snieronbowling.com
NORTH CANTON — Four new members will join the Stark County High School Bowling Conference Hall of Fane for the 2023-24 season.
New members include former bowlers Nick Harrison of North Canton Hoover and Adam Kutz of Perry; former Perry coach Roger Webb; and former coach and conference administrator James Heighway.
The four will be honored during the conference’s annual banquet at 1 p.m. April 7 at the Raintree Golf and Event Center in Uniontown.
The purpose of the hall is to recognize and honor SCHSBC athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have excelled in their roles or helped “bring honor, distinction or excellence” to the conference with their conduct both on and off the lanes.
Here is a closer look at the four inductees:
NICK HARRISON
Harrison was the first Hoover athlete to average over 230 for a season finishing with a school record 234 his senior year. Nick also was a four-year letterwinner for Hoover and a four-year first-team all-conference honoree during his career. Nick graduated in 2011.
ADAM KUTZ
Kutz was the first four-year letterwinner in Perry bowling history. He was a part of Panthers that qualified three times for the state tournament. He had the first 800 in SCHSBC history, including a 300 game for the set. He was the Federal League Player of the Year in 2009. His wife, the former Kara Thomas, is also a Hall inductee from Minerva.
ROGER WEBB
Webb concluded his coaching career with the Panthers with 127 coaching wins. His teams captured four division titles, were eight-time district qualifiers and four-time state qualifiers.
JAMES HEIGHWAY
Heighway assisted in the formation of the conference and served as North Canton Hoover’s first coach during the 2001-02 season. He helped create most of the rules and the constitution of the conference, which still are in effect today. He owns 100 career wins during his two coaching stints at Hoover, and has been part of the conference for its entire 23-year history, with his company, Heighway Awards and Apparel, serving as a conference sponsor since 2011.
STARK COUNTY USBC HALL SEEKS APPLICATIONS
CANTON — Applications for the 2024 class of the Stark County USBC Hall of Fame are available at area centers and through the group’s office or by contact Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame president Jose Rante.
The deadline for nominations is April 1.
Nomination forms are available at area centers in three categories: men or women’s superior performance; meritorious service and recognition of contribution.
Qualifiers in the first two categories (A and B) must fulfill the following requirements:
- Be a 15-year member of the Stark County USBC and a participant in organized leagues for 15 years (that includes Greater Canton Bowling Association, Canton Women’s Bowling Association, Massillon and Alliance bowling association or women’s bowling associations);
- Nominee must never have been suspended by the USBC;
- Will be evaluated by a review committee to determine eligibility; and
- Male nominees must be ages 50 or older and lady nominees 40 or older.
Nomination forms turned in for 2023 who were not included in the final class of enshrinees will be held over for this year, but forms may be updated.
A statement explaining why the nominee should be considered for hall recognition must accompany each nomination form.