Muskingum Invite tests Licking County bowlers

On Jan 29, 2023

HEATH ― Some outstanding bowlers, including a pair of returning state qualifiers competing in their home house, found the shot a bit challenging Saturday during the Muskingum University Invitational at Park Lanes.

With the sectional tournament fast approaching, the big high school event helped get them ready, in atmosphere (packed house), lane conditions and competition.

“It broke down hard at first, but I figured it out, and finally, I think it clicked for our team,” said Newark junior and returning state qualifier Jade Gabor, whose 630 series (200-243-187) placed her second out of 75 girls competitors. The second-seeded Wildcats then placed second out of 14 teams, beaten by only top seed Lexington in bracket play. Andy Hupp rolled 434 and placed 16th to aid the Newark cause.

“I wanted to be higher. It was not one of my stronger days,” admitted Gabor, who plans on attending McKendree University in Illinois, coached by former pro bowler Shannon O’Keefe. “I wanted to win here at home,” she said. “I’m planning on going back to the state, and I think anywhere from 630 to 650 will get me there. There’s not much wrong with my game. It’s all about my mental state.”

Heath senior Bryce Holmes, also a returning state qualifier, has a 300 game, and leads the Licking County League in average (212) and high series (515). But he finished 24th out of 94 bowlers with a 512 series and high game of 176. Oliver Walton added 503 and placed 26th as the Bulldogs were 10th.

Holmes wasn’t too deterred, however. “It’s hard to play a tough pattern, but I’m going to practice this pattern,” he said. “The physical is good right now. I just need to work on the mental side.”

“We’re treating this as a tournament tuneup,” said Lakewood girls coach April Streets. “A lot of them haven’t bowled in something like this, and we wanted them to have this experience. We had 1,783, which is good for us. But this is different competition with some Division I schools.” The Lancers placed 12th and didn’t make the Final 8 bracket.

Muskingum University coach Doug Smith, in his 11th season, hosts four tournaments a year (also in Wilmington, Canton and Coshocton), and wants them to test the high schoolers.

“Of course, it’s recruiting for us, but it also promotes high school bowling, which needs stuff like this,” Smith said. “We put a little tougher shot down, not a house shot, and it gets them ready for the sectional, district and state. It’s a long day, and in college there are no breaks. It used to be 3-and-6 (3 individual games and 6 Baker games) and only four make the bracket. We changed it to 3-and-3 with eight making the bracket, which makes it more interesting.”

Smith noted that only two number one seeds have won Muskie tournaments this year, and the same held true on Saturday, when seventh-seeded Reynoldsburg upset second-seeded Sheridan, third seed Newark and fourth seed Westerville Central en route to the 16-team boys championship. Central had knocked off top seed Perry.

Senior-laden Newark still had a solid performance, as Johnny Van Hessen (596 with a 231), Anden Zupanic-Fairburn (576 with 205 and 202), Ricky Frazier (570 with 226) and Brayden Shaffer (501) all broke 500.

“Our first game was really, really bad, but games two and three were almost perfect,” Van Hessen said. “The last game was phenomenal. If we’re all consistently around 180, we’re usually right there, and we’ve made the cut in most every tournament. We want to make the district, and perhaps the state, which would be great since we’re all seniors. I’ve improved 30-35 pins over last year. I was at 150-160, and now I’m at 195-low 200s in the OCC.”

Although Granville’s boys were missing some bowlers and finished 14th, senior Cohan Bafford was a bright spot, placing 10th with a 577 series that included a career-best 213 in his third game. Keegan Parker added a 460.

Bafford bowls nearly every day. “I just concentrated more, and tried to hit my mark, like coach (Al Sowards) told me,” he said. “It takes a lot of practice, and I like to do my best.”

Lakewood boys had an off day and finished 15th, and senior Stewart Poulnott attributed it to a bad start. He’s fifth in LCL average, but placed 41st with 464, behind teammate Logan Streets who had 473 and was 39th.