CANTON — Good things seem to come in threes for the Wooster High School boys bowling team.
On Wednesday, after going 0-7 in conference play during the regular season, the Generals captured the Ohio Cardinal Conference tournament title by just three pins over Ashland.
That number came up again Saturday during the Stark Division I sectional tournament at Eastbury Bowling Center.
With games of 195 and 189 in its final two Baker System games, Wooster held off Wadsworth by just three pins to gain the final district qualifying spot with 3,904 total pinfall. Wadsworth closed with 181 and 165 during its final two Baker games.
“That number seems to be our thing,” Generals boys coach Suzanne Donley said after the Generals earned their first district berth since 2019. “They just seem to dig deep. This team has the biggest heart of anyone.
“They like to come from behind … that’s just our mojo right now.”
McKinley, with senior Alex Coffelt and junior Zachary McCutchan posting two of the top three individual scores, rolled to the team title with 4,329, 370 pins ahead of second-place Hoover (3,959). Perry took the third qualifying spot with 3,958.
Donley credited senior Justin Parks for being the Generals’ catalyst during the OCC and sectional runs. Dobley posted a 585 series, and freshman Sam Fleming backed him up with 579.
“It took a big effort on all our parts,” said Donley, whose team recovered after an 852 in the first regular game. “We had trouble in the middle Baker with a 151. We tried to put some other kids in off the bench to give them some experience, but they just didn’t seal the deal for us.
“But they were able to come back and seal it the last two games, and I’m proud of that.”
The top four teams and top individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to district play, set for 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at Roseland Lanes in Oakwood.
PAIR PACES McKINLEY
While Wooster floated near the cut line all day, the opposite was true for McKinley, which took a 55-pin lead in Game 1 and was never headed.
Coffelt was the high individual overall and led the Bulldogs with 711, his high series of the season, and McCutchan, who qualified for state two years ago as an individual, added 660.
“Everything just went right for me,” Coffelt said. “Ball placement, throwing the right ball at the right time (Hammer Infamous) … it just feels great.”
McCutchan said the Bulldogs’ worst enemy can be themselves.
“We get upset at ourselves sometimes because we know we can do better,” McCutchan said. “Once we make a bad shot, we get frustrated, including me. I did that today. We just have to calm down and do our thing.”
The Bulldogs have bowled in six tournaments this season, winning four. But even head coach Kim Heaton didn’t expect the numbers McKinley shot Saturday, including the only two 1,000 games (1,040 and 1,061) of the sectional.
“We had a match with Green on Tuesday and no practice and it was like, oh boy, coming in we’re going to be in trouble,” Heaton said. “But we picked up a match against Minerva on Friday and had a good practice on Thursday.
“We were just drilling them on spares and covering 10-pins. It’s what we needed coming into the tournament. How our attitudes are is s sign of how we perform.
McCutchan and Coffelt agreed practice was the key for McKinley.
“We practice a lot of spares and that’s everything along with the fundamentals,” Coffelt said. “How to throw the ball and what you should do after every shot is key.”
“Kim says it all the time … make your spares,” McCutchan added. “We came in with a good game plan to make the cut and do our best individually to help the team out.”
Also providing a spark for the Bulldogs was freshman James Tucker. Tucker entered in Game 2 as a substitute after two open frames by the starter and struck out for 256. He then added 228 the final game.
Brandon Leggett also shot 571 for McKinley.
Among individuals, Marlington senior Keegan Edwards led district qualifiers with a 622. He is the first boy in Dukes’ history to reach the district tournament. He will be joined by GlenOak junior Nate Davis (602), Jackson senior Gunnar Schulz (601) and Louisville sophomore Gage McKeever (600).
Hoover was led by senior Connor Sabella’s 658 and a pair of juniors — Nate DeSantis (562) and Austin Crowe (557).
Senior Bryce Little finished as individual runner-up with 707 to lead Perry, and junior Kaleb Corrin added 611.
Two years ago, McCutchan advanced as an individual after his team fell one pin short of qualifying for state during district play. How do the Bulldogs avoid a repeat?
“The same thing as last time,” McCutchan said. “No surprises. Just practice and do what we’ve been doing the past two weeks.”
The Division I girls get their opportunity at 10 a.m. Sunday also at Eastbury.
STARK DIVISION I SECTIONAL
(At Eastbury Bowling Center)
Final team standings (top four advance to district): 1, McKinley 4,329; 2, Hoover 3,959; 3, Perry 3,958; 4, Wooster 3,904; 5, Wadsworth 3,901; 6, GlenOak 3,796; 7, Louisville 3,770; 8, Jackson 3,728; 9, Green 3,697; 10, Lake 3,689; 11, Massillon 3,511; 12, Coventry 3,458; 13, Alliance 3,094; 14, Marlington 3,071; 15, Cloverleaf 2,952.
Individual qualifiers: Keegan Edwards (Marlington) 622; Nate Davis (GlenOak) 602; Gunnar Schulz (Jackson) 601; Gage McKeever (Louisville) 600.