Local prep boy and girl bowlers finish season strong

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer
           
The high school boys and girls bowling seasons came to an end March 6 with the Michigan High School Athletics Association state finals. Several local teams and individuals fared well at the finals.

The team finals were March 5, followed by the individual competition the next day. The Division 1 competition took place at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek; D-2 was held at Super Bowl in Canton; D-3 took place at Airport Lanes in Jackson; and the D-4 finals were at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights.

Division 1 boys
Macomb Dakota’s, Warren De La Salle’s and Utica High’s teams all qualified for the state finals. Dakota advanced all the way to the championship match, eventually falling to Novi-Detroit Catholic. Dakota defeated Troy High in the semifinals and Westland John Glenn in the quarterfinals.
           
Dakota coach Joe Berak said getting his team ready and focused mentally was a big key to take on the tough opposition.
           
“Before the state competition, I printed the scores of the other 17 teams that qualified to see how their scores stacked up against ours. Needless to say, I didn’t get a warm feeling on paper,” Berak said referring to the impressive scores other qualifying teams had turned in. 
           
“In person, it was just as competitive.” Berak said.
           
He added that it helped bowling against the talented Macomb County competition to get ready for states.
           
“The local talent pool is extremely strong,” Berak said. “In fact, it felt as though we were bowling in a mini-state tournament in the regional qualifying. Having to bowl against the likes of Utica, Stevenson, Chippewa Valley, Eisenhower, L’Anse Creuse North, Cousino and De La Salle in order to qualify for states is a difficult task. I am grateful that they take three teams per region — we were third qualifier.”
           
Local individuals who competed at the state finals after finishing in the top 10 in regionals were Matt Papais (Utica Stevenson), Brent Pawlicki (Utica High), Joe Polizzi (Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, Nick Zambelli (Utica High), Jon Murphy (Warren Cousino), Frank Snodgrass (Roseville High), Kyle Tisler (Sterling Heights High), Casey Schiner (Utica Eisenhower) and Craig Roman (Cousino).
           
Papais, Pawlicki, Polizzi and Zambelli all fell in the round of 16 — the head-to-head knockout stage. Davison High’s Tylor Greene was eventually crowned the D-1 boys individual state champion.

Division 1 girls
L’Anse Creuse North’s and Utica Ford II’s teams qualified for the state finals. LCN won its quarterfinals match against Grand Blanc, but lost to eventual state champion Holt High in the semifinals.
           
“I’m proud of the girls, they gave everything they had,” LCN coach Brian Thomas said. “It was a great team effort.”
           
Competing individually were Heather Krueger (LCN), Jessica Vandelinder (Cousino), Kelsie Reverski (Stevenson), Rachel Dejonghe (Ford II), Taylor Paye (Stevenson), Emily Dougherty (Sterling Heights), Brittany Napiewocki (Roseville) and Laryn Nida (Sterling Heights).
           
Krueger advanced the farthest, reaching the semifinal round of the knockout stages. Vandelinder advanced to and lost in the quarterfinals.

Division 2 boys
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore’s team was the lone local representative in D-2, and the Shorians represented well, knocking off Bay City Western in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champ Bay City John Glenn in the semifinals.
           
Competing individuals were Joe Chupalio (St. Clair Shores Lakeview), Tyler Dombrowski (Lakeview), Brady Blair (Center Line High) and Clark Ragland (Lake Shore).

Division 2 girls
Warren Regina was the only local team to advance to the finals in D-2. The Saddlelites won their quarterfinal match against Bay City John Glenn, but fell to eventual state champ Tecumseh High in the semis.
           
Regina coach Laura Abele said she was “incredibly proud and very happy” for the team, noting that support staff, teamwork and the girls’ individual hard work were vital to their success.
           
“It was great — what fun we had,” Abele said about the state finals. “There were so many strong teams, and the sportsmanship was incredibly good. The final eight teams were so close in talent that it really boiled down to who bowled who when. If you look at the scores, any one of the top eight teams could have won.
           
“All eight teams were awesome.”
           
Competing individuals were Stephanie Penxa (Regina), Caitlin Nahirniak (Regina), Nicole Chaffin (Center Line) and Ashley Smith (Lakeview). Nahirniak and Penxa made it to the knockout rounds, with Nahirniak winning her first match before falling in the quarterfinals.

Division 3 boys
St. Clair Shores South Lake, similar to Lake Shore and Regina in D-2, was the lone local representative in D-3. And like the Shorians and Saddlelites, the Cavaliers turned in an impressive effort, reaching the championship round — where they fell to Caro High. South Lake topped Comstock High in the quarterfinals and Essexville Garber in the semis.
           
South Lake’s Tom Burke and Kyle Thompson also qualified as individuals. Burke won his round-of-16 match before falling in the quarterfinals.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.