Mooney girls, JFK boys capture Diocese Cup
By Curtis Pulliam
Youngstown
Clara Angeloff has a little-known secret to her success at the alley.
“This is crazy but it’s called magic water,” said the Cardinal Mooney senior. “It’s called magic water for a reason.”
Angeloff and the Cardinals drank their “magic water” en route to a victory over the Warren JFK Eagles 1,931 to 1,307 at the second annual Catholic Diocese Tournament at Mahoning Lanes.
So what’s magic water you ask?
“I make the team drink a glass of water,” Angeloff said. “Because if they throw a bad frame, they can always go back, drink the water and refresh themselves.”
The Mooney girls took home the trophy for the second consecutive year.
Angeloff joking said she felt “old” for being part of the winning team again, but was just as excited as last year.
“I love my team,” Angeloff said. “We goof off, but we are really serious about bowling and I love winning as a team because everyone is so happy.”
In the first individual game Angeloff rolled a 254, which was the high game among girls.
The second game she rolled a 162 but she was happy with her performance in the tournament.
“I think I rolled consistently today,” Angeloff said. “My first game was great but my second game was OK.”
Mooney boys and girls head coach David Bernard was happy the Cardinals’ girls won again.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to defend it,” said Bernard about the Diocese cup.
Bernard loves the way Angeloff has become a better bowler this season
“She always strives to be better,” Bernard said. “She’s a pleasure to have her on the team.”
Defending boys champions Ursuline did not repeat.
The Warren JFK Eagles won a close match with 2,072 to 2,044 over Mooney. The Irish placed third with 1,800 pins.
The leader of the Eagles was senior Willie Stevenson, who rolled a 420 series.
“It feels pretty good for us to win,” Stevenson said. “This is how you go out as a senior. It feels amazing.”
Stevenson rolled games of 192 and 228.
“I bowled a little under what I wanted to do,” Stevenson said. “But it turned out to be enough.”
Eagles boys head coach Heath Myers was proud of the way his team bowled.
“Constant improvement — I mean the kids listen to what I say,” Myers said. “They do what they are supposed to do and they have a blast doing it, too.”
Stevenson wanted to make sure he left with the Dioceses cup.
“I came into today just hoping my team could win.”
Myers spoke highly of the event itself.
“I think it’s nice,” he said. “It’s something for the schools in the Diocese to get together and do every year.”
Bernard agreed that the event event was nice to have before sectionals.
“It’s a great way to foster friendly competition between the teams,” Bernard said.
Ursuline coach Jeff Buzard who started the event last season, hopes the tournament can become bigger and better.
“It’s all about seeing the kids smiling,” Buzard said. “Hopefully next year, we can have five or six teams in here.”