By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — Carson Oakes now has seen two Stark County bowling centers under tournament conditions in the past four months as he begins play in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference this season.
He can claim wins in both.
After taking the 16U title during the Stark County USBC Youth Challenge at Eastbury Bowling Center in May, Oakes teamed with his older brother, Jayden, to top the field at the Stark USBC’s Junior-Adult Fall Scholarship event Sunday at Park Centre Lanes.
The Akron brother combo combined for 1,378 actual pinfall in the three-game event bowled on Park Centre’s house oil pattern, and finished with 1,497 overall, including handicap. They won the 18U division by 158 pins and were the only team to top 1,400 among the 26 total entries spread over six divisions.
“This just feels great. I really didn’t come in here too confident because I really haven’t bowled competitively for a while,” said 20-year-old two-handed righty Jayden Oakes, who was a member of Coventry High School’s 2024 Division I state runner-up team.
It’s a different situation for Carson Oakes, who will be a junior at Green this season after transferring from Akron Hoban, where he set the school record for high game with 290 in January.
“It just wasn’t as competitive (at Hoban) … our conference was very weak,” said Carson Oakes. “Green does offer some scholarship money and I just saw it as a better opportunity for bowling and a better bowling team and conference.”
On Sunday, Carson topped all junior players with a 715 series, including a high game of 268 in Game 3.
“I used the (Storm) IQ Solid and was shooting at the third arrow out to the 10-pin,” said the 17-year-old two-handed righty who shot just 195 in Game 2. “My ball reaction was really good and I had all the carry. I only left two 10-pins which helped my scores a lot.
“I thought my angles were a little off in Game 2 when the lanes were transitioning. So I just moved a board over and threw it harder and it was way better.”
Jayden Oakes, a Stark State College student who is employed by RT Hampton Plumbing and Heating, is averaging 201 while bowling one league at Spins Bowl Akron. But he came out strong with 256 in Game 1 to set the pair up for a run.
“Toward the end, the lanes were transitioning and it got a little rough,” said Jayden Oakes, who finished with a 666 series while using the Hammer Fallout. “I started the third game with the IQ Tour Sapphire, but it just wasn’t producing the way I wanted. So I went back to the Hammer.”
Green is a member of the Federal Division and Federal League, with three of those teams — Lake, Jackson and North Canton Hoover — calling Park Centre home. Eastbury again will host the OHSAA Division I sectional tournament in February 2027.
OTHER TOP FINISHERS
Among the other age division winners:
- Jackson sophomore Isabelle Smith and Jeremy Smith took honors in the 16U division with 1,338, finishing 22 pins ahead of Forrest Friley and Thomas Riley.
- Perry’s Nick Sanko and Brandon Sanko Sr. took honors in the 12U division with 1,362, finishing just 11 pins ahead of Perry coach Mark Boron and Colton Keller (1,351).
- North Canton’s Evan and Jonathan Kercenneck topped the 10U division with 1,302.
- Clinton’s Gentry and Michael England were on top of the 14U division with 1,309, finishing just 15 pins ahead of Tallmadge’s Paisley and Jason Aken.
- Wadsworth’s Ian and Daryl Daveduk finished second in the 18U division behind the Oakes brothers with 1,339.
- North Canton’s Mia and Shannon Kercenneck topped the 8U division with 1,251.
Handicap was based on 85 percent of 440, the combined averages for both players on the team, with two SMART scholarships being awarded to the champion and runner-up in the 18U division and to champions in the other five divisions. Boys and girls bowled together in each division.
Averages were based on the 2025-26 season.
NOTEBOOK: Carson Oakes turned in the high junior actual series while Coventry senior Wade Allen was second with 654. … Lake High School head coach Jeff Mowls and Cooper Smith posted the high adult series with 720 each while Brandon Sanko also had 715. … In addition to the Oakes brothers, the teams of Mowls and Andrew Venus (1,314) and Smith and Will Rice (1,302) also posted 1,300 scratch series. Neither of those teams received handicap pins. … Smith had the high game overall with 279 in Game 1. … Our thanks to association manager Sue Vukmanovich for her help with our report.
