OAKWOOD — The Nordonia High School girls bowling team performed like a defending Division I state champion with six returning players.
But the Knights boys also came out of the gate strong, rallying after trailing through two regular games during Friday’s Suburban League Preseason Tournament at Roseland Lanes.
The Knights girls, with junior Kaitlyn McNutt rolling the lone 600 series in the division (620) took a 418-pin lead after the opening three regular games and completed a run to first place with a tournament-high 765 during the five Baker System games.
Nordonia finished with 3,513 total pinfall, far ahead of second-place Stow-Monroe Falls (3,063) and Wadsworth (2,907) in the 13-team field.
“It was nice that we had that lead after three games because were were able to get some brand new kids who have never bowled before into the Baker games,” Nordonia head coach Ty Lachowski said. “We were able to get them some experience.”
But it was a bit different in the boys division.
KNIGHTS BOYS RALLY
After trailing by 69 pins after two regular games, the Knights came back with 1,024 in Game 3 to take the lead. They then shot 234 during their final Baker game to earn the win with 4,039 total pinfall, 47 pins ahead of second-place Copley (3,992), with surprising Wadsworth taking third (3,944) in the 14-team field.
“We bowled together and stayed together as a team with a simple mindset,” Nordonia assistant coach Nolan Postolka said. “It was just leaving something easy and making the spares. Keep doing the simple things.”
Senior right-hander Kyan Freyhauf led the Knights with a 651 series despite shooting just 178 in Game 2. Drew Kitzmiller also added 643 for Nordonia.
“Kyan hit a little rough patch in the second game, but we adjusted and got through it,” Postolka said. “These guys all hang out together outside of bowling. They’re not just friends in the bowling center, but outside and it helps so much. When we’re struggling, it’s a game changer.”
Copley’s Eric Luster, a two-hander, and Chaz Franchetti went 1-2 individually with 757 and 695, respectively. But a 151 in Game 4 of the Bakers doomed the Indians’ hopes of catching the Knights.
“The Bakers were a little rough. We had that 150 game where we went strike, open, strike, open, strike open,” Copley coach Caleb Shovestull said. “We can’t be doing that. We made up for it the last game, and we had a couple of shots that didn’t carry.
“It got ugly there for a while, but we made it up that last game that got us back into second. But we really wanted that first-place spot. I don’t think Copley has ever won the preseason tournament before.”
The Indians made the run without starter Shane Arp, who remains out after knee surgery. Shovestull hopes to have him back in a few weeks.
“Eric came out of the gate strong and I don’t know what got into him today,” Shovestull said. “He has a real good up-the-back roll and he was getting it to set up every single time. Chaz had a really good first game (277) that got us off to a good start.
“With that good start, we were able to give ourselves a little buffer there. The guys did great today and I’m really proud of them.”
But the surprise was Wadsworth, which came in with five freshmen among their eight varsity players, including three starters.
“I really have to attribute that to the youth program. The Wadsworth youth program has grown to where we have a feeder system now,” Wadsworth head coach George Steele said. “These kids coming in have more experience than our upperclassmen do. They come in ready to bowl.”
Sophomore Nate Weyand led the Grizzlies with 693, his career-high, and freshman Hayden Mohlmaster-Eagon had 627.
“Nate kind of set the tone for us,” said Steele, whose team shot a Baker-high 254 in Game 1 to close the gap. “They really surprised me today. I really didn’t know where the freshmen would be at mentally.
“I know they have the physical game, but when you throw them in there against a whole bunch of upperclassmen, there can be an intimidation factor. But it didn’t happen. They just walked out there and threw.”
KNIGHTS ROLL, HAVE GOALS
As for the Knights girls, Lachowski knows his team has a target on its back after its state performance in March.
“I told my girls you are going to hear a lot of chatter,” Lachowski said. “But we have set our goals, starting with the Suburban League. We work on one aspect at a time.
“I told them they’re going to hear a lot, but let it go. It’s a new year, and they have bought into that.”
Senior Kolbey Lewin backed up McNutt with 565 as four Nordonia players finished in the top six individually.
“Kaitlyn bowled great. Playing that tight inside line all day, I was like ‘Oh” and yelling inside my own head,” Lachowski said. “But she just had it going on and was making her spares.”
Wadsworth’s Aubey Masada was second individually with 584.
“Was it important to come out strong? Yes,” said Lachowski, who graduated only Hailey Whitten off of the 2023 champions. “We talked about kind of starting off where we left off last year, setting our goals.
“We know our Bakers were a little low today (the Knights averaged just 153), but that’s because I had all the newbies in. We have a goal. We want to be at 185 every Baker game and we want to shoot 900 or better for every regular game. They came out and they did it today.”
After shooting just 855 in Game 1, the Knights came back with 960 and 933 their final two games — the lone girls team to shoot 900. In fact, the 855 also was the third-high game of the day.
“We did well today,” Lachowski said, “but there is still room to improve to — and they know that.”
NOTEBOOK: The conference used the High Street V2 44-foot Kegel Recreation Series oil pattern. … The preseason tournament counts as 20 percent of the conference season standings as does the postseason event. The other 60 percent is head-to-head competition, with each team facing each other once. … Nordonia’s Brooke Barnes had the high girls game of 220 in Game 2, with McNutt and Grace Bzdafka each adding 216 for the Knights. … Franchetti hd the high boys game of 277 in Game 1, followed by Luster’s 269 and 268 for Freyhauf. … Highland had only a boys team. … Steele and Hudson coach John Brockway helped to coordinate the tournament and scoring. Our thanks to them for providing updates and information. … The conference did charge admissions of $10 for adults and $5 for students for the event.
SUBURBAN LEAGUE PRESEASON TOURNAMENT
(Friday at Roseland Lanes, Oakwood)
GIRLS
Team standings: 1, Nordonia 3,513; 2, Stow-Monroe Falls 3,063; 3, Wadsworth 2,907; 4, Tallmadge 2,886; 5, Kent Roosevelt 2,789; 6, North Royalton 2,693; 7, Cuyahoga Falls 2,597; 8, Barberton 2,428; 9, Solon 2,386; 10, Copley 2,383; 11, Hudson 2,275; 12, Brecksville-Broadview Heights 2,194; 13, Twinsburg 2,059.
Top 10 individuals: 1, Kaitlyn McNutt (Nordonia) 620; 2, Aubrey Masada (Wadsworth) 584; 3, Kolbey Lewin (Nordonia) 565; 4, Dee Dee Elijah (Tallmadge) 561; 5, Brooke Barnes (Nordonia) 534; 6, Grace Bzdaka (Nordonia) 531; 7, Maria Mara (Tallmadge) 519; 8, Sacorah Norman (Barberton) 502; 9, Jules Elliot-Laffel 500 (Stow); 10, Julia Kindle (North Royalton) 499.
BOYS
Team standings: 1, Nordonia 4,039; 2, Copley 3,993; 3, Wadsworth 3,944; 4, Stow-Monroe Falls 3,746; 5, Twinsburg 3,686; 6, North Royalton 3,676; 7, Highland 3,582; 8, Cuyahoga Falls 3,427; 9, Tallmadge 3,373; 10, Hudson 3,339; 11, Kent Roosevelt 3,154; 12, Barberton 3,110; 13, Brecksville-Broadview Heights 2,874; 14, Solon 2,203.
Top 10 individuals: 1, Eric Luster (Copley) 757; 2, Chaz Franchetti (Copley) 695; 3, Nate Weyand (Wadsworth) 693; 4, Kyan Freyhauf (Nordonia) 651; 5, Drew Kitzmiller (Nordonia) 643; 6, Dillon Lazer (Stow) 635; 7, Thomas Nhok (Highland) 635; 8, Carmine Sabella (Brecksville) 631; 9, Brayden Daron (Kent Roosevelt) 630; 10, Hayden Mohlmaster Eagon (Wadsworth) 627.
