Schoolcraft Eagle girls’ and boy’s bowling teams headed east to Jackson on a late February weekend to compete in the Division 4 Region 21 championships. They didn’t win, but coaches saw high points and looked forward to next season.
A total of 15 boys’ teams and 14 girls’ teams competed for a Michigan-shaped wood trophy. The top three teams would qualify for the Division 4 state championships the next weekend.
The Eagles boys’ team, with so many new bowlers, faced an uphill battle against teams like Grass Lake, Bronson, Vandercook Lake and Burr Oak, with bowlers returning from the previous season and some with averages in the 200’s. The Eagles finished the day in 14th place with a high Baker game of 148, a team series of 630 and a total of 2,600 total pinfall. That compared to Grass Lake, the eventual regional champion, with a high Baker score of 205 and team series of 996.
The weekend included the singles event where 77 boys competed to make the top 10 and advancement to the singles portion of the Division 4 state championships the following weekend. Just one on the team had bowled in a singles competition: senior Simon Sheen. Senior exchange student Eder Carrasco-Prado turned out to be the highest Eagle finisher, in 44th place with a six-game series of 922 and a high game of 198.
The girls’ team finished 10th with a high Baker game of 151 and a high team series of 677, finishing the day with a 2,590 total pinfall. The girls were also facing some stiff competition with the likes of Grass Lake, Bronson and Jackson Lumen Christi, all top three finishers qualifying for the state championships the next weekend. Grass Lake was the eventual winner of the Regional Championship, topping Bronson with a total pinfall of 3,427 to Bronson’s 3,328. Grass lake had a high Baker of 163 and team series of 991; Bronson had 189 Baker and an 827 series.
In the girls’ singles, Eagle Alayna Meade finished highest, in 28th place, with an 858 total and a high game of 165.
Coaches are looking for big things from the two teams next season. With so many bowlers in the 2022 season the school was able to add junior varsity to both teams. It hopes to do so again next season.