NORTH CANTON — New executive board members, another realignment and the return of a familiar fund-raising tournament came out of Sunday’s initial Stark County High School Bowling Conference coaches meeting at Park Centre Lanes.
J.C. Heighway, who previously served as commissioner for 10 seasons, returns to the helm after a two-year absence and a six-year stint as Walsh University’s head bowling coach.
“I think things are going pretty well as we head into this season. There was good energy in the room and I think everyone is ready to get started,” said Heighway as the conference enters its 22nd season.
Gary Rebillot, bowling manager at Eastbury Bowling Center and a longtime member of the CHSBC board of directors, was unanimously approved as the conference’s new president. He succeeds Bill Snier, who resigned as president after four seasons but will remain as vice president. Jim Heighway remains as head of awards, affairs and functions for the conference.
“They needed a president and I’ve been involved in this conference since the start,” the 76-year-old Perry Township resident said. “I’m willing to help to move this game along as much as I can.
“The biggest thing is making sure the centers are satisfied with what is going and and trying to find out what their problems are. Maybe we can work out something that is bothering them and make it better for everyone.”
Rebillot, working on the side of bowling center management, feels he can provide assistance in that area.
“We’re trying to get the whole system to run smoothly. That’s what everyone wants,” Rebillot said. “One thing we have issues with is everyone who comes in for leagues understanding why those kids are still there at the time they want the place for themselves.
“We have to understand that these are our future bowlers and, without them, we have no business in the future. That’s why the centers got in on the ground floor of this when it started and we financed it for the first four years. It wasn’t until recently that the centers started seeing any money out of it.”
How involved will he be in day-to-day operations? Rebillot said that is to be determined.
“I will be involved as much as they need me,” said Rebillot, adding he doesn’t plan on retiring soon. “I don’t want to go overboard because I really don’t have the time with my involvement at Eastbury.”
OTHER UPDATES
Heighway said the conference’s new website at www.schsbc.org is up and running although updates continue.
Featured items on the new site include team information, 2023-24 schedule, conference history along with standings and statistics when the season begins. New on the site also are photos of conference coaches, assistants and officers, which will be updated when all are available.
“We also incorporated Google docs like we had with the NCAA at Walsh to enable coaches to get information easier and quicker,” Heighway said. “It has made things a lot simpler.”
New reporting of matches also will be made easier through the use of QR codes on reporting sheets as provided by the conference.
Heighway also made official the return to three divisions this season. The conference had four teams leave last season due to the Inter-Valley Conference adding bowling as an official sport. Teams leaving included East Canton, Conotton Valley, Sandy Valley and Claymont.
The new divisions include:
Federal: GlenOak, Green, North Canton Hoover, Jackson, Lake, McKinley, Perry;
American: Alliance, Carrollton, Canton South, Minerva, Marlington, United Local; and
National: Canton Central Catholic, Lake Center Christian, Louisville, Massillon and Triway.
To be official, matches must be two regular games and at least two Baker System games, although the conference allows up to four of the latter depending on bowling center availability.
“Almost everything we have going this season for the schools and centers is way ahead of the game from where we have been in the past,” Heighway said.
FUND-RAISERS SET
Heighway did reinstitute the Alumni Tournament, which is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 22 at Park Centre. This is a Baker System tournament, with each five- or six-person team representing the same high school and is for adults only. Entry fee is $170 (an entry blank appears at the end of this post).
Heighway confirmed he has 22 teams entered at this point and will email captains to check on rosters and needs.
“This is the second largest turnout we have had for this,” said Heighway, who said the journey has raised about $600 in the past for the conference but he is hoping to it the $1,000 mark.
“We don’t hold too many fund-raisers for the conference as a whole. But we want to get back to where the conference has the fund to be sufficient for three or four years and have additional funds to bank for that.”
The SCHSBC will have its official kickoff with its annual Early Bird Tournament, set for 9 a.m. Nov. 18 also at Park Centre.
Heigway said that all but four conference teams have signed up for the event, with East Canton filling one of the open spots. He still has three remaining.
“Any school can bowl in it,” Heighway added. “It’s our second fund-raiser for the conference and it also gets kids bowling before the season begins.”
Tryouts for area high school teams will be held during the first week in November. For other rules and information on high school bowling, go to https://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bowling
