This is an exciting time for high school bowling. The fans who turned out for the sectional tournaments
verifies its popularity. This coming weekend’s district event should be every bit as exciting as
bleachers are set up on the concourse at Interstate Lanes, Rossford, to handle the anticipated
While still in its infancy as a recognized sport by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the
organization this year tweaked the playoff requirements for teams to advance from the sectional level to
the district.
In past years, five teams from each of the three sectionals in Northwest Ohio advanced to the district
tourney, along with the highest scoring sixth place finisher to round out the 16-team field.
Considering the variables, it was not fair that only one sixth place team advanced.
This year, it was expanded to 18 teams and each sectional was assigned a different number of qualifiers
based on percentages of total teams eligible to compete. This is definitely a positive, but the system
may need further tweaking as several schools who were counted in the numbers did not field a team, and
others did not field a full team. Thus, the percentages were not as balanced as they otherwise could
have been.
The biggest imbalance came in the boys division as six of 17 teams that participated in Napoleon
advanced, only 35 percent of the field, while seven of the 17 teams that participated in Port Clinton
advanced, which is 41 percent of the field. An 18th team sent one bowler. At the Minster sectional,
5-of-11 teams which bowled advanced, which is 45 percent. Two other teams were eligible, but did not
send teams.
There is no perfect mathematical solution, and organizers do the best they can, but the numbers don’t
look good. Had seven teams advanced from the Napoleon sectional, Perrysburg would have joined the other
county teams at districts.
The girls qualified different numbers and were also out of balance as there were teams which did not
participate. The Napoleon site advanced seven of 13 participating teams, 53 percent, as two teams,
Rossford and Maumee, sent one bowler, each, and a 16th sent nobody. The Port Clinton sectional advanced
seven of 16 participating teams, 44 percent, as all showed. At Minster, four of 10 teams participating
advanced, 40 percent, with one team not competing.
There are no simple fixes and organizers certainly are not responsible if schools do not field a team.
However, this year was an improvement. Now, if they would only find a way to advance more than two from
this district to the state finals.
Tour challenge: John Ferrera edged Randy Butler 223-217 to claim this week’s Tour Challenge at Varsity
Lanes. Ferrera, the second seed, defeated Joe Kominek in the semifinal match 264-205 to advance against
top seed Butler. Kominek defeated Jay Samelak in the opening stepladder match 248-197.
Kominek leads Ferrera in the season point total 19-16.
Youth of the Week: Youth bowlers who bowled the most pins over their average in any one game last week,
with pins over, were:
Varsity: Feb. 5, Bantam/Prep, Tyler Elwardany, 40; Skylar Gallegos, 18; Major/Junior, Jeremy Stephens,
81; Halie Pena, 43; Feb. 12, Bantam/Prep, Lukas Wright, 43; Maddie Mossbarger, 21; Major/Junior, Michael
Young, 76, Pena, 48.
Al-Mar: Bantam/Prep, Tyler Horvath, 38; Jessica Johnson, 32; Major/Junior, Anthony Haney, 53; Kyra
Beeker, 35..
Surviving the game: The four bowlers eliminated in Al-Mar’s "Surviving the Game" with pins
under average were: Mike Brim, 93, and Tim Hang, 84, both American League; Dee Miller, Stadium View, 55;
Chad Lemmon, Eagles, 46.
High Rollers:
Bowler (Lanes)
Game Series
House shot
Chuck Reynolds Jr. (V)
278 780
Chris Barr (A) 289 –
Dan Hines (V) 278 –
Nikki Bagrowski (A) 255 647
Robin Butler (V) 236 –
Cindy McCarthy (A) 233 –
Pancha Melendrez (A) 227 –
MaryAnn Dimick (A) 225 –
Youth house shot
Jeremy Stephens (V) 224 –
