By BILL SNIER
GREEN — Green High School senior Anthony Bordonaro was admittedly struggling to end 2024.
“It started out great, but it’s been a rough couple of weeks,” the 17-year-old right-hander said. “I’ve had a hard time being consistent throwing the ball. I have a speed issue.
“I can hit a mark pretty well, but I’ve had a hard time getting my speed up when I need to. But it will get better I believe.”
Bordonaro had no such issue Dec. 6 when he rolled the Stark County High School Bowling Conference’s lone 300 this season in a match against Federal Division rival GlenOak at Eastbury Bowling Center.
The two-time All-Federal Division first-team player, also had 209 in Game 2 for a 509 series during the Bulldogs’ 2,614-2,356 victory over the Golden Eagles.
“Doing it at Eastbury was a surprise for sure,” said Bordonaro, who has only bowled at the center during conference matches and in Division I sectional play.
“I was standing around 25 (board) and shooting about 15. I was keeping my shot inside in the oil all day and not going outside at all.”
Using a Storm Ion Pro, Bordonaro admitted the nerves were there in the 10th frame. His high sanctioned previous game was 279, although he has rolled 300 in practice.
“I did my best not to think about it,” said Bordonaro, who is averaging 215.83 in conference play. “I didn’t look at the people behind me and I tried not of focus on anyone watching. I was just locked in on the shots.”
Green is bowling in a new center this season, returning to their former home at Apollo 3 (former Turkeyfoot Lanes).
“It has been fine there. With wood lanes bowling for the first time on them, there was a transition,” the 17-year-old Bordonaro said. “But once you learn how to bowl on them, it was fine.
“We’ve kind of been unlucky when we’ve hit certain centers when they’ve been a little dry. But, team-wise, we just hope to keep winning. We’ve lost only once before the break and we have to keep that going.”
The Green boys have not been at state during Bordonaro’s three previous seasons as a team.
“I’d love to get to state,” he added. “We want it so much.”
He hopes to bowl in college. He is looking at The Ohio State University after being accepted.
“I think they have a club sport and I would really like to get involved,” said Bordonaro, who plans on majoring in computer engineering.
The conference had seven 300 games by boys a year ago to break the conference record.
MONDAY’S HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
GIRLS
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN 1,795, ALLIANCE 1,064
(at Park Centre Lanes, North Canton)
Two-game series: Lake Center 1,379 (Griffith 140-148, Green 163-118, Collins 160-143, Erie 142-131, Herman 114, Stayer 120); Alliance 825 (Mastrodonato 95-104, Neal 126-110, Gordon 121-108, Rhodes 67-94).
Baker System: Lake Center 173-131-112, Alliance 104-72-63
BOYS
LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN 2,164, ALLIANCE 1,703
(at Park Centre Lanes, North Canton)
Two-game series: Lake Center 1,601 (Mozynski 130, S. Wadle 162-186, Griffith 140-132, Roberts 195-154, Conley 164-224, J. Wadle 114); Alliance 1,318 (Bezon 233-150, Ripley 137-121, Short 139-152, Ailes 102, Rose 95, Ramsey 97-88).
Baker System: Alliance 180-197-186; Lake Center 132-124-133
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
BLACK BEAR INVITATIONAL: Dover’s boys and River View’s girls captured titles during the 2025 Black Bear Invitational on Saturday at Legacy Lanes in Coshocton. River View was the No. 3 seed and defeated New Philadelphia (3-1) and Garaway (3-0) in best-of-five Baker System match play en route to the title. Qualifying consisted of three regular games and six Baker games. Morgan Rowe led the Bears with a 501 series. No other details were available.