NORTH CANTON — A mixture of youth, veterans and returnees will fill the Northeast Ohio Travel League’s rosters as it begins its 35th season in September
The NEOTL held its annual player draft Saturday at Park Centre Lanes, filling 16 three-bowler rosters. Only five players who submitted applications were not chosen and will be placed on the substitute list.
“There are so many talented bowlers in this area that easily could be in this league,” league president Joe Altimore III said. “But whether it’s work, family or whatever, they just are unable to do it. We understand that.”
The league’s Thursday starting times, between 8 and 9:30 p.m., are a hinderance to some due to the lateness of league completion.
“We are really happy with the applications we received. We have some new people, some young college-age kids who are just starting to bowl adult leagues and some guys who have been away for a few years and got back in,” Altimore said.
“It was kind of light at the beginning and it took a lot of work to get us to where we’re at. It’s just getting harder for bowlers when you have to be at work at 5 a.m. Friday and don’t get home until 1 a.m.”
Altimore admitted there were thoughts of going to 20 three-bowler teams or 16 four-bowler teams. But at least one center was unable to accommodate more that 16 lanes, and lack of applications halted consideration of the other possibility.
The league used eight centers — Park Centre, AMF Hall of Fame, Eastbury, Wabash, Clutch Lanes and Sports Center, Spins Bowl-Kent, Spins Bowl-Akron and Wayne — last season.
“Ideally, my goal has been to do 10 centers with three stops each,” Altimore said. “But due to financial reasons, certain houses want more dates, so I have to tiptoe around that.
“Right now, we are expecting to return to the same centers, but I have to make contact with everyone first.”
The league will bowl a 30-week season with four divisions, although Altimore said operational items will be voted on at a later meeting now that the rosters have been determined along with securing team sponsors.
“A handful of guys we lost are really, really good, and we realize why they did it,” Altimore said. “We would welcome them back in the future. They just can’t do it anymore.
“But we are a rarity, with the traveling we do and the draft, plus bowling second shift.”
Weekly league fees will remain $25.
2023-24 NORTHEAST OHIO TRAVEL LEAGUE ROSTERS
(Sponsors to be announced; captains are listed first)
Team 1: Josh Haddad, Justin McIlvain, Kara Kutz
Team 2: Dustin Dingler, Joe Bailey, Chris Miller
Team 3: Michael Emerick, Kevin Schott, Tony Godden
Team 4: Mark Suchan, J.D. Jones, Chance Mattern
Team 5: Bill Reese, Austin Reese, Dave McLaughlin
Team 6: Jeff DiMarzio, Tony Wagner, David Randazzo
Team 7: Gary Liber, Ryan Trowbridge, Scott McIntire
Team 8: Richard Stoffer, Richard Elliott III, Richard Elliott II
Team 9: Doug Rich, Sean Rich, Robbie Lorentz
Team 10: Joe Altimore III, TJ Charles, Curtis Duffield
Team 11: Tony Confalone, Troy Wilt, Jeff Alford
Team 12: Eric Randazzo, Chase Barstow, Parker Braccio
Team 13: Jim Fellows, Adam Kutz, Scott Hopkins
Team 14: Brett McCourry, Jason Bogavich, Tony Varn
Team 15: Jeff Mowls, John Randolph, Jason Gribble
Team 16: Matt Frock, Jordan Norris, Scott Vandegrift