CANTON — Jack Wells knows what it’s like to shoot a 300 game.
But this was a different environment and circumstances for the 18-year-old North Canton Hoover High School senior.
The two-handed right-hander had the first nine strikes in Game 4 of Sunday’s Stark County USBC Fall Youth Singles Tournament at Eastbury Bowling Center.
“I had a 300 just before states a year ago in practice at Hall of Fame,” said Wells, who was part of the Hoover boys team that finished ninth during the 2023 OHSAA Division I State Championships, missing the cut to match play by just two pins.
This time, Wells came up short of the 300 goal, finishing with 275, but still topped the boys 18U tourney field with 1,087 total pinfall in the handicapped event. He averaged 245.5 over four games to finish with 982 actual and topped his division by 219 pins.
“There wasn’t a lot of oil on the outside. So I just stayed straight and played up third arrow pretty much all day,” said Wells, who shot 616 at state last season. “The right lane broke down a little different and started pushing long so I moved right.
“The left lane broke down and started hooking more so I moved left and sped it up a little more and ended up carrying.”
Walsh Jesuit’s Gabrielle Price topped the girls 18U division with 932, including 763 actual, with a high game game of 221 in Game 1. She finished 40 pins ahead of Perry junior Kiele Poling (892).
The Jackson sister-brother combination of Addie Russell (12U, 931) and Caleb Russell (15U, 977) also captured top honors in their respective divisions. Other winners included Uniontown’s Payton Taylor (girls 15U, 889) and Brooklyn’s Alex Cowper (boys 12U, 874).
WELLS SETS GOALS
Wells did not bowl in leagues during the summer due to working at summer camp. But he did practice in his spare time.
“I’m definitely throwing the ball better than I have before,” said Wells, who didn’t develop his two-handed delivery until high school. “There are things I need to work on. But in practice I’ve been working with new ball styles and learning how my equipment reads the lanes. I’ve been learning more as I go.”
Wells admittedly was nervous on his first shot in the 10th frame of Game 4.
“I was shaking pretty good. I threw it straight up but just missed my mark,” Wells said.
Wells and the other Vikings’ captains for this season — Chase Wenzel and Connor Lab — have one major goal this season.
Returning to the state tournament.
“Our goal is to do the best that we can, get as many wins as we can and get back to states. We want to show everyone we can make the cut this time,” said Wells, whose mother, Nicole Wells, takes over the program this season following the resignation of Jeff Sabella.
“I’m not going to let that bother me,” Wells said of his mother, whom he already is calling coach. “She’s a really good bowler and she knows what she is talking about.
“Having someone in the circle that can help with your game is always welcome.”
NOTEBOOK: The tournament drew 49 players over its six divisions, three each for girls and boys. Results are unofficial pending the checking of handicaps, with SMART account scholarships being paid to the top players in each division. … Perry’s Nick Harmon had the high game of the day of 278 in Game 3. He finished second to Wells with 868 in 18U boys. … The Stark USBC will be holding a Halloween Youth Doubles handicap event at 10 a.m. Oct. 29 at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes. Entry fee is $50 per team, with competition in three divisions for both boys and girls. Mixed teams are permitted. See the Stark County USBC’s Facebook page for information and entry forms.
STARK COUNTY USBC FALL YOUTH TOURNAMENT
(Saturday, Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Unofficial results
BOYS
12U: 1, Alex Cowper (Brooklyn) 874, $268.50 scholarship; 2, Mason Harter (Canton) 853, $40.
15U: 1, Caleb Russell (Massillon) 977, $325; 2, Raymond Osborne (Canton) 966, $207.50; 3, Aiden Chetto (Uniontown) 951, $150.
18U: 1, Jack Wells (North Canton) 1,087, $300; 2, Nick Harmon (Massillon) 868, $110.50.
GIRLS
12U: 1, Addie Russell (Massillon) 931, $172.50.
15U: 1, Payton Taylor (Uniontown) 889, $268.50; 2, Charlotte Taylor (Uniontown) 856, $40.
18U: 1, Gabrielle Price (Stow) 932, $300; 2, Kiele Poling (Canton) 892, $110.50.
