By BILL SNIER
KENT — The top three teams during the Northeast District Tri-County Division II boys sectional were never dropped below those positions the entire day.
Each had a different means for achieving their goals of reaching district play.
Field, which is only in its second year as a bowling program, finished with 3,857 total pinfall to top a 14-team field and win Friday’s Division II sectional at Spins Bowl-Kent.
“Last year, we were seventh in our league. Now, we’ve just skyrocketed the fun,” said Field coach Scott Bower, whose team will be making its first district appearance after sending an individual a year ago.
“It’s just been phenomenal. The boys have just been awesome … the energy and the mentality,” Bower said. “A lot of times, you can battle yourselves out there. But today they really won that battle and performed.”
Joining Field will be Rootstown (3,764), which will be making its fourth district appearance in six seasons; East Canton (3,680), making its first appearance since 2021; and Woodridge (3,484), which held off Lake Center Christian to earn the final spot by just four pins.
Joining these teams as individual qualfiers are Springfield’s Rylan Slusser, Norton’s Jacob Robison; and Zeke Conley and Tristan Roberts, both from Lake Center Christian.
The format was three regular games and six Baker System games bowled on the OHSAA’s 2025 sectional-district oil pattern. The top four teams and top four individuals who were not members of advancing teams moved on to the boys district tourney, set for 10 a.m. Feb. 21 at Roseland Lanes.
TEAM RUN
Field, which was sitting third after three regular games, shot 254 and 214 during its first two Bakers to surge into the lead. The Falcons remained there the remainder of the tournament.
“During the Bakers, the guys just really came together. With each shot, they came back to a wave of positivity from their teammates,” Bower said. “The parents were so supportive … it just meant everything to them. They really wanted it.”
Senior Caleb Brastine led Field with a 577 series, while sophomore Peyton Hover added 541 and junior Joseph Dilsworth had 512.
Rootstown coach Thom Butcher admitted he expected more from his Rovers based on late-season performances in their home center.
“We still need to work on getting to the foul line, making our spares and staying in the moment,” Butcher said. “We’ve worked on that all year … trying to keep their nerves down when they get hyped up and stay at a normal level.”
Butcher has a plan for doing that — have the Rovers keep a song in their heads during competition.
“Play a song in your heads on repeat, breathe and just concentrate on your basics getting to the foul line,” Butcher said. “Keep that good song playing and get to the line with a good tempo instead of running. Keep a good rhythm.”
Senior Nick Moorehead led the Rovers with an individual runner-up 612 series, including 256 in Game 3. Senior Sean Boveington added 551 and senior Justin Miller had 537.
The Rovers made their big surge in Game 3, when they had the lone 1,000 of the day — 1,028. Butcher gave credit to señor Jonny Mays for leading the team to that surge.
“We subbed in a couple of kids that game, and Mays was able to pump up his senior buddies and he went clean,” Butcher said of Mays, who shot 210 that game.
“We just had guys missing spares that they usually make.”
East Canton got off to a good start, leading the field after Games 1 and 2 before falling back to third and remaining there the rest of the day. But the Hornets struggled to start the Baker round with 143 in Game 1.
“I kind of pulled them together after the first game and said we still have to make spares,” said Thomas, who was named Inter-Valley Conference coach of the year earlier this week. “They all came together and had five good Bakers after that.
“We expected to advance just based on how well we’ve bowled our last three tournaments. We’ve covered a lot of our spares our last few matches and tournaments. They’ve shown belief in themselves and that’s what I’ve told them all year long. They are a good team, and they just have to get it in their own heads that they are capable of doing this.”
Freshman Dylan Lint led the Hornets with a 585 series, followed by fellow freshman Kenny Ford with 558 and junior Timothy Buehler with 546. The Hornets had three juniors and two freshmen in their starting lineup.
Despite shooting 135 and 158, respectively, its final two Baker games, Woodridge was able to hang on to the final spot by four pins. Lake Center shot 158 in Game 5, but came back with 188 the final game to fall short.
Junior Branden Fitch led Woodridge with 522 and senior Mason Bragg added 507.
INDIVIDUALS ADVANCE
Despite falling short in its attempt to reach district for the first time as a team in its six seasons, the Tigers still managed to advance two individuals to district.
“We got off to a fast start in good games and, in bad games, we threw a couple of gutters and missed several easy spares. Those four pins were there so it’s disappointing, but we will be back on it,” Lake Center Christian coach Ed Smith said.
“We did advance two individual boys so we’re excited for that. We’re just disappointed the whole team didn’t get to go.”
Juniors Zeke Conley (595) and Tristan Roberts (583) finished fourth and sixth overall to earn spots.
Slusser led the individual field with a 623 series to advance. Also, Robison, a Panthers senior, shot 597 to finish third overall and earn a berth.
Now, it’s on to district play.
“Just relax, focus and have that song,” Butcher said.
“We just have to be consistent, keep our spirits high and carry that energy from the last few tournaments,” Bower said. “Just really enjoying ourselves along the way … that’s been big for our team.
“This was a very big day for us.”
NOTEBOOK: Teams bowled on their own pair of lanes throughout the event, moving within five-pair blocks for regular and Baker games. … Tickets for the event were available online only, and will be for the remainder of the bowling postseason. … Moorehead’s 256 was the high game of the day. … Field was the only other team to break 900, shooting 901 in Game 3. … Field had the high Baker series of 1,226 (204.6 average), followed by Triway (1,093). The Titans finished seventh, missing the cut by 49 pins, while Norton was sixth, falling short by 20. … The Division II girls Tri-Couinty sectional is set for 10 a.m. Monday also at Spins Bowl-Kent. … The Division II boys district is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 21 at Roseland Lanes in Oakwood.