By BILL SNIER
OAKWOOD — It was a record-setting day Friday at Roseland Lanes.
Warren Champion set its own school record and finished 152 pins ahead of the field to earn its second straight state berth.
Then, individually, a pair of bowlers came away with 300 games — both for advancing teams.
The Golden Flashes finished with 4,355 total pinfall, 217 pins higher than their state qualifying score of a year ago, en route to leading 2025 qualifiers during the Division II Northeast District boys bowling tournament.
“Our team is young, but they are willing to get better and they practice a lot on their own,” Champion coach Josh Phelps said. “It doesn’t just come from me, but also the families.”
Also advancing are Lutheran West, which turned in the high Baker System series of 1,226 (204.33 average) and finished with 4,203; Coventry (4,016), which finished as state runner-up a year ago after winning this district; and Rootstown (3,982), which will make its first state appearance since 2022.
But the individuals were the highlight as Rootstown senior Justin Miller opened the tournament with 300 in Game 1. Then, in Game 2, Champion senior Garrett Martin had the second 300 of the day en route to a tournament-high 798 series — winning that title by 65 pins.
Individual state qualifiers include Lake Center Christian’s Zeke Conley, Brooklyn’s Adam Cowper, Cuyahoga Heights’ Donny Raymond and Akron Springfield’s Rylan Slusser.
The top four teams and top four individuals not on advancing teams will bowl in the OHSAA State Division II Championships on March 1 at HP Lanes in Columbus.
The format Friday was three regular games and six Baker games to determine state qualifiers.
FLASHES ROLL
Champion, the 2014 state champion, shot 1,074 out of the gate to take the Game 1 lead and then added a tournament-high 1,104 in Game 2 led by Martin’s 300. The Flashes followed with 1,016 in Game 3 for a 3,194 total — 217 pins ahead of second-place Coventry.
“They were hot from the start and kept their heads together … they bowled as a team and not as individuals,” said Phelps of the Flashes, who will be making their sixth state appearance after finishing third a year ago following a loss in match-play to eventual state champion Marion Pleasant.
“They had each others’ backs and kept the morale up when they got a bit lazy during the first three Baker games. Then, they started picking things back up.”
The Flashes had a three-game stretch in Bakers when they shot 178, 169 and 165 before finishing with 217 and 232 for the final total.
It’s a season when the Flashes lost one player to academic ineligibility, with just two seniors, three juniors and two freshmen on the roster. They also lost senior Alan Derry, who finished third overall in the state a year ago, to graduation.
“We were in a bind losing one of our best bowlers to ineligibility, so it was next man up … and that was (freshman) Kyle (Kolat), who averaged 193 on varsity after coming up from JV,” Phelps said.
In addition to Martin, juniors Mario Humenik and Derrick Campbell finished in the top 10 individually with 713 and 641, respectively.
It was Martin’s first 300 in competition and his career-high series, with his previous high being 765.
“I would have liked to have had the 800,” said Martin, a two-handed right-hander. “I just had a good look all day, the pins were going my way and I was able to play the same spot almost all three games. I was just hitting my mark.”
He admitted the nerves were not a real factor in the 10th frame.
“I’ve had the front 11 so many times and messed it up,” Martin said. “I just told myself to hit my mark, hit the ball and it’s going to strike for you.
“The gutters were hooking more than usual so I had miss room to the right that I could bank the ball off of. That was a big thing for me and our whole team.”
Phelps said a key was the Flashes did not let open frames affect their mental games.
“Typically, when you have open frames, a lot of times it follows and trickles down and you get behind, trying to work your way back in,” Phelps said. “That didn’t happen to us today.”
GOING BACK
Coventry’s big three of sophomore Wade Allen (687), junior Aidan Jensen (671) and senior Andrew Naugle (611) all finished in the top 15 individually to lead the Comets in a return to state.
“We lost some of our main bowlers from last year and we had two new guys coming in. But I still had my three rock solid guys and they carried us today,” said Coventry coach Aaron Rose, who led the Comets to the Metro Athletic Conference title this season with a 12-2 league mark.
“It’s just a wild card on how our fourth and fifth players are going go do.”
The Comets fell to Marion Pleasant 3-0 in the 2024 Division II title match. But they got a measure of revenge by shooting 702 during this year’s Division II Kickoff Classic at HP Lanes to top the 2024 champions before falling to Coldwater in the title match.
“We know we can bowl there. Making the top eight is the goal, to get to those head-to-head Baker matches because anything can happen,” Rose said. “Today, our two newcomers struggled the first and second games, but they came through once we calmed them down. They made the spares when we needed to advance.
“Winning the conference and placing well in tournaments with head-to-head Bakers gave us confidence. Our three top guys brought it when we needed it.”
300 TO START
Rootstown got a boost from Miller, a two-handed righty, out of the gate with his third sanctioned 300 game. He finished third individually with a 726 series.
“It was one of the best games execution-wise I’ve ever had,” said Miller, an individual state qualifier a year ago. “When I’ve struggled, it’s always about execution.”
Rootstown coach Thom Butcher said carry was an issue for the Rovers, who held the fourth qualifying spot all day, with no team getting closer than 12 pins after Game 2.
“They were actually making good shots. Sometimes, the spares were just not there,” Butcher said. “The last (Baker) game, we missed the pocket just once with 3-4-9 splits and we shoot 150. But it wasn’t like they weren’t making good shots.”
Senior Anthony Cambareri backed up Miller with 580 and Sean Boveington had 542.
“Johnny (Mays) came in the second game and picked us up a little, and Caleb (Sevens) finished out the third game real strong,” Butcher said. “Miller got there like a champ.
“I’m really proud at the way the got to the line today. They were a lot better. But we just don’t do anything easy … we had to make it scary.”
Lutheran West will be making its second state appearance, the last coming in 2023.
Junior Zachery Smeal led Lutheran West with a district runner-up 733 series and junior Alex Roland added 592. West has just two seniors on its roster.
INDIVIDUALS MOVE ON
Conley, a junior, led the individual qualifiers with a 672 series, ranking sixth overall.
Cowper, a junior, added 646, while Raymond, a senior, had 624.
Springfield’s Slusser, a sophomore, becomes the Trojans’ second straight individual qualifier with a 624 series, finishing just two pins ahead of Cuyahoga Heights’ Jaymes Kleinsmith for the final qualifying spot. Michael Knox was honorable mention All-Ohio for the Trojans as a senior.
Cowper finished seventh overall at state a year ago to earn All-Ohio honors with a 675 series.
Slusser, Conley and Cowper bowled among the 16 individual sectional qualifiers to go with the 16 team qualifiers.
Now, it’s on to Columbus.
“I just try to tell them there are so many situations you get put in as a bowler. Everyone has been in one of those tough, pressure situations,” said Miller, who shot 593 a year ago in Columbus. “You have to remember you’ve been there before.
“You know it’s a lot, but you have to put it behind you and not worry about it. Just play your game.”
“You can’t let the background noise affect your game,” Phelps said. “You just have to relax and have fun.”
The Division II Northeast District girls battle for four team and individual qualifying spots at 10 a.m. Saturday also at Roseland Lanes with 14 teams and individuals in the field.
NOTEBOOK: Among Stark County Conference teams, Lake Center junior Tristan Roberts, also bowling as an individual, was unable to join his teammate after finishing with a 604 series. East Canton finished ninth overall, with a pair of freshmen — Kenny Ford (615) and Dylan Lint (612) — leading the Hornets, who have no seniors on their roster. … The top eight players were named to the all-district team. … There were four 700 series and 18 600 series. … Field recorded the high Baker game of 259 in Game 6. … Only three seniors finished among the top 10, led by Martin. … Paid attendance for the event was nearly 350 fans.