Metro Detroit

A look back at how local bowlers fared at states

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by David Schreiber The boys and girls high school bowling state finals competitions took place March 2-3 at various locations. Several local teams and individuals fared well. Photo by David Schreiber The boys and girls high school bowling state finals competitions took place March 2-3 at various locations. Several local teams and individuals fared well.

Bowlers from Macomb and Oakland counties once again took the state finals by storm. Several teams and individuals enjoyed success at the March 2-3 competitions, which were held at various locations around the state.

Following are the local highlights. Check www.mhsaa. com or www.mhsibca.com for complete results from the state finals.

Division 1
Macomb Dakota’s boys won the state title for the second straight year, while Utica High’s boys and Walled Lake Central’s girls were state semifinalists at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek.

Utica coach John Mazza said the field was extremely deep and talented on the boys side.

“The top 18 teams were all capable of winning the state title,” he said. “No team wins this title easy.”

The girls team competition was no different, according to Central coach Ron Arnoldi.

“Every year teams get better and better,” he said. “There were some very good teams that did not make the finals this year.”

Both Mazza and Arnoldi noted their squads are young and hope to build from this experience, but that will be tough considering the programs surrounding them.

Utica Stevenson’s and Farmington High’s boys, and Dakota’s and Lake Orion’s girls reached the quarterfinals.

In the individual competition, Kristen Young of Chippewa Valley and Kevin Yang of Lake Orion finished as the state runners-up.

Utica’s Adam Young and Utica Stevenson’s Lauren Krywy were quarterfinalists. Central’s Sara Abraham and Walled Lake Western’s Alex Carley reached the round of 16.

“Our local area is rich in bowling competition,” Mazza said about Macomb County. “I do expect this area to remain dominant in high school bowling for some time.”

As for Oakland County, Arnoldi said the area “is probably one of the strongest around.”

“We produce very good bowlers,” he said. “I will give a lot of credit to the schools that support these bowling teams as much as they do. There is nothing like it around.”

Division 2
Ferndale High’s boys were state semifinalists at Century Lanes in Waterford, and Ferndale’s Leon Lusane reached the round of 16 in the boys individual competition.

Division 3
St. Clair Shores South Lake’s Brooke Brancato reached the state semifinals at Airport Lanes in Jackson in the girls individual competition.

Division 4
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic’s Paul Conlin reached the round of 16 in the boys individual competition at Century Bowl in Waterford.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.