By Mark Blentlinger
Schoolcraft girls bowling is off to its best start since the 2016-2017 season. That year, the team ended its season as the conference champions, Division 4 regional runner-up and state semifinalist. The 2021-22 team has potential and is currently in second place in the SAC Valley Division. Bronson’s powerhouse team is leading the division after defeating the Eagles January 24 at Continental Lanes. Nevertheless, with one senior and five juniors, the Eagles are looking better and better each match.
The lone senior, Brynleigh MacInnes, is Schoolcraft’s first ever female two-handed bowler, a technique she began developing after a wrist injury. The rest of the team consists of juniors Molly Pearce, Clair McIntyre, Haley Earles, Catie Wright and Alayna Meade.
Schoolcraft has seen a tremendous interest in bowling this year.
There are so many new bowlers, that Schoolcraft was able to fill rosters for girls and boys JV, in addition to boys and girls varsity. After the passing of Assistant Coach Eric West, Coach Blentlinger was faced with either trying to coach four teams or seek help. The search began after the season had started, and Hackett 2018 graduate and bowler Bradley Romstadt was hired. Coach Romstadt is taking the lead for the boys’ team.
Five seniors graduated last season, with two of them being state qualifiers. With so many new bowlers, Coach Romstadt knew it would be a rebuilding year for the boys’ side of the Schoolcraft Bowling team. The team members are seniors Simon Sheen, Nate Earles and Eder Carrasco, juniors Shaun Sampsell and Corbin Piorkowski, and sophomore Hunter Barkalow. JV bowlers are Addison Haley, Annika Munson, Brenna Crofoot, Caroline DeLoof, Emma Peterson, Jessi Parker, Logan Rinderspacher, Lukas Rinderspacher, Ethan Denhartigh and Sarah Harrington.
As the second half of the season starts, both coaches are feeling confident that the teams will improve every day.
