula at Holiday, while Carol Pennington’s 727 led Thursday Night Matchplay at Amro Jan. 22. Al Barnette had 300 in Swan’s Mixed at Wedgewoo Jan. 26.

Mary Berquist had 290 in Wednesday Nite Ladies at Wedgewoo Jan. 30 and Yolanda Marshall had 289-702 in Woodchopper Jan. 18, also at Wedgewood, where Annie Bartoletti’s 728 was tops for three games in Ladies Trio Jan. 29.

The Bang-Bang team was second 3rd champs in the Duncan Tax Service League at West Side, where Carl Hurd had a 300 game.

XJohn Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Write to him at bassetti@vindy.com.