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Local D-II bowlers seek state crowns
The Champion boys bowling team has adopted the “third time is a charm” battle cry that parents of the players are stressing.
“They’re driving that home,” said Dale Johnson, Champion’s first-year head coach who served as an assistant to Bryan Gill for the last few seasons.
By qualifying for a third straight time, the Golden Flashes set themselves up for an opportunity to better their last two finishes.
“We were ninth two years ago and fifth in 2012-13,” Johnson said, “So if we’re four places better each year, what’s that mean for this year?” the coach asked his bowlers.
The answer is obvious as Champion takes the momentum from a first-place finish in the Division II district tournament at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn into the state tournament this weekend at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.
The boys bowl today, while the Division II girls are in action on Saturday, both at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.
Boys district runnerup Struthers and Maplewood’s Mark McCloskey will also be at state today.
Division I bowlers — Canfield’s boys, Fitch’s girls and Boardman’s Jake Wagner — don’t compete until March 7-8.
Champion
Zach Zigmont, Dan Simmons and Justin Cox are seniors leading the way for the Golden Flashes, while juniors David Yenchocic, Jared Gould and Sam Adya and sophomores Joe Martin and Jake Fritch will round out those making the trip. Simmons, Zigmont, Cox, Gould and Adya are making the trip for a third straight time.
“A combined effort of all the boys going along with the plan I put forward is the reason we’re all going to state,” Johnson said. “I knew they were capable of winning the district and I know they’re capable of winning the state, so I think that will help a lot. Whoever wins state is deserving because it’s not like it’s going to be given to anyone. The competition is really tough. “
Zigmont and Simmons are 1-2 in average with 218 and 217, respectively, while Yenchocic, Cox and Gould follow. Gould was a second-team All-Ohio bowler at the 2012-13 state tournament.
“At district, Joe Martin was a pleasant surprise because he stepped in and did his part,” Johnson said of the sophomore’s strong performance during the Baker-game format segment at Riviera.
Simmons made a splash when he finished as state champion with an individual three-game set score of 702 as a sophomore in 2011-2012.
“I’m excited because it’s my first time as head coach,” Johnson said of replacing Gill. “I’m getting to pull the trigger to try to give these boys everything they deserve, which is a state championship. My boys deserve it, but I’m sure every coach feels that way.”
CARDINAL Mooney
Thirty-year-old David Bernard is a first-year coach for Mooney after serving as Al Williamson’s assistant.
As such, he inherited girls who brought the Cardinals their first state appearance of any type in bowling.
“As far as I understand, it’s the first time either Mooney’s boys or girls had a state qualifier, either team or individual,” Bernard said.
Will bowling catch up to the football program?
“Let’s hope our bowling continues to grow in that direction,” said Bernard, whose girls placed fourth at sectional (out of five qualifiers at Mahoning Valley Lanes) and fourth (out of four qualifiers) at district at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn.
Mooney’s final qualifying spot score of 3,127, was 41 pins ahead of Hubbard’s next-best 3,086 and 76 ahead of Struthers’ 3,051.
“It was very tight,” Bernard said.
Clara Angeloff had an overall third-highest 540 set, while Christian Dama had a 20th-best 481.
Angeloff and Dama are juniors as is Courtney Unger. The other starters are freshman Adrianna Popovich and senior Marianna Pikunas. Alternates making the trip are junior Anna McBride and sophomore Brittaney Mingo.
Top averages are Dama’s 178 and Angeloff’s 168.
During Baker competition, Dama bowls the 5th and 10th frames, while Angeloff rolls the 4th and 9th.
Of Dama, Bernard said: “She’s reliable and covers everything she throws — she almost always marks — and Clara almost always sets up Christian with a mark.”
When his girls cemented the state spot, Bernard was overwhelmed.
“There was a moment of disbelief and shock and I was just happy to be going. Throughout the season, we put an emphasis on picking up spares and being consistent, so it paid off.”
Maplewood
The Rockets never advanced a team to district or an individual to state until this year, when McCloskey, a junior, was the district champion with a 656, following games of 176, 256 and 224, which included 16 straight strikes.
“He was trying to find the line,” Mark’s father, second-year coach Mark McCloskey, said of his son’s start.
“He changed a couple balls, then had two opens and strung out 10 in a row,” coach McCloskey said of the second game. “He carried the front six into the third game and ended with 224.
This is Mark’s second year at the high-school level.
“It was all new last year when he was still learning the aspects of bowling. This year, he’s Maplewood’s high average with 199.
Last week, the team missed qualifying for state by 10 points when the Rockets had 3,746 pins to fourth-place Vermilion’s 3,756.