By BILL SNIER
UNIONTOWN — The Stark County High School Bowling Conference concluded its 2025-26 season — its 25th overall — by toasting its top student-athletes, teams and presenting a new hall of fame class — including one late surprise.
Nearly 300 parents, athletes and supporters were on hand at Raintree Golf and Event Center on Sunday to celebrate the season. Although the conference’s all-division teams in the National, American and Federal had been announced earlier, players and coaches of the year in each were not announced until the banquet.
HALL OF FAME CLASS
A highlight of the day was the announcement of the 2026 SCHSBC Hall of Fame class, which included former Perry High School standout Amanda (Lincoln) Hunter, North Canton Hoover’s Preston Vukovich, current conference vice president and longtime Canton Repository and snieronbowling.com writer Bill Snier and a late addition — conference commissioner J.C. Heighway, who is celebrating his second run in the position.
Heighway joins his father, conference awards, affairs and functions chairman Jim Heighway, as an HOF member becoming the second father-son tandem — former Perry coach and player Roger Webb and Adam Webb, respectively — to enter the hall, which now includes 15 total members.
In addition to serving as commissioner two terms, consisting of 14 seasons, Heighway was also a former player and coach at North Canton Hoover.
His wife, Brittany, and their four children were the surprise guests as the final item on the day’s agenda as Heighway’s presenters.
While Snier handled the introductions of both Hunter and Vukovich, SCHSBC Hall of Famer, founder and past president Annie Case, now co-owner of Park Centre Lanes, introduced Snier.
Hunter, was a four-year starter for Perry, concluding her career in 2015-2016, helping to lead the Panthers to a 48-6 overall record and two state appearances. She was the Federal Division bowler of the year in back-to-back years her final two seasons.
Vukovich, a starter his final two seasons, was part of the first 300 Baker System game rolled in Hoover history, bowling as the fifth man during his sophomore season. During his 2017-2018 senior season, he rolled a pair of 300 games en route to Federal Division bowler of the year honors with a 219.87 average.
Snier, a bowling writer for the past 36 years, served as both president and vice president for the conference and has sponsored the bowler of the year awards for the past 21 years. He began his current website upon his retirement from newspapers in 2021.
TOP PLAYERS
Four two-time first-team performers were among the six players earning player of the year honors in the respective divisions this season.
In the boys division, Minerva senior Owen Frazier led the conference with a 222.24 average and turned in a 546 two-game series — 19th overall in conference history — to earn American Division honors.
He was joined by two-time first-team senior Eli Nave from Perry, who finished with a 217.81 average; and Louisville senior Trevor Glaser in the National Division, who finished with a 21.21 average.
Among the girls, senior Arielle Clapper led the conference with a 202.40 average to earn Federal Division honors. The Panthers advanced to state all four of her seasons on the team.
Joining her was sophomore Paige Beard of Louisville in the National Division with a 169.66 average; and former OHSAA Division II state individual champion and senior Kaylee Russell of Carrollton, who averaged 182.59.
COACHING LEADERS
Coach of the year awards for the girls went to Carrollton’s Wendy Russell, Central Catholic’s Bud Stebbins and Perry’s Joe Altimore III — each whose teams captured respective division titles.
In the boys division, Carrollton’s Joe Phillis had his team capture the American Division outright while Triway’s Thomas Gress and Hoover’s Nicole Wells had their teams share division titles but win on tiebreakers.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
The Tom Warner $1,500 Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the late Louisville bowler who died prior to his senior season following a tragic car accident, was awarded to Jackson senior Rylee Dunn, who will be studying nursing and bowling at Ohio Northern University next season.
Dunn also received an award as the lone four-time first-team all-conference honoree.
OTHER HONORS
Minerva’s Lane Hawk rolled the lone 300 game in the conference this season and received a jacket from Heighway Awards and Apparel, with Nave also shooting a 299 to earn a jacket. They both received respective division awards for high games along with Louisville’s Trevor Glaser and Triway’s Davin Merckle with 279 in the National Division.
Top series for the boys went to Frazier (546), Nave (576, second-highest in conference history) and Triway’s Jonathon Eikleberry (524).
For the girls, high games went to Minerva’s Bailey Wood (247, American); Clapper (289, Federal); and Massillon’s Grace Wisen (246, National). Top series were recorded by Russell (438, American); Clapper (505, Federal); and Wisen (441, National).
In other items of note:
- Coventry will become the conference’s 20th team next season, with all the other 19 teams expected to return for 2026-27
- The conference’s second annual Golf Outing, is set for 8 a.m. June 20 at Lyons Den Golf Course in Canal Fulton with an entry fee of $400 per team. This will be a four-person scramble format. Entry fee includes lunch, dinner and cart fees. Sponsors are needed. For details, go to the SCHSBC Facebook page.
For photos of all team champions and division first-teams, go to the conference’s website at: https://www.schsbc.org/