By Mark Blentlinger
High school bowling was able to start up at the end of January since it is not considered a contact sport, though with masks mandated for competition. Schoolcraft bowling returned all underclassmen from last season’s teams; no new bowlers joined this season. Returning for the girls from last season is lone senior Maya Pearce, junior Brynleigh Macinnes, sophomores Alayna Meade, Catie Wright, Molly Pearce, Clair McIntyre and Haley Earles. Boys returning this season are seniors Max Desmond, Kyle Fleck, Zach McGill and Brian Crofoot; junior Simon Sheen; sophomores Shaun Sampsell and Ian McDonald.
With a shortened season – it would have normally started Nov. 16 and finished the first weekend of March for the State Championship – bowling began Jan. 25 and will end March 26-27 for teams that qualify for the state championships. The Schoolcraft boys’ team has a record of 5-3 overall, posting wins against Martin, Kalamazoo Christian, Burr Oak (twice) and Niles. Losses were to Niles, Bronson and Constantine. Leading the boys’ team in average is senior Max Desmond with 194, followed by fellow senior Brian Crofoot with 167. The girls’ team has a record of 5-2-1 with wins against Kalamazoo Christian, Burr Oak (twice), Bronson and Constantine, losses to Niles (twice) and a tie with Martin. Leading the averages for the girls is senior Maya Pearce with 150, followed by sophomore Alayana Meade with 124. The bowling teams will be participating in the divisional tournament on March 12 at Continental Lanes in Portage. They then will head to division 4 regional championships on March 19 and 20 with a location yet to be determined. If either team finishes in the top three places out of 16 teams, they will advance onto the Division 4 state championships on March 26-27. If any bowler ends the day in the top 10 out of 100 bowlers, they will earn a spot in the Division 4 Individual State Championship.