2022-23 Marion-area boys bowling overview capsules

Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
·5 min read

Cardington Pirates

  • Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

  • Coach: Tim Edgell (16th season).

  • Home House: Morrow Lanes.

  • Returnees: Silas Horton (Sr., letter, right-handed, first-team KMAC), Andrew Weber (Jr., letter, RH), Zane Everly (Jr., letter, first-team KMAC).

  • Notes: The Pirates will count on their letter winners ... They lack overall experience ... The graduation of first-team KMAC bowler Tyler Rose will hurt.

  • Comment: "The goal is to always win the KMAC," Edgell said.

Elgin graduate Keaton Hall competes at last year's Division II boys bowling state tournament at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl.
Elgin graduate Keaton Hall competes at last year's Division II boys bowling state tournament at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl.

Elgin Comets

  • Notes: Elgin does not have enough bowlers to field a team.

Highland competed in last year's Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Boys Bowling Tournament at Galion's Victory Lanes.
Highland competed in last year's Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Boys Bowling Tournament at Galion's Victory Lanes.

Highland Scots

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Coach: Ty Hicks (fifth season).

  • Assistant: Dawn Hicks.

  • Home House: Colonial City Lanes.

  • Roster: Rusty Martin (Jr., RH, letter), Trevor Stewart (Jr., RH, letter), Jacob Anthony (So., RH, letter), Joseph Farrell (So., RH, letter), Benjamin Harris (So., RH, letter), Isaiah Watson (So., LH, letter), Cajun Crawford (Sr., RH), Noah Messina (Fr., RH), James Stevens (Fr., RH), Alex White (Fr., RH).

  • Notes: The boys team qualified for districts last year ... The Scots are deep with 10 available and six with experience ... They want to qualify for districts again.

  • Comment: "We believe our record last year didn't measure up to the overall team ability. We will work to better our record from a year ago," Hicks said.

Marion Harding's Cameron Rayner competes in the Division I boys bowling state championships at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl last season.
Marion Harding's Cameron Rayner competes in the Division I boys bowling state championships at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl last season.

Marion Harding Presidents

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Corey Chatman (third season).

  • Assistant: Scott McCrery.

  • Home House: Cooper's Bowl.

  • Last Year: 17-2, Division I state runners-up, district champs, sectional champs, MOAC regular season and tournament champs.

  • Roster: Jayden Combs (Sr., letter, first-team MOAC, MOAC Bowler of the Year, Division I state champion in 2021), Cameron Rayner (Sr., letter), Gavin Houseworth (Sr., letter), Austen Valentine (Sr.), Gaven Stoll (letter), Chord Mull (Sr.), Jacob Beaschler (Sr.), Jordan Hensley (Sr., letter).

  • Notes: The Presidents are going for a sixth straight Division I state tournament appearance ... They graduated All-Ohioan and first-team MOAC bowler Caden Millisor and first-team MOAC bowler Gage Warren, a four-time state participant ... The Prexies are senior-laden with talent that is battle tested at the highest levels ... They have a competitive edge to them ... The newcomers lack varsity experience ... Chatman expects Pleasant and River Valley to challenge them atop the league and feels the MOAC is stacked this year from top to bottom.

  • Comment: "With everybody that we have returning, we fit right there on top in the league," Chatman said.

Mount Gilead Indians

  • Conference: KMAC.

  • Coach: Shawn Boller (third season, 11-27).

  • Assistant: Chris Kneipp.

  • Home House: Morrow Lanes.

  • Last Year: 8-6.

  • Roster: Austin layer (Sr., LH, letter), Graham Sherbourne (Sr., RH, letter), Wyatt Irwin (Jr., RH, letter), Aiden Moore (So., RH, letter), Hayden Eubanks (So., RH), Jaxon Tinch (Fr., RH), C.J. Kneipp (Fr., RH).

  • Notes: The Indians have four strong returnees and two outstanding freshmen, so they look to be competitive in the KMAC this year ... The goal is to make a state appearance ... They need to be more consistent from match to match ... Dylan Farrell graduated.

  • Comment: "We are looking to be very competitive in league play," Boller said.

Northmor Golden Knights

  • Conference: KMAC.

  • Coach: Russ Montgomery (11th season).

  • Home House: Victory Lanes.

  • Last Year: 2-18.

  • Returnees: Cole Postell (Sr.), Wesley Hammond (Sr.), Owen Philpot (Sr.), Ryan Deihl (Jr.)

  • Notes: Postell and Hammond were all-league bowlers last year ... The Golden Knights didn't lose anyone to graduation ... The boys made it to the district tournament as a team for the first time last year.

North Union Wildcats

  • Conference: Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division.

  • Coach: Matt Donohue (fourth season, 7-65).

  • Assistant: Larry Dunn.

  • Home House: Dragon Lanes.

  • Last Year: 0-17.

  • Roster: Owen O'Reilly (Jr.), Logan Otten (So., letter, 180 high game), Wyatt Southward (So., letter, 138), Braden Rhodes (So., letter, 198), Troy Harvey (So.), Zach Howald (Fr.), Chase Copas (Fr.), Lucas Tanner (Fr.).

Pleasant's Logan Clemons watches a shot during the Division II boys bowling state tournament at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl last year.
Pleasant's Logan Clemons watches a shot during the Division II boys bowling state tournament at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl last year.

Pleasant Spartans

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Bill Ludwig (second season).

  • Assistant: Don Bentley.

  • Home House: Cooper's Bowl.

  • Last Year: 7-3, No. 9 in Division II state tournament.

  • Roster: Nolan Ludwig (So., RH, 202 average), Logan Clemons (So., LH, 178), Bryce Hooper (So., RH), Dawson Hall (So., RH, 152), Carter Colby (So.), Christian Miller (So.), Jayden Miller (So.), Johnathan Moran (So.), Spencer Bice (So.), Christian Graber (So.), Ryen Wansik (Fr.), Declan Kirtley (Fr.).

  • Notes: The Spartans went from last place in the MOAC two years ago to a state berth last season ... Pleasant was hit hard by graduation, losing Trent Wilson, Jayden Alwood, Mason Cluff, Jacob Kowalczyk and Temo Garcia ... The returnees are strong bowlers who are consistent ... The newcomers have shown improvement throughout the preseason, but they are still inexperienced ... They are hoping to challenge Harding and River Valley for the MOAC.

  • Comment: "We are looking for consistency and steady improvement," Ludwig said.

Ridgedale Rockets

  • Conference: KMAC for bowling only.

  • Coach: Amanda Crease (third season).

  • Assistant: Judy Callahan.

  • Home House: Cooper's Bowl.

  • Roster: Dakota Callahan (Sr.), Bryce Harmon (Sr.), Paul Edwards-Woodward (So.), Jayden Reynolds (Fr.), Troy Moore (Fr.), A.J. Comer (Sr.), Gage Osborne (Sr.).

  • Notes: The Rockets are a hard working team that is motivated ... They are young ... They lost six to graduation.

  • Comment: "It is a rebuilding year for us," Crease said.

River Valley's Andrew Karrick watches a shot during a boys bowling match against Pleasant at Bluefusion Entertainment last season.
River Valley's Andrew Karrick watches a shot during a boys bowling match against Pleasant at Bluefusion Entertainment last season.

River Valley Vikings

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Cheryl Manning (seventh season, 66-29).

  • Assistant: Rob Manning.

  • Home House: BlueFusion.

  • Roster: Trace Kelly (Jr., RH, third year, 206 average, 268 high game, 514 high series, first-team MOAC), Lane Kanagy (Sr., RH, fourth year, 139/147/279), Andrew Karrick (Jr., two-handed, second year, 185/258/425)., Andruw Peak (Jr., RH, 112/143/262), Brendyn Craft (Fr., 2H), Caleb Rowlinson (Jr. 2H), Mason Self (Jr., 2H), Ben Rengert (Sr., RH, fourth year, 163/213/348), Brady Keller (Jr., RH, , second year101/137/242), Caleb Hatten (Jr., RH, second year, 109/127/246), Cade Brady (Fr., RH), Caleb Brady (Fr., RH), Liam Hawerlander (Jr., RH), Corbin Schuman (Fr., RH), Caleb Diaz (So., RH).

  • Notes: The Vikings will have a full roster and bowlers with experience ... There are still several on the roster who are new to the sport ... Veterans with state experience Carson Welsh and Gary Cox III as well as Mason Spies graduated.

  • Comment: "Our goal this year is to win the MOAC again and advance to the state finals," Manning said.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2022-23 Marion-area boys bowling overview capsules