High school sectionals up next; alleys get the business

John Bassetti \ Bowling

Bowling is a different animal.

Any sport that can transform a recreational establishment — liquor license included — into a happy haven for high school students shouldn’t ruffle any feathers.

Kids aren’t there to get high, they’re there to get high scores.

Such will be the case when the Mahoning/Trumbull County sectional tournament is held at Holiday Bowl on Feb. 20.

The boys start at 9 a.m. and the girls follow at 2 p.m.

Fran Miller is tournament manager for the sectional, which comprises 25 boys’ teams and 24 girls’ teams. She is also in charge of the Lake County tournament to be held Monday at Wickliffe Lanes.

The postseason format starts with five bowlers from each school bowling three regular games — same as in past years. Then six Baker games follow.

The only change, Miller said, is a slight increase in the Ohio High School Athletic Association admission to the alleys: $6 for adults and $4 for students. The student charge was $3.

“Somebody has to pay these houses to give up lineage,” Miller said of the expense of utilities, which is no different than the cost to gyms, stadiums or other athletic facilities.

At Holiday, eight boys’ teams plus the top eight individuals not on a qualifying team advance. Ditto for the girls: 8 teams/8 individuals.

The district at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes in Canton, Feb. 27-28, will be a collection of qualifiers from six sectionals: 39 boys’ teams and 33 girls’ teams, plus 39 boys and 33 girls as individuals not on a qualifying team.

Lane conditions, Miller said, will be a modified house shot.

“These teams don’t know until they get there, whether it [oil] will be heavier or lighter. But, it will be different than what they normally bowl on.”

The choice of lane condition is the proprietor’s.

“Even I don’t find out what shot has been put down until that morning,” Fran said. “The only tournament where the schools know in advance is the state championships.”

Miller also continues to serve as rules interpreter for the OHSAA’s northeast district board.

Remember: no smoking, no alcohol. The alley is open only for the tournament.

Until a school district [i.e. taxpayers] adds a bowling alley with its other athletic facilities: football field, basketball court, wrestling room, swimming pool, rifle range, etc., it’s easier — and cheaper — to use an existing establishment.

The ninth annual Michael Michalojko Memorial scratch bowling tournament is Feb. 21 at Colonial Lanes in New Castle.

The event attracts top Tri-State area talent competing for a guaranteed first-place prize of $2,000.

The format will be two, four-game qualifying squads: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Qualifiers then compete in a finals format. Each squad is limited to 70.

Advance entry fee is $65 or $80 on tournament day.

Pizza Joe’s is the main sponsor. Proceeds from the event and additional sponsorship monies go toward the scholarship fund in Michalojko’s name.

Last year, $2,000 in scholarship money was distributed to area junior bowlers and over $11,000 has been awarded to date.

Michalojko was a longtime proprietor of Colonial and Shenango Bowl-A-Way, establishing a 50-plus year career in the bowling industry, as well as being one of New Castle’s top bowlers in the 1950s and 60s. He was elected to the New Castle Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame’s hall of honor in 2006.

Spectators are welcomed. To enter, contact Colonial at (724) 654-5000. Entries and fees are accepted on a first-come basis.

The Ervin “Magic” Dodge Memorial Sweeper will be March 6 at noon at Boardman Lanes.

The event, open to men and women, will include handicap and scratch divisions. Five games will be bowled across 10 lanes. Entry fee is $40 per division. Jackpots are optional. Proceeds will benefit the Ervin “Magic” Dodge Memorial Scholarship at YSU, which was established in 1999.

Coincidentally, Erv’s son, Jim Dodge, had 288-289-278 — 855 in Wed. Men at Holiday on Feb. 3, the same night Doug Zolla rolled 300. Also, Shaun Streeter’s 289-726 paced Carrabba’s at Camelot on Feb. 9.

bassetti@vindy.com