By BILL SNIER
UNIONTOWN — Nearly 300 people were on hand as the Stark County High School Bowling Conference brought down the curtain on its 2024-25 season with its annual banquet Sunday at Raintree Golf and Event Center.
Although the conference’s all-division teams had been released earlier, coaches and players of the year were not announced until the banquet along with special award winners.
Among the boys, four-year first-team All-Federal Division honoree Zac Abbott, a Lake senior, earned Player of the Year in that division after compiling a conference high 224 average during the season.
Other boys players of the year were Salem senior Keegan Sommers in the American Division and Louisville senior Landon Geisey in the National Division. Sommers, in the Quakers first season as a bowling program, averages 215.06 to rank second overall in the conference. Geisey, a two-year first-team honoree, averaged 204.66 to top his division in leading the Leopards to a share of the title (Louisville received the conference trophy due to a tiebreaker with Triway and Lake Center Christian).
In the girls division, Minerva senior Jadynn Thompson and Green senior Madison Perrine, both four-year first-team all-conference honorees,, were named the top players in the American and Federal divisions, respectively.
Perrine, who helped led the Bulldogs to a seventh-place finish in the OHSAA Division I State Championships, topped the girls overall in the conference with a 209.84 average. Thompson posted the second-high average of 198.21.
Triway four-year player Kennedy Finley, an individual state qualifier, was the player of the year in the National Division with a 170.42 average as a two-year, first-team member.
COACHES OF YEAR
Among the coaches, Louisville’s Courtney Stallman led the boys and girls to National Division titles to earn coach of the year honors in both divisions.
Other honors went to Minerva’s Dana Keister, American Division girls top coach after leading the Lions to an unbeaten season; Minerva’s Nick Embrogno and Carrollton first-year head coach Joe Phillis shared American Division boys honors; Perry’s Joe Altimore III topped the Federal girls after leading the Panthers to a state runner-up finish in Division I; and Perry’s Mark Boron and Lake’s Jeff Mowls shared boys honors in the Federal Division after going 1-2 in the conference race.
HALL OF FAME HONORS
A highlight of the event was the enshrinement of three new members into the SCHSBC Hall of Fame, bringing the total to 15 since it was inaugurated in 2019.
The newest members are 2015 Wooster High School graduate Karlie Way, who now serves as Triway’s boys coach; 2014 North Canton Hoover graduate Anthony Inzetta, who still holds the conference’s all-time two-game series mark of 579; and 2011 Perry graduate Adam Webb, who joins his father, former Perry coach Roger Webb, as HOF members.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
Karen Warner, mother of former Louisville bowler Tom Warner, who was killed several years ago in an auto accident, was on hand to present the Tom Warner Memorial Scholarship during the event.
The recipient of the $1,500 scholarship was Louisville senior Estrella Lopez-Cruz, who averaged 160.53 this season en route to first-team National Division honors.
Also, after announcing its all-academic honorees for the season, with student-athletes being accorded president, gold, silver and bronze honors for compiling grade-point averages of 3.25 or higher, the conference also awarded team trophies for highest combined GPA. Those were awarded to Massillon in the boys division and Lake in the girls division.
After a record-breaking year in 2023-24, the conference recorded just two 300 games during the regular season, with Green senior Anthony Bordonaro and GlenOak sophomore Braxton Burns earning awards for the accomplishment along with special jackets from Heighway Awards and Apparel. Perry’s Eli Nave also received a trophy for his 300 recorded during district Division I district play.
CHANGES COMING
The SCHSBC will be adopting a new match format beginning with the 2025-26 season.
Conference matches now will consist of two regular games and three Baker System games. The OHSAA requirement for an official match is two regular games and two Baker games.
In the past, the conference has allowed the option of bowling a fourth Baker game, as long as the match is within the time limits preset by the home center.
Cutoff times for matches remain at 5:20 p.m., with a 4 p.m. start.
At this time, there are no teams dropping out of the conference for next season. But with 18 teams, Heighway is interested in talking to area teams that might be looking for a new conference for next season.
In addition, the conference will be holding its first golf outing fundraiser at 9 a.m. June 21 at Lyons Den Golf Course in Canal Fulton. Entry fee is $340 per team ($85 per player) for the four-player 18-hole event. Cost includes lunch at the turn and dinner at the end.
The conference is looking for sponsors for the event as well as teams. For information, contact Commissioner J.C. Heighway.
See more highlights of the banquet on the conference’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/StarkCountyHSBowlingConference
STARK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING CONFERENCE
2024-25 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
GIRLS
American Division
First team: Jadynn Thompson ( Sr., Minerva) 198.21 average); Hailee Ulman (Sr., Carrollton) 190.56; Bailey Wood (Jr., Minerva) 182.79; Kaylee Russell (Jr., Carrollton) 182.69; Izabelle Genet (Sr.,, Minerva) 175.24
Second team: Kayla Henderson (Sr., Minerva) 172.41; Kylie Smith (Soph., Salem) 166.41; Lillian Kugler (Sr., Minerva) 165.43; Brooklynn Herold (Jr., Salem, 164.77); Rylan Kiltz (Soph., Minerva) 162.46
Honorable mention: Cora Wines (Sr., Marlington) 160.92; Ivy Slutz (Sr., Carrollton) 156.67; Zara Bullock (Jr., Carrollton) 144.20; Emma Brown (Jr., Carrollton) 140.42; Chloe Dean (Jr., Salem) 137.77)
Bowler of the Year: Jadynn Thompson (Minerva)
Coach of the Year: Dana Keister (Minerva)
High game: Jadynn Thompson (Minerva) 257; High series: Jadynn Thompson (Minerva) 501); Four-year first-team award: Jadynn Thompson (Minerva)
Final standings: Minerva 10-0; Carrollton 8-2; United Local 5-5; Marlington 5-5; Salem 2-8; Alliance 0-10
National Division
First team: Kennedy Finley (Sr., Triway) 170.42; Paige Beard (Fr., Louisville) 163.71; Audrey Miculan (Sr., Louisville) 162.15; Estrella Lopez-Cruz (Sr., Louisville) 160.53; Abigail Wenger (Sr., Louisville) 159.06
Second team: Jessica Jenkins (Jr., Central Catholic) 158.45; Frances Palaski (Jr., Central Catholic) 154.53; Raya Fiesler (Soph., Triway) 152.89; Autumn Griffith (Sr., Lake Center Christian) 144.37; Hayden Hooper (Soph., Canton South) 144.07
Honorable mention: Amanda Dejacimo (Soph., Louisville) 140.23; Serenity Hartleben (Soph., Massillon) 140.05; Riley Green (Jr., Lake Center Christian) 138.34; Charley Collins (Jr., Lake Center Christian) 138.34; Kayla Ebie (Soph., Lake Center Christian) 135.19
Bowler of the Year: Kennedy Finley (Triway)
Coach of the Year: Courtney Stallman (Louisville)
High game: Kennedy Finley (Triway) 257; High series: Kennedy Finley (Triway) 448
Final standings: Louisville 10-0; Canton Central Catholic 7-3; Triway 6-4; Lake Center Christian 4-6; Massillon 2-8; Canton South 1-9
Federal Division
First team: Madison Perrine (Sr., Green) 209.84; Jenna Boyer (Sr., Perry) 198.08; Maria Wise (Sr., Canton McKinley) 193.68; Arielle Clapper (Jr., Perry) 191.68; Haleigh Leggett (Sr., Canton McKinley) 190.75; Rylee Dunn (Jr., Jackson) 189.00
Second team: Kiele Poling (Sr., Perry) 187.85; Brooklyn Krager (Jr., Green) 186.03; Alexis Reeves (Soph., Perry) 177.19; Miah Adkins (Jr., Green) 177.00; Payton Taylor (Soph., Green) 173.83; Madison Paxton (Sr., Lake) 173.15
Honorable mention: Carys Eynon (Jr., North Canton Hoover) 173.73; Isabella Needing (Sr., GlenOak) 171.78; Rylee Abbuhl (Fr., GlenOak) 168.02; Alyssa Gehring (Sr., Green) 164.16; Aurora Stergis (Sr.,, GlenOak) 162.10; Ariana Morris (Jr., Jackson) 157.00
Player of the Year: Madison Perrine (Green)
Coach of the Year: Joe Altimore III (Perry)
High game: Rylee Dunn (Jackson) 279; High series: Maria Wise (Canton McKinley) 485; Four-year first-team award: Madison Perrine (Green)
Final standings: Perry and Green 11-1 (Perry wins on tiebreaker); GlenOak 7-5; Canton McKinley 5-7; North Canton Hoover 4-8; Lake 2-10; Jackson 2-10
BOYS
American Division
First team: Keegan Sommers (Sr., Salem) 215.06; Owen Frazier (Jr., Minerva) 209.86; Connor Hippely (Sr., Salem) 204.15; Josh Hawkins (Jr., United Local) 203.38; Landon Jones (Sr., Minerva) 201.59
Second team: Bryce Taylor (Sr., Carrollton) 195.07; Kendrick Keister (Soph., Minerva) 194.23; Luke Hull (Jr., United Local) 191.55; Vinnie Yannucci (Jr., Salem_ 191.09; Jace Eckinger (Jr., Carrollton) 191.07
Honorable mention: Lane Hawk (Jr., Minerva) 187.61; Noah Hawkins (Jr., Carrollton) 187.0; Zander Mueller (Sr., Minerva) 182.55; Donald Blackburn (J., Salem) 178.73; Nathaniel Short (Jr.,, Alliance) 173.13
Player of the Year: Keegan Sommers (Salem)
Coach of the Year: (tie) Joe Phillis (Carrollton) and Nick Embrogno (Minerva)
High game: Jace Eckinger (Carollton) 289; High series: Owen Frazier (Minerva) 515
Final team standings: Carrollton 9-1; Minerva 8-2; Salem 7-3; United Local 4-6; Marlington 2-8; Alliance 0-10
National Division
First team: Landon Geisey (Sr., Louisville) 204.66; Zeke Conley (Jr., Lake Center Christian) 200.32; Tristan Roberts (Jr., Lake Center Christian) 198.78; Maxton Fiesler (Sr., Triway) 197.00; Balin Finley (Fr., Triway) 193.92
Second team: Trevor Glaser (Jr., Louisville) 193.68; Davin Merde (Soph., Triway) 190.35; Jonathan Horn (Sr., Louisville) 187.79; Mark Louk (Sr, Massillon) 187.42; Logan Gawlak (Sr., Central Catholic) 185.88
Honorable mention: Zach George (Sr., Triway) 185.5; Jon Eikleberry (Jr., Trwiay) 183.21; Derrick Fowler-Keagy (Jr., Canton South) 181.47; Braylan Gawlak (Jr., Central Catholic) 177.36; Nicholas Fromholtz (Sr., Massillon) 177.21
Player of the Year: Landon Geisey (Louisville)
Coach of the Year: Courtney Stallman (Louisville)
High game: Zeke Conley (Lake Center Christian) 299; High series: Jonathan Horn (Louisville) 500
Final standings: Louisville, Triway, Lake Center Christian 7-3 (Louisville wins tiebreaker); Massillon 6-4; Canton South 3-7; Canton Central Catholic 0-10
Federal Division
First team: Zac Abbott (Sr., Lake) 224.00; Brady Tompot (Sr., Lake) 213.09; Anthony Vacanti (Sr., GlenOak) 212.38; Eli Nave (Jr., Perry 211.86; Anthony Bordonaro (Sr., Green) 210.23; Hendrick Livengood (Soph., North Canton Hoover) 208.50
Second team: Dylan Parsons (Sr., Perry) 208.4; Xzavier Gardener (Sr., GlenOak) 208.18; Alex Lovas (Sr., Jackson) 205.95; Braxton Burns (Soph., GlenOak) 205.91; James Tucker (Sr., Canton McKinley) 205.19; Carson Presutti (Sr., Perry) 202.87
Honorable mention: Logan Hammock (Sr., Lake) 202.09; Jason Bidinger (Soph., Green) 201.97; Cameron Hervey (Sr., Perry) 200.16; Jackson Langton (Sr., Jackson) 199.95; Jonathan Waggoner (Sr., Canton McKinley) 197.88; Dylan Petrick (Sr., GlenOak) 194.59
Player of the Year: Zac Abbott (Lake)
Coach of the Year: (tie) Mark Boron (Perry) and Jeff Mowls (Lake)
High games: Anthony Bordonaro (Green), Braxton Burns (GlenOak) 300; High series: Braxton Burns (GlenOak) 548; Four-year first-team award: Zac Abbott (Lake)
Final standings: Perry 11-1; Lake 8-4; Green 7-5; Jackson 6-6; Canton McKinley 6-6; North Canton Hoover 2-10; GlenOak 2-10